The Easiest Instrument to Play...BADLY!

As a saxophone teacher and former band director, I often get asked about issues directors are having with their young saxophonists. I can guarantee that my response will nearly always include some version of this phrase: The saxophone is the easiest instrument to play....BADLY! After laughing, they ask me to explain. Below, I want to share this explanation and offer my help to you. If you have any questions after reading this, please don't hesitate to reach out - msteffen@palenmusic.com.

False Sense of Achievement

Compared to most other wind instruments, the saxophone has a pretty easy initial learning curve. They have a simple fingering pattern (sorry double reeds!), no holes to cover (sorry clarinets!), and no partials to hit (sorry brass!). Because of this, I believe that most saxophones are lulled into a false sense of security from the start and feel that the instrument is easy. So, when a teacher like me comes along and questions their embouchure formation and breath support, they are sometimes caught off guard (and even offended) because no one has ever told them they're doing it wrong. Disclaimer: I was once this shocked student!

Signs That Something is Wrong

Students tend to:

• play with a pinched tone quality in the upper register
• have to drop their jaw to get low notes to speak
• play with poor intonation
• pull the mouthpiece WAY off the cork or push it WAY on when tuning
• scoop as they articulate 

The Answer Lies in the Mouthpiece

The saxophone is to the mouthpiece what the microphone is to the voice: an amplifier. What is going well with the mouthpiece will manifest in the sound of the saxophone. The opposite is also true. You want to fix the problems listed above? Start with training them to produce specific pitches on their mouthpiece (alto A, tenor G, bari F/E/Eb). Research shows that the saxophone works MUCH better (especially in extreme ranges) if the player's embouchure is set to make the pitches listed.

I am convinced through my years of private teaching and band directing that making mouthpiece pitches a part of your daily warm up for all wind players (not just brass) is crucial. Check out this Quick Note I wrote in March, 2018 on Woodwind Mouthpiece Pitches. There are specific pitches that should be played on the mouthpiece to ensure the instrument will work properly. It may (will) sound like a train wreck at first. It will get better as they learn how to hit those specific pitches.

Results

The upper register darkens up and the low notes will speak (barring leaks)! Intonation within the section and between sections will improve. The mouthpiece will start to land about 2/3 on the cork when tuning. The scooping will become less a part of their sound as they will learn to steady their jaw during articulation exercises on the mouthpiece. In short, they will absolutely sound better.

So, keep this in mind the next time you have frustrating words for the saxophone section. This method truly works.

Mike Steffen joined Team PMC as an Educational Representative in 2011, and has since traveled all over Missouri serving directors and their programs. He is a KC (Grandview) native, and is a proud alum of both Missouri State and UMKC with a bachelors and master degree in music education. He served as a band director in the Lee's Summit R-7 & Pleasant Hill R-3 School Districts where he taught band in grades 5-12. His main passions are teaching jazz at all levels, working with middle school band programs, and teaching private saxophone. Mike is married to his high school sweetheart Miranda, and is the proud papa of three wonderful girls - Melody, McKenna, and Mae! Mike was named MVP of Palen Music Center in 2016.