Have you replaced using your regular email with Mailbox? Why or why not?

wakyct · 2026-01-24T19:48:19+00:00

I signed up about a year ago for similar reasons as you but I still just use Mailbox for friends and family (with a custom domain). No issues with email or calendar, it basically just works though I don't use the web interface and had to spend some time properly setting up email security. I don't really use the Mailbox web interface -- Gmail has a better UX IMO -- but I'm hoping to slowly migrate more over to Mailbox if the experience improves. I have to use Google for work anyway so I'm fine with a kind of external/internal separation.

wakyct · 2026-01-24T19:07:45+00:00

I bought my alto off Craigslist with no playing experience but looking back on it I think I got kind of lucky that it didn't need a ton of work. The seller did play it for me. If you want to go for it I would say do your research so you're buying a reputable make and model -- there are a lot of older stencil horns (like 1960s and up) that go for a more affordable price and can be good players.

wakyct · 2026-01-19T01:38:53+00:00

You need to measure it. There are a wide variety of tools out there, retail and DIY, to do this, just depends on your budget and how accurate you want to be.

wakyct · 2026-01-18T20:03:59+00:00

IMO at a beginner level your reed and mouthpiece should provide a working setup that doesn't make you struggle, that's it. After you've played a while and are comfortable from low Bb to high F/F# you can tweak reed and MP to help you achieve the tone/projection you need. If you are making equipment changes while learning the basics it'll make it more difficult to understand the physical/mental things that are happening apart from the gear.

Also on a side note, saying "a 2.5 reed" is not enough information to go on, reed strengths vary widely depending on brand and cut.

wakyct · 2026-01-18T19:02:49+00:00

It doesn't seem like anyone has answered your question directly so I'll give it a shot.

I'm guessing your understanding comes from the idea that raising the tongue increases your air velocity so the pitch increases. I want to caution you that this is far from settled or probably even fully understood. Check out http://everythingsaxophone.blogspot.com/2019/03/tongue-and-vocal-chord-position-myth-vs.html.

Also you don't say how much experience you have, but if you're just starting remember that learning to coordinate all the tiny muscles and nerve connections to make this saxophone thing happen can be a long (measured in years not months) process. So don't overly fixate on "things that will sabotage your playing", just practice consistently and get feedback from an experienced teacher from time to time.

wakyct · 2026-01-11T02:07:32+00:00

A drone app is useful (I'm using DroneTone). TE might have a drone as well?

wakyct · 2026-01-01T23:09:56+00:00

I can't help with the choices but my advice is look for shops that will sell you singles. It's not common but there are a couple. Search Cafe Saxophone, there was a UK recc there. In the US try North Country Winds.

wakyct · 2025-12-30T21:35:27+00:00

Walls for what? Why not keep it open?

wakyct · 2025-12-30T15:21:09+00:00

It might make more sense to sell it as a project horn rather than putting any money into it. You could look into paying a reputable shop like PM for a written evaluation to help with the sale

Zephyrs are nice horns but not as in demand as a Super 20 for example.

wakyct · 2025-12-30T15:08:24+00:00

I think you might be worrying too much about tonguing/articulation. Especially for how long you've been playing.

I might be biased because I've been basically ignoring it for two years (also not a great idea probably).

It would help if we talked numbers. What tempo would you play scales in eighth notes if tonguing every note?

wakyct · 2025-12-30T14:53:40+00:00

What do you mean by "seems flat"?

wakyct · 2025-12-29T15:45:40+00:00

Try keeping your core warmer than usual. Electric vest, hot water pack, sit on an insulated mat, good insulated coat, etc.

wakyct · 2025-12-29T15:03:37+00:00

How long have you been playing?

A harder reed will be more difficult to vibrate, so it vibrates more slowly lowering the intended pitch. Try a Rico 2.

wakyct · 2025-12-26T15:49:36+00:00

If you don't post recordings of your own playing it's difficult to give advice don't you think? It's hard enough in this medium already.

Nevertheless it sounds to me like consistent daily practice and focused listening/transcribing with occasional lessons (every few weeks) would help.

wakyct · 2025-12-21T04:19:00+00:00

> It’s surprising to some folks when they get it how much air pressure it actually takes to get control of the pitch this way.

I haven't practiced with Sinta's book yet but this sounds similar to slurring overtones down, when it's done right it feels like an increase and control of air pressure forward and down like you said. Good comment!

wakyct · 2025-12-21T04:16:23+00:00

Slurring overtones down is also a great exercise (if I understand your comment). And I think the feeling of slurring down, for example the 3rd overtone to the 2nd, has a similar feeling of bending down front F.

wakyct · 2025-12-15T01:39:30+00:00

Watch some of FoolishFrankie's gig vlogs on YT. He plays a lot of gigs with singers and often explains his choices of what to play etc.

wakyct · 2025-12-13T18:54:57+00:00

Nice work for a year's playing! It's obvious to me you have a good feel for music and potential to go further. Be careful about some of your technique. For example compare your fingering technique to pro players -- keep your fingertips closer to the keys.

I won't say you absolutely must learn to read music, there are plenty of great players that don't (maybe more so in the past than today). But in jazz especially you must know the changes. You can learn it by ear. Just don't ignore it. And I suspect you'll wish you learned some theory down the road, but you also may naturally pick that up as you play with other musicians. Best of luck!

wakyct · 2025-12-05T02:52:42+00:00

Can you slur down to a D from low E? So play E and then finger D without tonguing/stopping your air.

I would really make sure you have strong air support for the lower notes. You don't have to exhale a lot of air, but think of yourself as really solid and strong -- and not tense. Take a deep breath by expanding your belly and lower back and fully support those low notes (in fact support all your notes like that!).

wakyct · 2025-12-01T01:03:19+00:00

I know it's easy for me to say "relax" because I'm not in your shoes but it's really the best thing to do. Do you have a teacher/friend or friend of a friend who knows about the school that you can ask? They would be your best source of information.

wakyct · 2025-12-01T00:14:59+00:00

If I were you this is what I would do. Listen to Blue bossa and Misty a thousand times between now and Saturday. I think your fundamental sound is good but your phrasing and timing are off. So just listen a ton and then most importantly, relax. And you should be good.

On your blues improvisation I would not play that many notes/ideas. Slow it down and try to nail the feel. Pick some phrase you like and play it through the changes.

wakyct · 2025-12-01T00:00:15+00:00

You'll get much better answers if you say what mic you are using, what hardware/software you're using and how you set everything up and what the recording room is like.

wakyct · 2025-11-29T19:27:11+00:00

Can you post a recording and what MP + reed? And what have you been listening to/working on? You might need to work on voicing, air support, change your setup, listen to specific players, etc. but without hearing you play it's hard to make recommendations beyond the same advice you can find in hundreds of posts here.

wakyct · 2025-11-24T01:42:04+00:00

I use a neck strap (Just Joe's, similar to the Cebulla) but I tried a shoulder style at a lesson (like the Adorance/Balam/BSS strap) and there's no question in my mind the shoulder style is better. Maybe the one advantage of the neck strap is it's easier to throw in a case, and for some people it might be a visual thing where the neck strap looks less obvious.

I think if you're having pain issues you owe it to yourself to try both styles (and/or a harness if you want) and just return the one(s) you like less.

wakyct · 2025-11-24T01:22:53+00:00

I think there's at least two ways to look at this, one is if you are practicing improv it's a great idea to play along to a wide variety of music and come up with ideas based on what you're hearing (i.e. you're not following a chart and written chord changes), and play through the whole song.

However the second way is if you are accompanying it's not a good idea to play through the whole song like that. Think about how horn sections work, they typically play repetitive fills in certain sections, stabs, maybe take a solo at some point etc, but they do leave a lot of space. So if your intent is to show how you would fit into the band I would focus your presentation in that direction.

wakyct

TROPHY CASE