Introduction Proper reed selection is very important because the reed affects almost every aspect of saxophone performance especially tone, intonation, response, range, embouchure formation and endurance. There are many brands of reeds being produced from cane grown in various regions of the world. Since there are so many reed brands to choose from, it is [read more…]
Introduction Theo Wanne has expanded its saxophone mouthpiece lineup with the new Essentials series, offering “Concert”, “Contemporary”, and “Jazz” models for soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones. These affordable mouthpieces aim to provide options for diverse playing styles. Bryan Vance, the company’s COO, sent me an Essentials Jazz Tenor 7* and Essentials Jazz Alto 5 [read more…]
The new JodyJazz DV HR Tenor uses the patented DV secondary window to add mid and low harmonics, resulting in a more authoritative tone than normal tenor sax mouthpieces provide. And the long straight somewhat high baffle gives the mouthpiece it’s fantastic projection and cutting power along with excellent altissimo.
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The New DV HR Tenor from JodyJazz
Introduction When searching for a new mouthpiece, there are quite a few options to consider. One main question that comes to mind is: “Do I buy a new mouthpiece or consider getting my current mouthpiece or backup refaced?” As there are more mouthpieces on the market than ever before, there has also been more buzz [read more…]
Concept! The first and most important thing about developing a sound on the saxophone is a concept. Our sound is our voice and the first thing people hear when they listen to us. We must do the best we can to make it compelling and convincing. Similar to giving a speech, we have to know [read more…]
Powerful In this article, I share some exercises for solidifying the most important fixtures of my practice routine – sound and flexibility. Exercise #1: Opening Up Your Sound I think of this exercise as a way of working towards a bigger sound by making sure that the flow of air is not constricted as it [read more…]
Long-time followers of this site might have seen my article from some years ago with a list of essential ballads to have in your repertoire. I know there were also a number of excellent suggestions of songs left off the list as well. The truth is, there are thousands of great songs flying around, so no [read more…]
Introduction Getting caught in the YouTube rabbit hole can be a blessing and a curse. At times, you will be taken to videos of new players you’ve never heard of and are glad you checked out and at other times through countless random videos to where you ask yourself “what am I doing?” In this [read more…]
Introduction Many students learn to play a musical instrument by enrolling in an elective beginning band class as part of the middle and high school music curriculum. Instruction usually starts at the beginning of the 6th grade and students are taught in a group setting with all instruments combined into one class. These classes are [read more…]
Introduction When it comes to making a mouthpiece change, the question as to whether to purchase a new one or to reface a mouthpiece you already own comes up quite a bit, and the answer really depends on your situation and why it is you are looking to make a change. In the past when [read more…]
To anyone who’s ever played a wind instrument, the advice to use proper air support is not exactly “insider information”. We’ve all heard it before, many times. Over the course of my years on the saxophone, I certainly have been advised to “support the air from the diaphragm” , but I have to admit – [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!
