Forum of the Saxes

Remist · Joined: 04 Oct 2006 Posts: 8

This may seem an obvious question but I`ve received so many opinions I thought I would raise it here. Where do you folks hold your alto saxes when playing seated; to the side of your leg or between your legs? Our band conductor says "all saxes to the outside" while I notice top players at a conservatoire of music had them between their legs. Or is it choose either way, but make them all the same in the group? I`ve got a dodgy right thumb and wrist so prefer between the legs for more support.

darby dylan · Joined: 30 Jul 2005 Posts: 63

i play in between and i know lots who play on the side.
eache his own ease
try both ways
none is bad

dylan Darby

Thomas · Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 223 Location: Alberta, Canada

I have had several teachers, and they all have different ways of playing. Generally speaking, there's really no wrong way, persay, to play the saxophone; some ways just work better than others. Just look at Michael Brecker, for instance. He's widely considered to be the fastest sax player still living (barely, since he recently recovered from myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)), and if you ever watched him play, you would be shocked at how many bad playing habits he has. But does that slow him down? Wink

I guess what I'm saying is that either way is fine. If you get used to one way of holding the saxophone, and develop a habit of playing comfortably that way, then it's not really an issue.
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Thomas Hay
Sax player, music student, composer, Finale user, and part-time slacker/procrastinator.