Though the Alto Saxophone is made of brass, it is classified as a woodwind instrument and utilizes a mouthpiece resembling that of the clarinet.
Starting in the mid-1920s with the rise of the big bands, the saxophone family slowly but steadily evolved from a vaudeville novelty into a staple in the mainstream of jazz. The saxophone family includes instruments with at least eight different voice ranges: soprano, alto, tenor and baritone being the most common. Since they were patented in 1846, saxophones have become centrally important in military, dance and jazz bands.
