by Lee Morin
Do you love jazz music and the sounds that come from a saxophone? You love it so much you now want to learn how to play it for yourself. Are you willing to spend the time it takes to learn to play an instrument? Here are a few points to consider before jumping in.
Get a good saxophone, at least one that works properly. Have it looked at by your local repair technician and make certain that it is in good playing condition. It is not wise to begin learning on the soprano sax because of the precision of the mouthpiece and restiveness of the instrument in general. It is a difficult instrument to play. If you were a beginner, you would be better off beginning with the alto or tenor saxophone for approximately two years before trying the soprano saxophone. Here is a list of some brands that you may want to look into:
Yamaha YAS-23
Selmer AS 300
A rocket is a reed that thinks brilliantly.
—José Bergamín (1895–1983)
Keilwerth ST 90
When you buy your saxophone, it is important to get all that you need: the mouthpiece, ligature, and some reeds (some beginner reeds is all you need to start with). Make sure you do not forget to buy the neck strap and that it is adjustable. You will need to get a cleaning cloth of some type and cork grease – these items will come in very handy, as you will soon learn.
Now that you have made your purchase and you are home admiring your new instrument the first thing you want to do (after opening your case) is to:
Choose a reed and get it wet. Preferably, the reed should be soaked in a cup of water that is at room temperature for several minutes. You want to be careful not to bite or damage the thin tip of the reed.
While your reed is soaking, you can start putting your saxophone together. Gently twist (never force) and push the neckpiece into the body so that the neck is completely in and pointing in a direction opposite of the bell, then tighten the screw on the neck.
I used to be a discipline problem, which caused me embarrassment until I realized that being a discipline problem in a racist society is sometimes an honor.
—Ishmael Reed (b. 1938)
You ought to put a very small amount of cork grease on the cork and then put the mouthpiece on the neck by pushing and twisting at the same time (not forcefully).
Hold the saxophone in your lap with the mouthpiece pointing up so that you are looking at it straight on. You may want to put the ligature on the mouthpiece first, that you way you will not damage your reed (or at least you are less likely to).
Take the reed from the cup of water and set it in between the ligature and the table of the mouthpiece. This is a very important step, so take your time. The thin tip of the reed ought to be even with the tip of the mouthpiece. Press the reed against the tip of the mouthpiece, check to see that it is adjusted correctly, and centered properly. Then line up the ligature so that it is centered and straight. Now tighten the screws just enough to keep the reed in place.
The embouchure (French meaning "opening into") is your lips and facial muscles that you use in playing wind instruments. Start by placing your two front teeth on the top of the mouthpiece about a half inch from the tip. Put the weight of your head or the majority of it on the top of the mouthpiece. You want the mouthpiece to be secured in the same place in your embouchure so that airflow is directed at the same place all the time. Put your lower lip over your lower teeth. Not too much, or too little. You should breathe through your mouth, keeping your top teeth on the mouthpiece at all times. Lower your bottom jaw, open your mouth, and take a quick inhale of air. By breathing in this way, you can get a full breath of air in a very short time span.
Now that you own your own saxophone and know how to put it together and you have learned where to place your mouth on the instrument and how to breathe correctly, it is now time to start those lessons that you have been planning. Talk to family and friends or if you are a student, you are ready to start your music lessons at school.