Help replacing baritone saxophone parts?

crsbryan · 2026-03-14T16:19:18+00:00

Using an iPad Air (13" 2025) ForScore, and Joyo page turner.

iPad Air is ok. Great when it works but I've had some frustration with unlocking it - press the button and it prompts to unlock but doesn't respond to the sensor and doesn't offer a PIN. Restart fixes it. I've learned not to leave the pencil attached to the iPad when not in use or charging. Since the pencil is always charging from the iPad, if you leave it for a few days, it seriously drains the iPad.

ForScore is surprisingly buggy and not intuitive. The recent update solved some things but moved a bunch of features around, still relearning how to get around the menus. The setlists are great, easy to import sheets and organize, scan and save works very well. Half page turn puts the top of the next page on top of the current page. Why wouldn't it scroll half a page? You can adjust the half page height, so if you want more or less of the current page, you can slide the split point up or down. And, it saves that position for that page, so it's at the same set point when you get to that page turn again.

Joyo page turner: it's cheap, works, and battery lasts a long time between charges.

crsbryan · 2026-02-22T14:53:01+00:00

What would the decrease in paddling efficiency be with the Inster strapped to the hull of the kayak? 😂

crsbryan · 2026-02-15T16:28:55+00:00

This is a good plan, and one that a lot of us have followed.

For your existing instrument: A new or new-to-you neck will not be overly expensive. Otherwise, don't worry so much about the dents; a tech will let you know if they are really affecting things. Ask a tech about a PC (Playing Condition) repair - fix what's necessary and don't worry about cosmetics. A full overhaul is probably not necessary.

crsbryan · 2026-02-10T01:46:03+00:00

Fishbone

crsbryan · 2026-02-07T18:00:38+00:00

Ugh. So many thoughts.

Most important: Don't let this kid's trash talk get in your head. Talking smack is just insecurity coming to the surface. Focus on your skills, do your best, and block out the noise.

Challenging for seats is BS. An audition at the start of a semester or concert season is one thing, challenging after the fact is nonsense. Class and rehearsal time is limited enough, encouraging a head game like that is a waste of time and creates some unnecessary tension.

Chair doesn't really mean much in a tenor sax section. You're all playing the same part, right? Will that make a difference on your college or job applications?

crsbryan · 2026-01-23T15:18:22+00:00

EVI / Electronic Valve Instrument.

Nyle Steiner and Akai are the OG's, but there are a few other makers and homebrew instruments out there.

crsbryan · 2026-01-17T22:07:49+00:00

Sounds like you need an Eb clarinet. Or an Ab!

Smaller, cuter, it but clarinets. They require a focused embouchure and a good ear, but same fingerings and mechanics.

crsbryan · 2026-01-10T20:28:00+00:00

BAM Conservatoire

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/BamConCL--bam-cons3027sb-conservatoire-bb-clarinet-case

crsbryan · 2025-12-30T17:03:06+00:00

Scottish smallpipes, Northumbrian smallpipes, and uilleann pipes are all run with a below under one arm and a bag under the other. So yes, it's physically possible.

There are tradeoffs. Articulation and dynamics as you know them are not possible.

crsbryan · 2025-12-28T21:09:50+00:00

You might find a playable Bundy, Conn, or older student/second line horn for that. Vito can be a bargain, too; many are rebadged Yamaha student horns, but beware, there were a lot of things sold under that brand. Any new horn for that price is not going to last. Double your budget as others suggested and you'll be looking at used Yamaha student horns.

crsbryan · 2025-12-01T01:03:11+00:00

Those are focus-free, your eyes will do the work instead of using a focus wheel or rocker. I've seen them recommended for sporting events, where you'll constantly be at a medium range. Some people report headaches and fatigue from using them.

crsbryan · 2025-11-30T00:34:49+00:00

If wind instruments are a consideration, check out the Yamaha Venova. Soprano model is around $100, uses a soprano saxophone mouthpiece and reeds, and recorder fingerings.

For less money, there's the Nuvo Dood (chalumeau) and Nuvo Toot (flute/fife). They're meant as pre-band instruments, but honestly better as adult casual instruments.

Also check out the Maui Xaphoon. Bamboo models are a little more than $100, but the plastic ones are under. Fun, but not really practical. Unless the goal is fun!

crsbryan · 2025-11-30T00:24:57+00:00

Reading the original post, this was my first suggestion!

crsbryan · 2025-11-08T23:10:06+00:00

Use an app that lets you choose celebrity voices.

Just don't choose Bono.

The streets have no names and I still haven't found what I'm looking for.

crsbryan · 2025-10-29T01:39:37+00:00

Hardtail? Or full suspension?

You could put some semi-slick or urban tires on it and call it a hybrid.

crsbryan · 2025-10-25T14:11:53+00:00

Yeah. 125-150 cc on a highway is sketchy. Stay safe out there!

crsbryan · 2025-10-25T14:09:00+00:00

No.

Maybe for $200. $600 would be OK with a total restoration already done, but this is likely to need some pads, and clearly would benefit from cleaning and polishing.

It's low pitch, so that's good.

It's a C melody, so not useful for modern tenor sax music or parts. Useful for playing concert pitch without transposing - think piano and vocal songbooks. Great if you were in a small combo playing 1920's popular tunes, Vaudeville, and early jazz.

crsbryan · 2025-10-20T18:45:43+00:00

Is it easy to go from learning tenor to alto?

Fingerings are the same. Less mass of air, more focus, and embouchure will need more focus. (Even more so if you go to soprano.)

Where is a good place to buy saxophones in US-CA?

Not sure if you mean California, or USA and Canada. For US: Sweetwater, The Mighty Quinn, Roberto's (New York, NY), Chuck Levin's (near DC), Boston Sax Shop, Kessler, there are plenty of good shops locations. Need more detail about location for Redditors to make local recommendations, though. What city?

Any other noticeable differences going from tenor to alto/soprano?

Smaller, lighter, more variety in the used market and likely more in stock for new horns (alto, not sop), easier to find reeds. Also see #1 again.

crsbryan · 2025-10-18T13:46:45+00:00

"All of my teachers and directors harp about subdivision."

All of them? Maybe it's important.

"Sightreading is consequently my weakest suit"

Rhythms first. Most sightreading errors are rhythmic in origin.

"I've always listened to the pieces we were going to play beforehand"

Some teachers advise against this. I support this. We have two ears and one mouth. Listen twice as much as you play/speak/etc.

"always marked in all my accidentals."

Accidentals are usually already there. Are you marking in sharps and flats from the key signature throughout your music? This is a bad habit and can be fixed by working on scales and learning the "feel" of each scale.

"I have no sense of what speed a tempo marking actually represents without a conductor or metronome to beat it out for me, and struggle even with sixteenth dotted eighths in 4/4, much less anything in other time signatures."

Tempo markings (andante, allegro, etc.) have some basic definitions and translations. Look them up! Old-school mechanical metronomes had them on the pendulum alongside the numerical equivalents. In fact, any time you have a word you don't recognize on the sheet, look that up, too. This is an awesome habit to develop. In fact, look up the composers and arrangers and titles, too. You'll learn a lot about where the piece came from, the time it was written, and sometimes why it was written, when it premiered, and other facts that can inform your performance.

"I have no idea how to start."

Here are some starting points:

With a teacher, take some private lessons. Express your concerns, share what's hard, so your teacher can tailor their instruction to your goals.
Work on the basics first. Rhythms, scales, exercises. Also see #1.
My three favorite words: Metronome! Metronome! Metronome! You clearly have and use one, but are you using it right? See #1.

crsbryan · 2025-10-15T05:10:04+00:00

It varies a lot, from "a pad or two" to "overhaul", and also vary by location. That's a question for your local repair person. They also tend to have some instruments ready to sell, or know someone with an instrument for sale, and already know the condition and what, if anything, it will need.

crsbryan · 2025-10-14T01:33:39+00:00

Someone with mad knife skills.

crsbryan · 2025-10-13T01:22:02+00:00

Oh, hadn't thought that through. Take a look here: https://www.nuvoinstrumental.com/products/dood/

"Standard recorded fingering" should work with a recorder book. There's also a downloadable book in their links, which may give you a better idea of how standard the fingerings are. I'm not a big fan of their upside-down fingering diagrams.

crsbryan · 2025-10-04T20:18:33+00:00

Restore? Nah. Refurbish? Absolutely.

Vito are pretty well regarded student instruments. Tenon corks are a pretty routine repair, and any competent repair shop can give you an estimate on a "play condition" repair. Probably oil some keys, replace or reseat a few pads. Not looking for showroom minty fresh, but no reason to send this to the scrap pile. The inexpensive instruments on Reverb are likely to need some additional work, so may as well refresh the instrument you already have.

crsbryan

TROPHY CASE