 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: ReedChucker
Date: 2003-11-26 21:35
Any suggestions for which flavor of sax to start learning on to get into the high school jazz band, i.e. sop, alto, tenor, bari?
Currently playing Bb clarinet and the jazz band is not needy in any particular area. But as experienced by the person lamenting in a recent thread, No Clarinets Allowed!........yet. Basically I can approach it however I want so I'm wondering what makes a good combo, what makes for a smooth transition, or what makes for a good learning experience?
ReedChucker
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Burt
Date: 2003-11-26 21:56
From my experience, most of the meager amount of clarinet work is on the 2nd alto part, some on bari. The embochure change is a bit easier going to alto. An alto costs less and weighs less than the others. Bari is in more demand than alto or tenor, even though there's only one in a big band.
An advantage of taking up tenor is that it's in the same key (Bb) as clarinet, which could make improvization a bit easier.
There are no opportunities for a soprano-only or bass-only player in a big band, nor for C-melody anywhere.
So you pay your money and moake your choice. Enjoy playing the sax.
From a clarinetist who had the same dilemma, bought a tenor first, alto and bari later.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2003-11-26 22:16
Hi,
There is also something t consider here as well and that's "which sound do you like better." I played tenor first as I have always enjoyed that register and sound; alto came later and it is my favorite for legit stuff but tenor is still the one for jazz.
Burt is very on target with the idea of not having to transpose differently with tenor/clarinet. But after a while, I seem to be able to think in both clefs as well as make most transpositions without too much thought (thanks Mom for making me take all those piano lessons).
I'd think of the sound you want first!!!
HRL
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-11-26 23:38
Alto saxophone is the least difficult to work around, mainly due to the size of the mouthpiece. If you like the sound of the Alto, it can be lovely.
(I think it has the same sort of expressive quality of the Baritone sax, without the bulk.)
There are already more tenor sax players than you can shake a stick at...
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-11-27 00:11
It's six of one, half a dozon of the other. Each sax fingers the exact same. For instance, the fingering for a D on a tenor sax, is the same fingering for the D on an alto sax. They are in different keys, but that only affects improv.
Also, since they are only on flat (or sharp) away in keys (if you're in C in the tenor, you're in G in the alto, if you're in D in the tenor, you're in A in the alto, etc.), this really shouldn't make improvization THAT much easier from one instrument to another. The difference is in the feel and sound of the instrument. I'd go with whatever you like.
Alexi
[edit] Fixed the keys. (I hope) Thanks for pointing it out for me Chuck.
US Army Japan Band
Post Edited (2003-11-27 03:40)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: supernova_khr
Date: 2003-11-27 05:33
I'd consider how many of the different flavors of sax are currently playing in your high school. My son really wanted to be in jazz band, and he asked his middle school teacher what sax he'd have a better chance of making it with. She had more altos than she needed, but didn't have enough tenors or baris. He has since taken up tenor, and with 1 year of lessons made the freshman high school jazz band. He had played soprano and bass clarinet in concert band, and found the tenor easier to blow than the bass clarinet.
Whichever sax you pick, make sure you get some private lessons. If you can get a teacher who will work with you on improvisation, that's even better.
Have fun,
Kay
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gary Van Cott
Date: 2003-11-27 20:25
When I started playing sax, I started on tenor because there were few people playing tenor in my high school. (This was back in the sixties and in our district no one was started on sax so there were never very many sax players in the bands).
However, during my first year of college I needed to borrow an alto for a gig and found I liked it much better than the tenor. So I bought a Mark VI alto and played on it a lot for about 3 years.
Have hardly touched it since I started playing clarinet again in 1996.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: William
Date: 2003-11-28 16:14
Bari and tenor saxes are most "in demand" in the typical school music program, so start with one of those. From teaching and playing experiance, all saxophones are equally easy to learn to play--and equally hard to completely master. The larger saxes hang heavily on your neck--expecially during that fourth big band set--and that is probably the main reason for the popularity of the alto. For me, the most "fun" jazz ensemble part is the bari because it is the "heart and soul" of the section and can really "drive" the entire ensemble without having too many intricate technical parts (depending on the level of your band, that is). My least favorite part is the fourth tenor because you play constantly, the parts often do not seem to really contribute that much to the sound of the group and you seldom get to solo and be recognized. Kind of like playing second clarinet in an orchestra where you make the principal clarinetist sound great, but never get to take the bow. But that is another story................
Just remember that whatever sax you choose to begin with, the most common mistake made by clarinets switching to sax is in using too hard a reed to get that "big sound" right away. Use a light reed and a relaxed concept of embouchure (almost double lip) and, to help your beginning sound and intonation, put the mouthpiece straight into your mouth (hold the sax in front of you to help you do this), not at the downward angle of the clarinet.
And to complete your "doubling combo", also start learning to play the flute.........then oboe, bassoon to be "Hollywood Studio" material.
But what I've mostly learned from all of my jazz and theator gigs on woodwind parts is, that in my next life, I am going to learn to play the trumpet.
Have fun, and enjoy.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
