Forum of the Saxes

Bri · Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 3

I have a beginning Alto Sax student who is having trouble playing any dynamic below fortissimo. Any advice on how I can get him to play a bit softer?

Thanks!

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Bri

BariSax37 · Joined: 24 Dec 2005 Posts: 70 Location: Warren MI

well if he is like brand new its common to only play loud. Its like when your in 6th grade and you havent been able to devolp your mouth to a saxophone yet. If he is brand new than he will adjust with time and develop a mature sound.
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Jason Hamilton
Baritone Saxophonist
Warren Mott High
Warren MI

Bri · Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 3

Thank you for the reply. I understand it's common to play loud and I wasn't too worried about it for the first 5 months or so. This student plays uncommonly loud and the rest of his classmates have already figured out how to tone it down. Any other advice other than give it time?
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Bri

BariSax37 · Joined: 24 Dec 2005 Posts: 70 Location: Warren MI

play songs with the only dynamic being FF in them lol but with all seriousness Ive never experienced this with one of my private lesson students so I dont know what else to tell you.
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Jason Hamilton
Baritone Saxophonist
Warren Mott High
Warren MI

JPSaxMan · Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2006 3:48 pm Post subject:

Well, if this in a band (school) setting, I can't say as if there is a cure yet. The students I work with also play FFFFFFF most of the time, and I've tried making them listen to themselves, but this does not help.
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JP
Student of Saxophone
Music Education (BME) Major-2011
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

WorstViceAdvice · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Posts: 15

[quote="Bri"]I have a beginning Alto Sax student who is having trouble playing any dynamic below fortissimo. Any advice on how I can get him to play a bit softer?

Thanks![/quote]

I had this problem when I first started playing clarinet. Basically, I couldn't get a sound out unless I played fortissimo. I think he just needs to learn ligature control.

My exact problem was that when I would try to play softer, I would choke up the air and I wouldn't get any sound. I don't know what his exact problem is, but I worked through it by starting at a fortissimo and then gradually lowering the volume until the sound stopped, and then I'd just keep trying to keep the air/sound going as I got softer. It took me almost a year to get down to pianissimo.

Remist · Joined: 04 Oct 2006 Posts: 8

Use a softer reed.