Hey guys, I'm happy to announce the release of my ebook "Jazz Improvisation for Beginners: Improvising with the Blues Scale". If you're new to improvising, this might be something for you! :) You can find more information here: www.thomashaehnlein.com/shop
Thanks for another super-helpful video Thomas! Although I’ve played the saxophone for many years, I’d never tried mouthpiece-only exercises. Now that I’m two years into playing again after a 16-year break, I decided it’s time to try these exercises (I’m having intonation problems, especially in the upper register, I am not proficient with overtones, and I’m not currently able to play above G3). I even purchased the silencer for this, a product made by JazzLab, so that I would not drive my family or pets crazy). When I tried to produce a tone on just the MP yesterday, I was disappointed to discover that all that was coming out was a faint, very high-pitched “tone” (it was more like a squeak) and lots of air. Thinking it might have been a reed that was too soft, I tried a stiffer one, but to no avail. I then tried a synthetic reed: no; same result. Next, I tried a different MP: still no luck. Wondering if I’d have a better outcome on the alto, I tried with my alto MP (I’ve played alto much longer than tenor). Alas, no. The result with both MP alone and with the silencer was the same: a faint, high-pitched squeal with mostly air. I could, however, easily produce a tone with the MP+neck (which was a concert E on the tenor…is that about the right pitch?). Do you have any suggestions? I’m sorry for the long comment, but I’d really like to work on these exercises. Thanks for all your excellent uploads!
Hey Aaron, I think I can imagine where you’re coming from. It seems like you didn’t find a comfortable position on the mouthpiece to produce a sound yet. Once you’re gonna be able to produce a sound on the mouthpiece alone, you should see very positive effects from that on your playing. In general these things are best to be looked at in a 1 on 1 setting with a teacher, but what could help you is the nutcracker exercise that I discussed in another video you can find on my channel :) hope that helps a bit!
thanks for the advice! And also what about the "little saxophone," mouthpiece/neck? Great for pitch, tone, tonguing, pitch-bend, dynamics, even vibrato. Plus, especially for students I always have them assemble MP on neck first, then reed on MP.....much easier to test and adjust reeds using "little sax" first!
Hey Ron, thanks for your comment! Little saxophone is a nice term :) I personally don’t use it much with students, only if the mouthpiece alone doesn’t work right away. But it’s a great idea to practice the things you mentioned in this way!
Excellent 👍. Also, it's useful to use a tuner when practicing mouthpiece exercises, to lock your pitch in place. And, don't choke the reed with your lips. Use a strong diaphragm and your throat /larynx to keep you air steady and change the pitch. This may take weeks, months, so be armed with lots of patience :)
Excellent presentation, Tom! I also have been using this technique along with just the mouthpiece and neck with "F" as the target when attached to the alto. I tell my students to aim for a "fat resonant tone". It's the first thing in EVERY lesson for the first minute before they play anything else.
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Hey guys, I'm happy to announce the release of my ebook "Jazz Improvisation for Beginners: Improvising with the Blues Scale". If you're new to improvising, this might be something for you! :)
You can find more information here: www.thomashaehnlein.com/shop
After this exercise my middle C is now a B
I do this exercise on occasion, however you pointed out some variations I hadn't thought of before. Thanks, Thomas. Will share your channel. Peace :)
Hi Michael, thank you for your comment! I’m glad the video gave you some new ideas :)
@@ThomasHaehnlein Peace, my friend :)
Thanks for another super-helpful video Thomas!
Although I’ve played the saxophone for many years, I’d never tried mouthpiece-only exercises. Now that I’m two years into playing again after a 16-year break, I decided it’s time to try these exercises (I’m having intonation problems, especially in the upper register, I am not proficient with overtones, and I’m not currently able to play above G3). I even purchased the silencer for this, a product made by JazzLab, so that I would not drive my family or pets crazy).
When I tried to produce a tone on just the MP yesterday, I was disappointed to discover that all that was coming out was a faint, very high-pitched “tone” (it was more like a squeak) and lots of air. Thinking it might have been a reed that was too soft, I tried a stiffer one, but to no avail. I then tried a synthetic reed: no; same result. Next, I tried a different MP: still no luck. Wondering if I’d have a better outcome on the alto, I tried with my alto MP (I’ve played alto much longer than tenor). Alas, no. The result with both MP alone and with the silencer was the same: a faint, high-pitched squeal with mostly air. I could, however, easily produce a tone with the MP+neck (which was a concert E on the tenor…is that about the right pitch?).
Do you have any suggestions? I’m sorry for the long comment, but I’d really like to work on these exercises. Thanks for all your excellent uploads!
Hey Aaron, I think I can imagine where you’re coming from. It seems like you didn’t find a comfortable position on the mouthpiece to produce a sound yet. Once you’re gonna be able to produce a sound on the mouthpiece alone, you should see very positive effects from that on your playing. In general these things are best to be looked at in a 1 on 1 setting with a teacher, but what could help you is the nutcracker exercise that I discussed in another video you can find on my channel :) hope that helps a bit!
Great tip
thanks for the advice! And also what about the "little saxophone," mouthpiece/neck? Great for pitch, tone, tonguing, pitch-bend, dynamics, even vibrato. Plus, especially for students I always have them assemble MP on neck first, then reed on MP.....much easier to test and adjust reeds using "little sax" first!
Hey Ron, thanks for your comment! Little saxophone is a nice term :) I personally don’t use it much with students, only if the mouthpiece alone doesn’t work right away. But it’s a great idea to practice the things you mentioned in this way!
Excellent sharing.
Glad you liked the video!
Excellent 👍. Also, it's useful to use a tuner when practicing mouthpiece exercises, to lock your pitch in place. And, don't choke the reed with your lips. Use a strong diaphragm and your throat /larynx to keep you air steady and change the pitch. This may take weeks, months, so be armed with lots of patience :)
Good points Nick!
These are the different embouchures ,tight for classical , relaxed and loose for jazz.
Excellent presentation, Tom! I also have been using this technique along with just the mouthpiece and neck with "F" as the target when attached to the alto. I tell my students to aim for a "fat resonant tone". It's the first thing in EVERY lesson for the first minute before they play anything else.
Thanks Bob! I think it’s great what you mention, doing it in every lesson in the beginning so it really builds a habit over time