Klarinet Archive - Posting 000487.txt from 2004/11

From: "D. Blumberg" <FilmPromotion@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] re: Soprano Sax starting student
Date: Sat, 13 Nov 2004 18:03:15 -0500

I agree - never start a sax player out on Soprano Sax. Though if you
must than require that the student get and constantly use a tuner.
Think of it like the Bassoon - use a tuner or don't play it!

David Blumberg
http://download.com/davidblumberg

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"Lacy, Edwin" <el2@-----.edu>
Date: Sat, 13 Nov 2004 12:12:24 -0500

Someone wrote:

<<<One of my sop sax students (just beginning) is relocating to
Seattle
area and needs a good teacher.>>>

This caught my attention, because as a saxophone teacher, it doesn't
seem to me that beginning on the soprano sax is a particularly good
choice. Unless the student has a top-of-the-line professional
instrument, with a top quality mouthpiece and reeds to match, the
soprano sax can be a really cranky and idiosyncratic instrument.
While
the student is learning the mechanical parts of saxophone playing, it
would seem to be to be advantageous if he didn't also have to deal
with
the difficult characteristics of the soprano. I would have
recommended
to the student that they begin on the alto sax, or even the tenor. I
think that in a later message it was mentioned that the student in
question is an adult, but even so, there would be special problems to
contend with.

Would anyone care to either agree or disagree with this point of view?

Ed Lacy
University of Evansville
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