 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2004-11-14 17:13
Friday was a work holiday for me, so I loaded a bunch of clarinets I would never play again into my car, drove to South Bend, and traded them for a used H. Couf Superba I Tenor Sax. This seemed the best choice given how much money I had to spend, the choices available, the condition of the instrument, and its potential resale value in a few years if I want to trade.
The HS band director gave me an alto one day and said "here - play it."
So I have played alto sax in high school stage band, tenor in a big band briefly in the 1970's, and alto and tenor in lots of pit orchestras. But I have never had a lesson, and haven't played sax at all in 20 years.
It would really be nice to start off this time on the right footing. Beyond sending e-mails to some professional friends to see about some lessons, what should a reasonably accomplished clarinetist do to gain skills on a new instrument?
Thanks in advance.
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Author: Gandalfe
Date: 2004-11-14 18:01
You probably know this already, but you'll want to do the same things that you did to learn the clarinet. I would concentrate on two areas for the first few months; and I do this with the help of an instructor so that I don't start out wrong.
The sax has a looser embouchure so start with long tones a the start of every practice sessions. There are a number of great discussions of this on the http://www.saxontheweb.net/phpbb/ site.
You will also want to work on the fingering so that you don't have to think how to finger a note, you just know. This is accomplished by repetition. Scales and arpeggios help here.
If you are beyond this stage, the next thing to do is start using the Jamey Aebersold books that provide a CD. Most people learning to improvise start with Maiden Voyage http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000009CO6/102-3969122-8301706?v=glance and work their way through the kinds of music they are interested in (Jazz, Blues, Rock, Fusion). When I show these books to my students, they pretty much don't want to do anything else. :o)
I like ballads so one of my favorite books is Jazz Ballads from the Hal Leonard 'Jazz Play Along" series. It too has a CD so that you can play with a pro or just the backup band.
As some have said, "It's not the destination, it's the journey." Enjoy!
Jim and Suzy
Pacifica Big Band
Seattle, Washington
Post Edited (2004-11-14 18:02)
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Author: allencole
Date: 2004-11-14 21:27
I would add Jim Snidero's "Jazz Conception" to the book collection. It's a good technical challenge, and also good stylistic orientation.
Good luck, and enjoy the new sax!
Allen Cole
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2004-11-15 11:59
Good information!
I can play it and make it sound like a sax. The low range is looking good - the high range (altissimo) is not there at all. Fingerings are definitely not second nature yet. A teacher will hopefully help select a better mouthpiece, get me going on chops building, and point me in the right direction for scales and arpeggios.
Thanks for your help!
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2004-11-15 20:10
A friend suggested these hard rubber mouthpieces:
Meyer, medium chamber, 5 or 6 face
Selmer S80, C*, C**, or D face
Selmer S90, 190 face (or maybe 180 face)
I am not looking for a particularly bright sound.
Any other suggestions?
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-11-16 00:34
On tenor sax, a Link 5 in hard rubber, is about the same as a Meyer 6 and is a good place to start.
To facilitate the upper register, you might want to try a slightly more open facing such as a Link 5* (about the same as a Meyer 7) ..GBK
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Author: johnsonfromwisconsin
Date: 2004-11-16 15:06
Ralph,
You could pick up Larry Teal's book, "the Art of Saxophone Playing". You may find it a good reference. It contains some issues with doubling FROM saxophone which might prove usefull in (re)developing embrochure with respect to the clarinet.
-JfW
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2004-11-16 16:24
Hi Ralph,
I play Selmer (C* to E) and Meyer MPs (7) on sax a lot. The numbers that were suggested are medium to a little more open which should be a good starting place. There should be lots of these around and the proces will not be too bad. I get a more classical sound on the Selmers and a much more agressive sounds on the Meyer.
You probably have enough clarinet books around to hold you for now, use them and just transpose the stuff that is too low. The altissimo will come along is due course (just like on clarinet). You can work out the fingerings above high F later.
HRL
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2004-11-16 19:44
It would be much less confusing to get a scale book written for saxophone than play parts of exercises in a clarinet book. This would allow me to focus more on playing and less on conversion.
Having said that, the Arban trumpet book has some really good exercises for any instrument, especially if played in all keys. I will try to dig it out of my scary music filing system in the next few days.
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2004-11-16 20:36
Ralph,
If you have an oboe or flute book, I use those all the time (including most of the high altissimo required by the flute book). The Arban book is a proven exercise book right in the registers that you need to develop facility. Missing though is a lot of stuff way above the staff.
I guess I'm just too cheap!
HRL
PS While using a clarinet book, just catch your breath (for the appropriate number of counts) when the notes are out of current range :-). Got a Lazarus book handy? Tons of stuff for the middle register which is exactly what you need.
Post Edited (2004-11-16 20:46)
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