Now this is something cool. This week I came across an amazing resource for anyone who needs to create a fingering chart for any of the woodwinds. Ya know, if you’re working on lessons for students or even writing your own instructional book or e-book. Woodwind performer and educator Bret Pimentel conceived and actually developed [read more…]
As saxophone players, it’s clear that nothing occupies our thoughts on a daily basis more than the question, “Should I be using a mouthpiece patch or not?” OK, I kid, but it is an interesting topic to look into as anything that can affect the “signal chain” of body to bell is something to be [read more…]
Obviously, there's more to great sax playing than playing a bunch of fast notes. But without being able to get around the horn quickly and smoothly, you can't move your audience with that feeling of musical adrenaline that got you excited about the sax in the first place.
The problem is that too many of us feel like practicing boring scales and arpeggios is part of the dues we all have to pay, without realizing that practicing technique can be a fun and creative process.
With his new streaming video course focused 100% on technique, renowned recording artist, Adam Larson takes you way beyond what "falls easily under the fingers". Instead, he gets you rooting out anything that might be tripping up your fingers - all while adding new melodic and harmonic sounds to your vocabulary. So if you're ready to tear it up without wanting to tear out your hair, click below and let's get started today!
INFINITEMUSICAN.COM
Lightning-Fast and Crystal-Clean Saxophone Technique
Your weekly sampling of some of this past week’s saxophone-related news: Supreme Saxophonist (Kirk Whalum) Matana Roberts on The Alone Saxophone Wayne Shorter Quartet in Concert Jazz Saxophonist Dave Koz embraces change with a new album Classical Books for Sax Sax great Charles McPherson a dizzying treat Stan Getz: Anniversary! (1987) [Sorry(!), but this web page [read more…]
This guest post is from Randy Hunter of RandyHunterJazz.com. I am often approached by saxophonists looking for the best way to organize their practice routines. The questions come in many different forms, but always boil down to the issues of what should be practiced and how should it be prioritized. Of course, the answer is [read more…]
In this week’s podcast, we speak with saxophonist, multi-reedist, composer and recording artist Sam Sadigursky. Sam’s played and recorded with artists as diverse as Ray Brown and Brad Mehldau. He is the winner of the ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award, the NFAA/IAJE Clifford Brown/Stan Getz Fellowship, and the John Coltrane Young Artist Award. Currently residing [read more…]
There’s little I can say about John Coltrane that hasn’t already been said. But one thing that I don’t hear that often is what Coltrane said about himself. After doing some poking around on the web, I can across this vibey Austin Powers-era interview with the man himself and a less-than-lovable interviewer. At any rate, [read more…]
For those of my compadres living in lands where the holiday of Thanksgiving is celebrated, and even those of you who aren’t, I just wanted to send my warmest thoughts for a safe and happy Turkey Day. As for me, I’ll be heading out to the ever-festive town of Palm Springs, California. So you’ll be [read more…]
It’s one of the key factors that separates the pros from the amateurs. It’s the reason I call American Idol The Intonation Olympics, since it’s the intonation factor which so drastically affects whether or not the singer will manage to touch the viewers’ hearts. It doesn’t matter whether you sing or play an instrument, but [read more…]
Every once in a while I come across a video that’s so amazing and inspiring that I just have to share it. This video of Chris Potter playing Charlie Parker’s confirmation sans accompaniment is more certainly one of those videos. The video is actually a part of a masterclass DVD series sold by Roberto’s Winds, and [read more…]
One of the hallmarks of any professional musician is the clarity and evenness of the individual notes they play as part of a note-packed passage of music, such as a 16th or 32nd note run. I recently came across a helpful discovery in this area while practicing my chromatic scale. Cleanliness is Next to Godliness [read more…]
Tips and Techniques from the pros PLUS free access to the Sax Lessons with the Stars archive - 10 years worth of interviews and exercises featuring the likes of David Liebman, Bob Mintzer, Ben Wendel, Bob Reynolds, and many more!
