Saxophone

[Mr Pig]

My ten-year-old daughter gets her very first saxophone lesson tomorrow.

We tried teaching her the guitar and keyboard, just wouldn't have it, so we asked her what she wanted to play. Saxophone! I blame Lisa Simpson.

She has a trilby hat that she puts on every time she messes around with her saxophone, insists she will not play without it and is taking it to school so that she can wear it during the lesson! Man I'd love to see the teacher's face.

So we've got my Hi-Fi, one son on a drum kit, another on electric guitar and now a saxophone. Not a quiet house...

[The Grand Wazoo]

It sounds like you need to learn the bass Colin -I see a fine career in the music industry for Mr Pig & the Little Squealers

[Welder]

What sort of sax has your daughter got Colin?

[John]

She sounds a free spirit and like her sense of style I really hope she continues playing.

[DSJR]

It was listening to a sax at ten paces that showed me how cr@p most "HiFi" systems and recordings are at dynamic range. This led me down tht big ATC route, as Tannoy weren't dynamically marketing their large-speaker range in the UK at the time and JBL had all but disappeared - active large Linn and Naim systems were a joke by comparison to me (Keltiks and DBL's at the time), severely coloured and just "wrong."

Good luck. At least you'll have some live comparisons with which to judge your stereo :)

[Welder]

I play alto sax so you can imagine how I feel about most Hi Fi :eek:

[jantheman]

I hope she takes to it and the teacher is sympathetic to her needs with regards reed strength etc etc. As already asked, which sax is she playing.

[Mr Pig]

It's an alto sax. We got her a cheap one LINK (http://www.shwoodwind.co.uk/Reviews/Saxes/Alto/Chinese_alto.htm) but it gets a good write up and we've had it professionally set up to make sure it was working ok. If she sticks at it we'll worry about getting a better one later, they are not cheap!

The lesson went ok, she now knows the notes for three blind mice ;0) She took the hat but didn't put it on, said she forgot but I reckon she just didn't want to look like an idiot.

The sax came with some reeds and she could blow it perfectly straight away so we've just bought more of the same ones. The rest of us have tried it, can't get a note out of it, but she just had the knack from the off. Helped, gave her a bit of confidence.

My son has a bass guitar, he plays it often. I can't play a note on it! Well, I can play a note but that's all. I can't play any musical instruments, always regretted not learning and that's why I decided the kids would all learn to play something.

The boys are doing ok. My sixteen-year-old plays drums in two church bands and also in a band with guys from school. They're not bad, lead guitarist is really good actually, but the guy who sings is rubbish at it! ;0)

[jantheman]

The sax came with some reeds and she could blow it perfectly straight away so we've just bought more of the same ones.
Thats fine, however I would ask the teacher if they thought she would be better served by a lighter or heavier reed. Unfortunately, theres not set formula for this...trial and error rules here but the teacher will be able to give guidance. Also, whats good for her now will likely change in a few months time. This is a process of evolution, however, it's only reeds (at the moment) and shouldnt cost 'dad' too much....:lol: They are only little things but the difference a better match of student to reed/mouthpiece shouldn't be under emphasised.
Whatever makes her playing more pleasureable, is at this stage, very important. Making the sax easier or more comfortable for her to *blow* and the ability in being able to hold a stable note will help in forming a correct embrouchure and breath control, this is a major building block for the future as well as increasing her confidence. This aint no guitar or drum, she has to learn correct breathing and *blowing* techniques which are at least, if not more important than being able to use the keys.
I wish her well in her endeavour and hope that she does well and has the sort of fun and enjoyment that playing an instrument gives.

*blow(ing)* is highlighted because you dont just blow...theres a little more to it than that....:lol:

[Mr Pig]

Obviously she seems to be able to use the mouthpiece that came with it but I'd be happy to get her a better one, but which one?? How do you know what's best?

[jantheman]

Dont change anything yet....be guided by her teacher....thats the best advice I can give......

[Mr Pig]

Fang queue :0)

[jantheman]

de nada.....

[Welder]

If she can blow it now Colin with the reed that came with it then I wouldn’t worry about the mouthpiece or reed type and thickness yet. That will come later hopefully as her breathing gets sorted..
What may be important is the strap believe it or not. Even an Alto sax can get heavy after a while; it’s not so much the weight, more the battle to keep it from twisting away from the mouth with conventional side straps.