I purchased a straight sorprano struggled with it for a few months then got a curved one and played it straight away it seemed mor balanced, I didn’t need to hold it out as far and didn’t crimp the neck. I don’t know! It worked for me.
I play soprano and the low notes are the hardest,I started on a vandoren 2 1/2 reed and after about a month I got a rovner ligature and a mitchel lurie 3 reed and it really helps!
I took up playing the soprano about 45 years ago, having previously played flute for 15 years. I had no problem at all with the soprano, and I think that two factors carried over from the flute helped a lot. On flute a relaxed embouchure is essential to get a good sound over the whole range of the instrument, and air support from the diaphragm is equally important. Without good, strong air support from the diaphragm it's difficult to play the soprano in tune with a good tone. As for the right reed/mouthpiece, tip opening and hardness are interdependent and are completely personal to you and how much time you spend playing each day. With stronger mouth muscles you will be able to play and control a harder reed - usually with a better tone. My soprano is a Yanagisawa - it looks like Trevor James chose to 'clone' one for their version as it looks almost identical!
1st comment. Nicely done! You are thinking about the correct things, and it’s,great to see someone really working at trying to understand their own playing. One thing I noticed - you often start notes softly, by blowing and it takes a while for the note to actually sound. Try putting your tongue against the reed first, then blowing, then let the tongue fall off the reed. This will give a clean start to the note.
Thanks so much for watching, and for your comment! That's a really great suggestion - I'll try to be more conscious of getting those notes out a bit more snappy!
when i started soprano low notes where the hardest for me so i did lots of exercises that focus on the low resgesture and it helped a lot for me as a player
Hey! If you're asking if this is a good instrument for doubling either long term or just for a few years, I'd say it's probably quite great for either. I'd maybe opt for 1-2 years, as it's built to be (and advertised as) more of a student instrument, so playing in the long term, you might want something that'll be able to help you develop further. That being said, I think it sounds great, it's well-built, and I reckon it'd make a great sax for a woodwind doubler :)
Trevor James builds some really fantastic instruments at very reasonable price points be it professional, intermediate or student level horns. I play a TJ Custom alto and it amazing given its price to performance ratio. You will not go wrong with a TJ soprano if that's what you have in mind.
Yes attack the note tonguing. ,close the reed with tongue then put pressure...and let go the reed. Practice long long long notes as long as you can don't get too tired ...you are doing very well for this shirt time
I purchased a straight sorprano struggled with it for a few months then got a curved one and played it straight away it seemed mor balanced, I didn’t need to hold it out as far and didn’t crimp the neck. I don’t know! It worked for me.
I play soprano and the low notes are the hardest,I started on a vandoren 2 1/2 reed and after about a month I got a rovner ligature and a mitchel lurie 3 reed and it really helps!
They are so hard!! I think a combination of relaxation and air flow is key for me, but I'll have a play with some harder reeds :)
I took up playing the soprano about 45 years ago, having previously played flute for 15 years.
I had no problem at all with the soprano, and I think that two factors carried over from the flute helped a lot.
On flute a relaxed embouchure is essential to get a good sound over the whole range of the instrument, and air support from the diaphragm is equally important.
Without good, strong air support from the diaphragm it's difficult to play the soprano in tune with a good tone.
As for the right reed/mouthpiece, tip opening and hardness are interdependent and are completely personal to you and how much time you spend playing each day.
With stronger mouth muscles you will be able to play and control a harder reed - usually with a better tone.
My soprano is a Yanagisawa - it looks like Trevor James chose to 'clone' one for their version as it looks almost identical!
1st comment. Nicely done! You are thinking about the correct things, and it’s,great to see someone really working at trying to understand their own playing. One thing I noticed - you often start notes softly, by blowing and it takes a while for the note to actually sound. Try putting your tongue against the reed first, then blowing, then let the tongue fall off the reed. This will give a clean start to the note.
Thanks so much for watching, and for your comment! That's a really great suggestion - I'll try to be more conscious of getting those notes out a bit more snappy!
when i started soprano low notes where the hardest for me so i did lots of exercises that focus on the low resgesture and it helped a lot for me as a player
Awesome! I'll be sure to bear that in mind and spend some more time on those long notes! Thanks for the tip!
Question? Would you recommend the Trevor James soprano sax for woodwind doubler as a long term or more of a 1-2 yrs temporary?
Hey! If you're asking if this is a good instrument for doubling either long term or just for a few years, I'd say it's probably quite great for either. I'd maybe opt for 1-2 years, as it's built to be (and advertised as) more of a student instrument, so playing in the long term, you might want something that'll be able to help you develop further.
That being said, I think it sounds great, it's well-built, and I reckon it'd make a great sax for a woodwind doubler :)
Trevor James builds some really fantastic instruments at very reasonable price points be it professional, intermediate or student level horns. I play a TJ Custom alto and it amazing given its price to performance ratio. You will not go wrong with a TJ soprano if that's what you have in mind.
Yes attack the note tonguing. ,close the reed with tongue then put pressure...and let go the reed. Practice long long long notes as long as you can don't get too tired ...you are doing very well for this shirt time
Hey, check out George Garzone tone videos to learn about how he approaches tone. It will help get those notes out!!
Most of the soprano players use a hard reed to start. Try a 1.5 or 2 reeds. You don't need more than that!
1:14.5
As I can see you are not a beginner in music reading ,am I wright in that?
You'd be correct! I played piano when I was little, and also picked up clarinet when I was about 16 :)
call dr wally, He will sent you right.