Forum of the Saxes

CMelodyMan · Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 4:49 pm Post subject: To the side or in the middle?

Do you play alto to the side or in between your legs?

JazZz · Joined: 05 Jul 2005 Posts: 170

I don't know if this is Bad/weird or anything, but for Ensemble class I play in the middle, but in Jazz I play to the side.

JPSaxMan · Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 9:45 pm Post subject:

I always play in the middle...no matter what Cool

_________________
JP
Student of Saxophone
Music Education (BME) Major-2011
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

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

For the common alto, tenor, baritone, and bass, you should always play to the side. The keys are arranged so that your hands wrap around them in the most comfortable way. If you are playing in the midde, it is awkward for your hands. I had it in the middle for several years, until my teacher straightened me out.

Due to the size and shape of the saxophone, it is contrary to the hand position to have it placed parallel to your body. If you look at any modern saxophone, you will notice that the bell is a little offset from the neck - it is not completely planar. This is because it naturally resets when you place the saxophone off to the side. You wouldn't put a baritone sax in the middle, would you? This rule applies to every curved saxophone.

Clarinets and oboes are different, however. Like the soprano, sopranino, and soprillo saxophones, they are straight. Their configuration makes it rather difficult to be placed off to the side, and pointless as well. Since these instruments are straight, they naturally fit into the same vertical plane as your spine. It simply makes logical sense to place curved instruments off to the side. Instruments other than the sax, for example, the bassoon and contrabassoon, also follow this rule.

Try it for a while. It may be different from what you're used to, but it is the correct way, and your playing will probably improve, too.
_________________
Thomas Hay
Sax player, music student, composer, Finale user, and part-time slacker/procrastinator.

JPSaxMan · Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 10:40 pm Post subject:

CMelodyMan · Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 10:43 pm Post subject:

I play bari in the middle.

Bleeding_Gums_Murphy · Joined: 04 Jul 2005 Posts: 75

Now that's different Very Happy

. Anyway, I play to the middle or on the side depending on what kind of mood I'm in. Usually middle, though.

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

Bleeding_Gums_Murphy · Joined: 04 Jul 2005 Posts: 75

Tom, that was JP who wrote that. But, yeah, if you're on the side, you shouldn't have to crane your neck. On my Super 20 it's much more comfortable in the middle, but on my old AS300 it's more comfortable on the side, because of the keys. So i guess the only way to solve this thread is...
It depends on the preference of the person and the horn.

When I play in the middle, i @4%67 the bell of my horn slightly to the left and kind of relax in my seat with my horn being supported by the thumb of my hand. That's just the position that feels most natural to me (my BD yells at me all the time "feet flat on the floor, sit on the edge of your chair, horn up, yada yada....", I got full marks for posture at NYSSMA, so...)

I've found though, that younger or smaller players tend to put the horn on the side, but bigger players play in the middle generally. I'm about 6'3'', with huge hands, so it makes sense that I would play more in the middle. People often tell me I should be playing tenor.

CMelodyMan · Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 10:35 pm Post subject:

You think being 6ft 3 and alto looks weird on you. You should have seen my Jazz honor band director. He was huge! 6ft 6, and like 400 pounds(I'm assuming). The alto looked like a curved sopranino on him!

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

JPSaxMan · Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 11:32 pm Post subject:

I'll never forget it...

It was my first morning of jazz band. The director looked right at me and said out loud, "Your posture is terrible"...I was turned in the chair to accomodate the off the side alto. He's like, "Straighten out...no like this" and he moved me around while everyone else was watching keep in mind...I was a young intimidated 7th grader and this wasn't helping...then he's like, "OK, now put the sax in the middle...THERE YA GO!" and ever since then I've played it to the middle. Certainly hasn't hurt my playing any! Cool

_________________
JP
Student of Saxophone
Music Education (BME) Major-2011
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

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

Now, back on topic. Since I'm obviously failing in my attempts to explain my point of view, let me give you guys some insight.

Here's my teacher's email address (wstreet@ualberta.ca). He will be able to better explain to you the correct way to position the sax.

Here's a link for credibility: http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/mu...7&nav02=11770&nav01=11711
_________________
Thomas Hay
Sax player, music student, composer, Finale user, and part-time slacker/procrastinator.