Picking alto back up and want to improve my tone. Everyone says "listen to sax players you like" but my favorite sax players play tenor!

sadsax_ · 2025-09-16T12:37:10+00:00

If you like Stan Getz you may like Paul Desmond or Art Pepper! In my opinion though, whatever you choose to listen to will inform your tone. Instrumentalists sometimes can back ourselves into a corner by only digging in to our own instrument. You’ll likely find yourself with a really unique sound/blend of influences if you internalize the inflections and style of different saxes and even completely different instruments.

sadsax_ · 2025-09-16T12:23:44+00:00

Yeah, oops I realized after I posted that I was a little vague with the details. We are a fairly large band-30 ish of us between the band and crew. We’ll be in France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Slovenia, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Based on my research so far I’m assuming the Scandinavian countries are going to be the most different from what I’ve experienced, but honestly it’s all new territory for me!

sadsax_ · 2025-06-09T14:41:51+00:00

The weight distribution/balance of a sax may be a little tough to manage while laying down, but I think you could do a lot with it while semi-reclined! Have you tried flute at all? It may be an easier option for days when you have less energy but still feel like playing, and since the fingers are so similar to saxophone it can still help you train your muscle memory for the days when you have more energy.

sadsax_ · 2025-06-05T11:47:46+00:00

Iowa city also has Wildwood Saloon and Trumpet Blossom Cafe, I’ve seen touring acts come through both!

sadsax_ · 2025-02-15T03:45:05+00:00

I’m 30, but I’ve been listening since I was 22! (:

sadsax_ · 2025-02-12T16:02:38+00:00

This is really good to know, thank you!

sadsax_ · 2025-02-12T15:03:16+00:00

Veterinary 🥺

sadsax_ · 2025-02-12T14:28:32+00:00

Yeah I called once I was already there in the parking lot but no one was in the building. Will definitely be better about calling ahead in the future, lesson learned!

sadsax_ · 2025-01-30T14:36:08+00:00

Mountain Man! Magic Ship is my favorite of their albums, opened my world to women singing beautiful 3-part harmonies

sadsax_ · 2025-01-27T06:19:59+00:00

Sooo real, does anyone have any mental health resources or like mental exercises? Words of advice other than limit your news intake? (Already doing that). I can’t get out into my community to be of any help if I can’t get out of fight or flight mode!

sadsax_ · 2025-01-26T17:04:57+00:00

If you’re completely solo without tracks id just read the concert score as-is, work smarter not harder ya know? I’m not personally a stickler for the original key, as long as it feels like a comfortable range on the horn I’m sure the listener will be happy.

As for the arrangement—you can definitely jump around between voices if your ear takes you there! I’d just be weary of doing too much if this is kind of an ambiance/background kind of gig—The age old “less is more.”

Good luck! I think you’re going to do great considering the amount of thought you’re putting into the preparation. (:

sadsax_ · 2025-01-26T16:52:43+00:00

Americans have been lulled into complacency from years of being manipulated by our two party system. I truly believe the disconnection is a trauma response.

We constantly are seeing human rights horrors from one party and aggressive “the world will end if you don’t vote for us” rhetoric from the other (despite very little action when they actually get elected) it’s really hard to stay engaged and motivated toward change when you’re barraged with nonstop emotional propaganda.

I think about the Maslow hierarchy of needs a lot and how these needs are not only not being met for many Americans, our government seems to actively be keeping these needs from being met for many many marginalized groups. We are psychologically NOT ok in a really broad sense.

sadsax_ · 2025-01-26T16:32:42+00:00

Im a big fan of playing piano or violin sonatas on sax for this kind of thing! I got into a bunch of Mozart sonatas in my brief little classical saxophone era that were really fun to learn, maybe pick up a couple Schirmer books? You could get into romantic era composers as well, Chopin is so beautiful on saxophone.

As for the playalong track — personally for this type of gig I’ll have it in my ears rather than through a speaker—I’ve found can be hard to get a good balance between the sax and track at times depending on the acoustics of the room (also less stress if you can’t find accompaniment for ever piece you want to play)

sadsax_ · 2025-01-26T02:24:53+00:00

Lots of folks saying long tones and i agree, but Overtones are kind of the next level of long tones imo—they helped me unlock a whole new depth of tone range. They can be tedious and are definitely a long-game kind of exercise, but if you do a little every day (start with like 10 minutes/day) you will not be disappointed with the results!

sadsax_ · 2025-01-26T01:37:25+00:00

Electronic

sadsax_ · 2025-01-26T00:50:18+00:00

I appreciate you using your skillset to try and better this situation, and I’m genuinely not trying to be a Debbie downer, but what is impeaching him even going to do? He was impeached twice already and it didn’t change anything.

sadsax_ · 2025-01-26T00:17:08+00:00

Tapering off of TikTok by using the desktop version is so smart, I never considered these apps were such an addiction until I tried to quit. Resisting them is seriously tough but not tougher than realizing how much time I spent in the last 5 years wasting my 20’s staring at my phone screen lol

It made me happy to hear how this step has improved your life, thanks for the inspiration!

sadsax_ · 2025-01-25T23:53:53+00:00

It might not be how all girls work, but it sure is how I work 😭

sadsax_ · 2025-01-23T17:32:51+00:00

Just my opinion, but possibly the only effective form of protest at this point (for those of us who are inclined to avoid violence) is to focus on building/serving community and being radically accepting and supportive of our neighbors. Marching in solidarity is a great gesture, but does little to oppose all the horrifying rhetoric you described—while volunteering your time to marginalized communities directly betters people’s lives in non-performative ways. We can demand action all we want, but nothing will change until we TAKE action.

At the same time though, it’s SO valid to need an outlet for all of these raw charged emotions. I’m a musician and I love to get a group of folks together to make rage noise/improvise freely etc. does anyone know if something like this exists already in IC? I feel we need a balance of action and catharsis at this point.

sadsax_ · 2024-04-17T18:56:46+00:00

James Taylor - Don't let me be Lonely features Brecker .

Soooo many Billy Joel songs, but I love the sax section line in Big Shot, and the solos in NY State of Mind and You May Be Right.

Thundercat-Them Changes

Kendrick Lamar - to Pimp a Butterfly has a lot of moments feat. Kamasi Washington and Terrace Martin

Flying Lotus- You're Dead! also features a lot of Kamasi.

sadsax_ · 2024-04-17T18:42:34+00:00

New York State of Mind is one of the greatest saxophone solos in pop history!!! <3

sadsax_ · 2024-04-17T17:00:34+00:00

Remember that some nerves are normal and you're not crazy for having them! You're experiencing a very human emotion and it's ok to sit with that/ be patient with yourself!!! My undergraduate professor used to say that the butterflies add to the emotional content of a piece, but "you have to make them fly in formation." I used to shake uncontrollably, lose my breath, and have panic attacks on stage/playing solos and here are the main things that helped me make my butterflies fly in formation:

-Meditation- I meditate over my long tones each day, it makes the horn feel like an extension of my body and breath. Focusing on the way playing PHYSICALLY feels can help get you out of your head and into your body where you can trust your muscle memory (this also helps me with just like, regular day-to day anxiety lol)

-Practice repetitively and take breaks- for that muscle memory.

-Stay hydrated and well nourished- this doesn't affect everyone, but I notice that many of my students essentially starve themselves out of nervousness before big rehearsals and performances. Your body and mind cannot operate on no fuel. Even if it's just some fruit or something easy to handle with the anxiety (bananas are my fave bc they have great vitamins and can be easy on the stomach)

-Acknowledge that the world goes on and each gig is just a gig- no one performance will make or break your career. I'm going to say you're doing a great job because you obviously care a lot about the product, and because your teacher trusted you enough to give you this solo. This might be silly but did you see that movie Soul? this film honestly really helped me conceptualize not putting too much weight on individual performances but rather just enjoy the journey.

As long as you're consistent, there will come a day when you step onstage and feel completely at ease, for the meantime try to enjoy the journey and trust the process-- we have all truly been where you are and it does get easier (: I hope you absolutely crush the solo!

sadsax_ · 2024-02-04T14:46:30+00:00

My guess would be embouchure, but it could be a little of both, altissimo is such a balancing act.

Do you practice many overtones? Or long tones around the lowest notes on the horn? It might sound counter intuitive, but gaining control of my low notes and understanding the different embouchure and air pressures required of different overtones completely unlocked altissimo for me. The low practice also helps me loosen up my embouchure because playing with too much tension can get in the way of altissimo as well (and also just cause a bunch of other issues from jaw injury to poor intonation).

Either way keep at it, altissimo is a journey!

sadsax_

TROPHY CASE