• Home
  • CONTACT US for info
  • Registration Form
  • Special Needs Registration Form
  • Music Lessons
  • Piano Lessons
  • Guitar Lessons
  • Voice Lessons
  • Violin Lessons
  • Cello Lessons
  • Viola Lessons
  • Saxophone Lessons
  • Jazz Improvisation Lessons
  • Flute Lessons
  • Clarinet Lessons
  • Drum Lessons
  • Trumpet Lessons
  • Hours/Directions
  • Testimonials
  • Newsletter
  • Blog
  • FAQ
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Music Therapy/Special Needs Lessons
  • Update Payment Information
  • Lesson Policy
Los Angeles Music Teachers
  • Home
  • CONTACT US for info
  • Registration Form
  • Special Needs Registration Form
  • Music Lessons
  • Piano Lessons
  • Guitar Lessons
  • Voice Lessons
  • Violin Lessons
  • Cello Lessons
  • Viola Lessons
  • Saxophone Lessons
  • Jazz Improvisation Lessons
  • Flute Lessons
  • Clarinet Lessons
  • Drum Lessons
  • Trumpet Lessons
  • Hours/Directions
  • Testimonials
  • Newsletter
  • Blog
  • FAQ
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Music Therapy/Special Needs Lessons
  • Update Payment Information
  • Lesson Policy
Los Angeles Music Teachers

Music Lessons in Burbank CA | Los Angeles Music Teachers

Lesson on How to Get a Good Sound On The Saxophone!

4/4/2021
Saxophone lessons near me Los Angeles music teachers
The saxophone, when properly played, is extremely flexible and is capable of a wide range of expression. While the instrument is still sometimes unfairly maligned, a few simple steps can ensure that young saxophonists play with beautiful sounds that blend in any ensemble.

Quality Equipment
First, quality equipment is essential. While performers should never be led to believe that a sound can be bought, a great mouthpiece, reed, and ligature set-up can make the performer’s job much easier. 

Form an Embouchure
The saxophone embouchure is still often misunderstood. A collapsed chin, puffed out cheeks, and the like will never lead to the best sound. Likewise, the saxophone embouchure should not be overly tense or restricted.  Instead, follow a simple step-by-step process for best results.

First, for a great embouchure, rest the weight of the head (through the top teeth) on top of the mouthpiece. The neckstrap should be pulled up to a position where this can be achieved with the head in a natural, “looking-straight-ahead” position. For those students who find the vibrations traveling through the teeth from the mouthpiece off-putting (and for any who want to protect their mouthpieces from sharp teeth), a plastic or rubber mouthpiece patch is vital.

Next, the lower lip should be rested on the lower teeth, not pulled over them. The reed should rest on the puffiest portion of the lower lip. Indeed, before the embouchure is sealed, the corners of the lips should be pulled in towards the center, further puffing up the lower lip. Finally, the embouchure should be sealed, with the lower jaw pointed down, and with plenty of space between the back teeth. There should be no upward pressure from the lower jaw.

Proper Air Support
Next, the matter of air should be considered. The saxophone is a wind instrument, and an inefficient one at that! It requires a steady stream of charged air, no matter the dynamic being performed. Often, young players are told from the beginning of their performance careers to “Back off!” Unfortunately, this often leads to anemic playing that is unstable in the extremes of register and dynamic. Instead, young players should be allowed to play out a bit more (with controlled sounds, of course), until they have had time to develop. Then, it will be much easier to perform even at the lowest dynamic and in any register with a quality, in-tune sound.

​
Mouthpiece Exercise
A simple tool can be utilized to help insure proper embouchure tension and airstream support. While not foolproof, playing reference pitches on the mouthpiece alone can get any student much closer to proper playing techniques. For the soprano saxophone, a concert C#6 (two octaves above middle C) should naturally come out when the mouthpiece alone is played.  Similarly, the alto mouthpiece should produce a concert A5, the tenor a G5, and the baritone a D5. If any given mouthpiece is being played higher (or if the student seems to be constricting so much that no pitch comes out), that may point to too much tension in the embouchure. Inversely, a too-low pitch is a byproduct of too loose of an embouchure, too slow of an airstream, or a combination of the two.


Listening
Once the basics of tone production are comfortable for the student, they should be encouraged to listen to as many great tonal examples as possible. In this day of YouTube, there are a wealth of both wonderful and terrible role models at the students’ beck and call, so some professional guidance is in order.

With these simple pointers, students of any age will be much more likely to be able to consistently play with a beautiful saxophone sound. Then they and all those around them will be able to enjoy what truly is the most voice-like of wind instruments!

​If you're interested in taking lessons on Zoom or In Person in Burbank, Glendale or North Hollywood, please contact us at (818)902-1233 or on our website at https://www.losangelesmusicteachers.com/online-saxophone-lessons-in-burbank-ca.html​
request more information
call for more information
register for your first lesson
subscribe to our newsletter

Comments are closed.

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017

    Categories

    All
    Before Taking Drum Lessons
    Best Drum Lessons
    Best Guitar Lessons In Burbank
    Best Guitar Lessons Near Me
    Best Guitar Lessons Near You
    Best Private Guitar Lessons In Burbank And Los Angeles
    Best School For Guitar Lessons
    Best School For Guitar Lessons Near Me
    Burbank Music School
    Cello Lessons Los Angeles
    Cello Teacher Burbank
    Cello Teacher Los Angeles
    Clarinet Lessons Burbank
    Clarinet Lessons Los Angeles
    Clarinet Teacher Burbank
    Clarinet Teacher Los Angeles
    Drum Classes
    Drum Lessons
    Drum Lessons Near Me
    Drum School
    Drum Teacher Near Me
    Flute Lessons Burbank
    Flute Lessons Los Angles
    Flute Teacher Burbank
    Flute Teacher Los Angeles
    Guitar Lessons
    Guitar Lessons In Burbank
    Guitar Lessons In Los Angeles
    Guitar Teacher Burbank
    Guitar Teacher Los Angeles
    Instrumental Band
    Jazz Saxophone Lessons Burbank
    Jazz Saxophone Lessons Los Angeles
    Jazz Saxophone Teacher Burbank
    Jazz Saxophone Teacher Los Angeles
    Los Angeles Music Teachers
    Manoela Wunder
    Music Lessons Burbank
    Music Lessons Los Angeles
    Music Lessons Near Me
    Music School In Burbank
    Music School In Los Angeles
    Music Teacher Burbank
    Music Teacher Los Angeles
    Music Teachers
    Private Drum Lessons
    Private Guitar Lessons In Los Angeles
    Private Lessons
    Rick Rossi
    Rossi Music
    Violin Lessons Burbank
    Violin Lessons Los Angeles
    Violin Teacher Burbank
    Violin Teacher Los Angeles

    RSS Feed

​Music Lessons Av​ailable on All Instruments:
​Piano Lessons
Guitar Lessons
Voice Lessons
Drum Lessons
Violin Lessons
Cello Lessons
Saxophone Lessons
Jazz Improvisation Lessons
​Flute Lessons
Clarinet Lessons
Singing Lessons
Acoustic & Elec Bass
Songwriting & Production
Contact Us Now
Phone: 818-902-1233

242 1/2 W Cedar Ave
Burbank, CA 91502

​Email: rick@losangelesmusicteachers.com
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Website by Never Alone Business Services