Hi Mark you chose one of the best sites here for infact theres only one better than this on the planet so thats says something about it! i was exactly just like you a few years ago could not even read a dot.but i will say something about learning this wonderful instrument that i did not know when i started that its like moving a mile inch by inch you have to move many inches to see just how far you have have traveled i think most of the more serious members would appreciate what i getting at happy wood shedding Mark.

Forgot to say. If u find u are having troubles with notes? Get ur sax checked at a music shop. I’ve bought a few saxes from eBay and none of them played as described! I hope urs is different.

Welcome to the addiction, Mark…
An alto is THE saxophone to start with… you’ll feel it very comfortable, and it could be the first of a larger set in the oncoming years if you decide to go to tenor, bari or soprano, or it could be your lifetime faithful friend as well…

To practice in an apartment you must put mode FTN (f**k the neighbors) on, which in some cases is kinda hard to do… LOL. Otherwise use your bedroom with all doors and windows closed, but all closet doors open. Carpets, pillows, cushions and hanging clothes are good soundwave attenuators. Better if you can point the instrument towards an open closet. However be prepared to receive some joke-disguised complaints… I used to answer with a “you see… never is too late to start learning something new”.
I don’t recommend using any mute device in the very first steps of learning. They demand more breathing effort from the player, and low notes sound ugly (or don’t sound at all) which causes the students letdown, and they eventually quit practicing.

The bottomline: Practice EVERY sigle day. Muscle memory builds up by constant repetition. And not only finger muscles, but most important: embouchure (mouth).

Good luck, and keep us posted on your learning progress.

Marc.