About Bill Plake

http://billplakemusic.org/

Having played professionally for the past 35 years, Bill Plake is a saxophonist, flutist and composer, and an Alexander Technique teacher certified by the American Society for the Alexander Technique (AmSAT). He's performed with musicians such as Vinny Golia, Charlie Haden, Nels and Alex Cline, and and Kim Richmond to name just a few. Bill is on the faculty of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles, teaching the Alexander Technique to actors, singers and dancers. He also teaches the Alexander Technique as a guest lecturer and adjunct at California Institute of the Arts, and Pomona College. More on bill at BillPlakeMusic.org.

Posts by Bill Plake:

triad-cell

Add a New Dimension to Your Solos by Using Four-Note Triad Cells

In virtually any musical idiom from the Western hemisphere, major and minor triads are a fundamental building block of melody. From children’s songs, to folk melodies, to European classical music, to Broadway show tunes and more, some of the most highly recognized and easily sung melodies are based upon the color and structure of the [read more…]

houston-person

One Of The Most Overlooked Ways To Fatten Your Saxophone Sound

Getting a full, resonant, singing, “fat” sound is the aim of many a saxophonist. For some it means a continuous quest for the right setup. And without a doubt, equipment plays a significant part. Certain horn, neck, mouthpiece and reed combinations help optimize resonance. But no matter what your equipment is, you can always fatten [read more…]

minor-melodic

This Is Probably The Most Useful Scale In Jazz Improvisation

Scales are the “raw material” of melody, whether improvised or composed. It’s not likely that you’ll study jazz improvisation to any serious degree without spending a lot of time learning, exploring and creating melodies with scalar material (as well as understanding how these scales relate to harmony). In modern jazz improvisation, many different scale colors [read more…]

Cello Seat Cushion

Finding the Best Way to Play Saxophone When Sitting Down

Editor’s Note: This article was inspired by a question I recently received from a reader. It’s actually a great question, and I thought that it would be a fantastic opportunity to tap into the wisdom of Bill Plake. Some of you may recognize Bill as one of the contributors to the Bulletproof Saxophone Playing program. [read more…]