Author: concertmaster3
Date: 2014-05-14 01:57
Hi KJC,
I'm primarily an oboist, but a multiple woodwinds specialist.
One of the things I teach my students switching instruments is start from the very beginning. They all begin with the basics, like embouchure development, no matter what their experience level on their previous instrument might have been. Once these fundamentals are set and in place, everything else falls into place very easily.
So to start, I'd have you work on mouthpiece pitches, probably for at least a week, without putting the saxophone together. This worked wonders for me on clarinet and on saxophone. On alto sax (which is what I'm assuming you're playing), you'll want to hit A-880 (on oboe, A with the octave key). Remember that the embouchure's job is to create a seal around the mouthpiece and reed to ensure that all of the air goes into the instrument. The shape of the embouchure is going to be very similar to the oboe, a soft cushioned "O"-shape, but your top teeth will touch the mouthpiece (as long as you're going with the more conventional single lip embouchure).
For vibrato, you'll want to wait until your embouchure is well set up. But only after the embouchure and air are in place, will you move to this. This is where saxophone is different from the other woodwinds that use vibrato regularly. The saxophone (and the clarinet when vibrato is used) uses jaw vibrato primarily. For this (remember...after the embouchure is set up properly) you will mimic saying "Wah-Wah-Wah-Wah" with your mouth.
You'll definitely want to take lessons with a saxophonist, although, once you get the basics together with this teacher, you'll probably be well on your way to being able to figure out a lot of other stuff yourself. All of the above tips are much easier explained in person and with someone who can point out your faults and help you fix them on the fly. Remember though, that your musicality does transfer from one instrument to another!
A little background on me to answer your questions at the end...I started musically as a violinist, moved through the stringed instruments in middle school and started oboe in 9th grade. I began to pick up other woodwinds, and saxophone was next to last, during my junior year (I wanted to play flute in jazz band, so I learned alto sax). In about a week, I was playing with the jazz band. With regards to technique, I was ready in that short time period, but I would have benefited from a few lessons with a saxophonist to get a better sound.
Hope this answers your questions!
Ron
Ron Ford
Woodwind Specialist
Performer/Teacher/Arranger
http://www.RonFordMusic.com
|
|
The Doublers BBoard
