How To Play A Saxophone
Saxophone was invented in the year 1846 by Antoine Joseph Sax, a Belgian by birth, in Paris, France.
It remained virtually dormant for the half century after the invention when Ferdinad A. Buescher perfected it for making it one of the lead instruments which brought the Jazz revolution in the Music world.
Mastering With Saxophone:
Many people believe that it easy to become a complete saxophonist, but in reality a considerable amount of practice is required to develop a good tone and fluent technique.
While playing a saxophone, the mouthpiece should not be taken more than halfway into the player’s mouth. During this the lower lip gets support from lower teeth which in turn makes contact with the reed. Very light pressure should be made from the upper teeth which rest on the mouthpiece.
In order to make it air-tight, upper lip should be completely closed. There are three things which make the sound of the saxophone better which include- air pressure which depends on the diaphragm, vibration of the reed which depends upon the contact made between the lip and the reed, and most importantly the tongue position within the mouth. This provides focus to the player while he plays the instrument.
One key element for efficient and successful practicing is the concentration. To master the saxophone it is important to be able to focus your mind. Some short sessions should be held in which you can focus on, think about what your tongue and fingers are doing is much better than one long session in which you will never be able to concentrate while you are practicing.
In this way you end up learning more in less amount of time. If you are serious to learn playing the saxophone, then you should practice for at least one hour daily while to become a professional 2-3 hours per day is what you will have to spend on your practice.
As learning any musical instrument is an art requiring considerable practice and focus, the dedication to learn must remain vibrant even when it seems to be monotonous and boring.
Most of the students of Saxophone start with an objective of playing it like the pro but the initial learning lessons can be really tough and challenging to any novice. You can practice it all day long, but it helpful till the time you are able to concentrate.
While practicing you should not play the same kind of tone all the time, instead your practice sessions should be divided in such a way that you don’t feel boredom.
You can divide your practice sessions into three main areas which include- tone, technical facility and music. Since tone activity include long notes, it makes it the hardest tone to concentrate on. If you can focus on this tone and don’t let your mind wander here and there, then you can get the most out of it.
You should always try to play these long notes in the starting since in the starting your mind is fresh and you are also able to concentrate well. If you make a mistake when practicing, it is important for you to know the reason behind that mistake. Once you know what is going wrong with the tone then you can easily overcome that.
Always try to set a limit of your practice session and then try to stay in those limits. You should always bring a pencil to rehearsal, and use it to remind yourself of your problems and their solutions.
Try concentrating with your eyes closed as this helps you concentrate more. Don’t forget to practice just because you don’t have the time. People often forget past memories. So it is essential for you to make notes while you practice. They will always keep you in direct touch of the music and also help in making you a master of this activity.