Understanding how to increase your saxophone playing skill level can be quite difficult, despite the ease in playing which many musicians find when picking up a saxophone for the very first time. Achieving your goals of masterful playing is a worthwhile endeavor, but it can be discouraging to dedicate long hours practicing only to notice minor improvements. In order to fluidly bolster your sax skills in a timely manner, try following these steps for taking your music to the next level.
The way to Take Your Saxophone Skills to a Higher Level
You'll need a systematic method of improving your playing skills in a reasonable period of time. Your approach should include a focus on your tone, technique, and articulation.
Improving Your Saxophone Tone
The quality of your sound, or tone, while playing is one the best ways to increase your overall level of performance. The saxophone as an instrument is extremely versatile in its capacity to produce a variety of tones. Just listen to the dissimilarities between Stan Getz and Lenny Pickett for an example of tonal variations and ranges.
* Focusing on overtones is a surefire way to enhance the tonal quality of your playing. Here's how: 1. Try playing a low B flat fingering, but blow through the horn the same way you would for a middle B flat. This method will produce a heftier, louder tone. 2. Next, work on making your middle B flat sound just as substantial as the overtone fingering. 3. Progress up the scale in half-step increments until you reach middle D. Once you hit the middle D, you'll need to use the palm key fingerings to get you the note an octave below. Don't change your overtone notes by moving your embouchure. Instead, position your throat as if you were singing that note and allow your ear to direct your throat to the most appropriate position.
* Keep your lower lip sufficiently puckered outward to guarantee the most contact between the reed and the fleshy area of your lip.
* While playing, concentrate on the long E sound, "EE", to keep your throat unobstructed.
Boosting Your Saxophone Technique
While the expression "technique" may apply to various facets of playing a musical instrument, for musicians striving to improve their playing ability, the expression technique refers to the proclivity to execute rapid successions of notes in a clean way.
* Focus on scales and arpeggios in the same key before moving on to another key. Your mission should be to play skillfully well in one key, before moving onto another one. It's better to play a single key competently than to play all twelve in a sloppy manner.
* Instead of concentrating on your fingers while playing, pay attention to your tone quality.
* Loosen up any rigidity in your neck before you begin playing to prevent having that tightness spread to your shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers. Staying loose will enhance your playing.
Mastering Saxophone Articulation
Articulation can often be difficult to master, but growing your skill level in this area will allow you to express melodies in a meaningful way, crammed with details of shape and texture. Well-executed articulation involves utilizing your tongue position to start and stop notes correctly.
Here are some tips to help you enhance your articulation on the saxophone:
* Correct articulation necessitates moving your tongue forward enough to reach up to to a position just beyond the very tip of the reed.
* Make best use of your articulation by moving your tongue up towards the reed and down away from the reed, instead of back and forth, for the optimum results.
Getting Your Saxophone Playing to the Next Level
Getting your saxophone playing to the next level requires more than just having a fantastic saxophone teacher or reading an informational how-to book on increasing your saxophone skills. To arrive at your goals of bettering your playing, you'll want to develop keen listening skills that allow you to establish a precise sonic image of your ideal individual voice on the instrument. Listen to great saxophone players from years past and present, sharpen your focus during practice sessions, and set attainable goals to enhance your skill level. Becoming a great saxophone player isn't about the number of hours you spend practicing, but about the quality and hard work your pour into those hours.
The way to Take Your Saxophone Skills to a Higher Level
You'll need a systematic method of improving your playing skills in a reasonable period of time. Your approach should include a focus on your tone, technique, and articulation.
Improving Your Saxophone Tone
The quality of your sound, or tone, while playing is one the best ways to increase your overall level of performance. The saxophone as an instrument is extremely versatile in its capacity to produce a variety of tones. Just listen to the dissimilarities between Stan Getz and Lenny Pickett for an example of tonal variations and ranges.
* Focusing on overtones is a surefire way to enhance the tonal quality of your playing. Here's how: 1. Try playing a low B flat fingering, but blow through the horn the same way you would for a middle B flat. This method will produce a heftier, louder tone. 2. Next, work on making your middle B flat sound just as substantial as the overtone fingering. 3. Progress up the scale in half-step increments until you reach middle D. Once you hit the middle D, you'll need to use the palm key fingerings to get you the note an octave below. Don't change your overtone notes by moving your embouchure. Instead, position your throat as if you were singing that note and allow your ear to direct your throat to the most appropriate position.
* Keep your lower lip sufficiently puckered outward to guarantee the most contact between the reed and the fleshy area of your lip.
* While playing, concentrate on the long E sound, "EE", to keep your throat unobstructed.
Boosting Your Saxophone Technique
While the expression "technique" may apply to various facets of playing a musical instrument, for musicians striving to improve their playing ability, the expression technique refers to the proclivity to execute rapid successions of notes in a clean way.
* Focus on scales and arpeggios in the same key before moving on to another key. Your mission should be to play skillfully well in one key, before moving onto another one. It's better to play a single key competently than to play all twelve in a sloppy manner.
* Instead of concentrating on your fingers while playing, pay attention to your tone quality.
* Loosen up any rigidity in your neck before you begin playing to prevent having that tightness spread to your shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers. Staying loose will enhance your playing.
Mastering Saxophone Articulation
Articulation can often be difficult to master, but growing your skill level in this area will allow you to express melodies in a meaningful way, crammed with details of shape and texture. Well-executed articulation involves utilizing your tongue position to start and stop notes correctly.
Here are some tips to help you enhance your articulation on the saxophone:
* Correct articulation necessitates moving your tongue forward enough to reach up to to a position just beyond the very tip of the reed.
* Make best use of your articulation by moving your tongue up towards the reed and down away from the reed, instead of back and forth, for the optimum results.
Getting Your Saxophone Playing to the Next Level
Getting your saxophone playing to the next level requires more than just having a fantastic saxophone teacher or reading an informational how-to book on increasing your saxophone skills. To arrive at your goals of bettering your playing, you'll want to develop keen listening skills that allow you to establish a precise sonic image of your ideal individual voice on the instrument. Listen to great saxophone players from years past and present, sharpen your focus during practice sessions, and set attainable goals to enhance your skill level. Becoming a great saxophone player isn't about the number of hours you spend practicing, but about the quality and hard work your pour into those hours.
About the Author:
Carlo Azarian is a professional saxophonist who recently released a acclaimed saxophone book and audio course created to help people play saxophone like the pros, whether they choose to play saxophone in jazz, classical, or pop settings.
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