Forum of the Saxes

retromom72 · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 5 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa

Can someone please explain the dynamics of crescendo and decrescendo to me? I get the idea and at times I feel somewhat comfortable with it but I don't always feel like I'm keeping an even tone and it also seems like it is never an even transition -it seems more like a forced change in tone and volume. {because it is Shocked

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I've read the technique but it seems like a lot of more experienced players have different explanations and techniques that they have picked up through trial and error and experience for certain things and they have always helped me in the past so I thought I would throw this one out to a couple of beginner boards Very Happy

Thanks
Vicki

JPSaxMan · Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2005 8:08 am Post subject:

Crescendo is a gradual increase in volume, blending with your fellow players at all times until the end of the crescendo and you are now at your dynamic level, whatever that might be.

Descrescendo is exactly the opposite, decreasing in volume blending around you until you are at the new dynamic level marked.

Nothing too hard about that, just a matter of blending and keeping a nice, rich tone. No blattyness or squonking either, that's illegal Mr. Green

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

retromom72 · Joined: 26 Jun 2005 Posts: 5 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa

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

The best way to get a controlled sound when playing loud and soft is by playing lots and lots of long tones. You start by holding a steady long note at piano, crescendo to forte, then decrescendo back to piano. If you're an experienced player, this can last 20 seconds or more. For a beginner, you can start by making them shorter, and gradually increasing the length of the note. Long tones are THE KEY. Play lots of them, and your sound WILL improve. Cool

Edit: On the note of squeaking (haha, bad pun), there are a few main things you should check for. First, make sure your mouth is positioned right on the mouthpiece. Your bottom lip should contact the mouthpiece at the point where the reed touches it. Second, make sure your mouth is in an "ooo" shape when you play. Never make an "eee" shape. There are no happy saxophone players - always keep the corners of your mouth firmly tucked in. Third, make sure you're biting down on the top of the mouthpiece. This keeps your mouth from sliding around, and makes for a better seal around the reed.
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Thomas Hay
Sax player, music student, composer, Finale user, and part-time slacker/procrastinator.

wolfmaiden · Joined: 15 Sep 2005 Posts: 13

yes, yes, yes to all of the above.........and, try using a mouthpiece patch (I prefer the clear Yamaha ones myself - just seem softer) - stops you sliding around on the 'piece and also dulls the vibrations through to your teeth!

Breath support I've found to be the key to even tones - whether playing ff or pp - always take a full breath - solid diaphragm and breath support - also I try to focus on keeping the throat wide open (this takes concentration!) and projecting the sound (projection is not the same as volume) - anyone can play loud!

the longer I play, the more I'm convinced that the pro's are right - long tones are the answer!