A case is a very important part of the kit that makes up your saxophone. All saxophones need a case to be stored in and to be transported in. Saxophones have some of their parts taken apart when they are stored in their cases and therefore have several sections. Cases generally have firm foam put inside the case so that the case protects the parts of the saxophone from shock if it gets dropped or bashed around. Many saxophone cases have areas for accessories and spare parts such as spare ligatures, reeds, lubricating oils, cork greases and cleaning cloths.

Gig Bags

Gig are a manufacturer of instrument cases and make cases for most popular instruments. In the list of their most popular of selling cases are flute, violin and saxophone cases. The main attraction of gig bags are the colours that they come in. It is possible to order your gig bag for saxophone in many different bright colours which will appeal to children as well as adults.

Gig bags are made of a durable, waterproof material called rayon canvas and packed inside with high density internal foam padding. One of the original features of gig bags is that they have what is called a ‘grab handle’. This handle is a small one above the straps which is easy and quick to pick the case up from. This is featured on all gig bags with straps on the back. The straps on this gig bag are full ones and have reflectors on the back. Many musicians who travel by bicycle use gig bags as the straps are suitable for using on long journeys.

Rampone & Cazzani

The gig cases are what is known as ‘soft’ cases and some cases have harder exteriors such as the following case made by Rampone & Cazzini. This case however is not suitable for saxophones with detatchable necks but it is a good example of the hard cases that are available on the market.

GRRR Alto Case

These cases are really visually appealing. They are also very lightweight and when this is coupled with a hard shell. The funky designs are on the inside and the outside of the case, the inside of the case is furry. The case has zip fastenings and a shoulder strap with inside sections for accessories and spare parts.

Rosetti Cases

This Rosetti case is very hard  and incredibly lightweight, its bright red colour also appeals to younger children which is good as this case is for an alto saxophone which many children start to learn on. It has double padded back straps and sections on the inside of the case for different accessories.

Practising is something that musicians must do in order to progress. People who just play in bands and orchestras or only in their lessons will get better eventually but at a very, very slow pace. Structure is important when practising as it will help you to develop all your skills at a steady pace.

Scales

Scales are important for musicians as all music is made up of scales. This might seem like a silly thing to say, because not all music goes up and down in a linear fashion right? This is true but every scale has a different key and this is how pieces are built up. Scales are of even more importance to jazz saxophonists who use them in improvisation. Modal scales are also useful to use for saxophonists as again, a lot of jazz improvisation is made up on this.

Studies

Studies are important because they help you improve your technique. Studies are there to put into practise the techniques that you will work on with your teacher. It is all very well to learn a technique but to make the most of it you really need to learn how to put it into practise by playing it in context.

Pieces

The last thing you should practise are your pieces. When you practise them, it should be very concentrated practise, practising only a small amount at a time. Concentrate on a small part of the piece, maybe 5 or 6 bars at a time and get that perfect and then move on to the rest of the piece.

Fun stuff!

When you have done all the serious practise move on to the funs stuff! This is music that you just want to play for fun and not for serious practise.

Practicing Time

Practise time really does vary with your grade and standard. Most people can’t concentrate for longer than 30 minutes and short breaks are always beneficial to good practise. You will hear stories of people who practise for hours and hours a day but I can garuntee that they will have breaks and not do 10 hours in one solid block!

If you have just decided to take a graded exam, congratulations! On this page I am going to give you some advice on how to prepare for your graded exam, what to expect on the day of the exam and how to move on to other material after the exam.

Practise makes perfect…

Before you enter yourself for a graded exam you should be practising! There isn’t a set time period that you should follow when preparing for an exam, it really does depend on your standard and how long it takes you to learn new things!

But perfect isn’t always the key to success…

One mistake that many people make when preparing for graded music exams is that they think that everything has to be perfect. This is not true. If you strive for absolute perfection then you are likely to get frustrated and want to give up.

The week before the exam

The week before the exam you should know everything you need to know and everything you will be expected to perform in the exam. If there are any sticky points in your pieces or scales, make sure you do some concentrated practise on the trouble areas.

Preparing your Saxophone

The fortnight before the exam it is a good idea to check your saxophone over to make sure there is nothing wrong with it. It is the worst thing ever to turn up on the day of your exam and find out that a part of your instrument is not working properly! Check over all the fixtures and fittings on your saxophone and if there is anything wrong with the instrument you will then have time to get it fixed before the exam. It is also wise to make sure you have some reeds worked in so that you have spares that will sound good!

On the day

On the day of the exam arrive at the exam venue at least 30 minutes before the exam time so that you have time to register and prepare your instrument. It is sometimes wise to bring a drink and snack with you just in case you are waiting for a long time.

Carry on playing…

If you make a mistake when you are playing during the exam, don’t worry about it, just carry on! A graded exam is there to examine your performance and no performance is perfect. Every performance, even if it is given by a professional, will have some slips. It is very very rare that a performer will play exactly what is written on the page. If the examiner sees that you are confident, they are more likely to believe that you are giving a convincing performance.

After the exam

Immediatley after the exam I would not advise that you start looking at new material straight away. It is best to wait until you get your results so that you can see where you went wrong and take the advice that the examiner gives you with regards to your technique and how you can improve on it.

When you have your results, don’t start learning the next graded exam specs straight away. Some people only learn 24 pieces in their life because they only learn the 3 pieces for each grade. In my opinion, this is really tragic as music is supposed to be enjoyable and not just something you do to get qualifications!

Every saxophonist will own a saxophone strap and they are considered an essential piece of kit to own. Saxophone straps can be hung just around the neck, across the body in a sling style or can sit on the shoulders and clip around the waist for more support on bigger saxophones.

Types of saxophone strap

The main function of a saxophone strap is to provide a support mechanism for the saxophone and for the saxophonist. As a general rule, the bigger the saxophone, the more complicated the strap. Big saxophones generally suit straps that go around the neck and clip around the waist, sometimes clipping in two different places around the body. For example:

Another type of saxophone strap is a saxophone sling. It isn’t actually just a sling that holds the saxophone. The word ‘sling’ refers to the way the strap is positioned on the body. For example:

This strap is suited to medium sized saxophones. This only problem I can see with a sling style strap is that it may cause discomfort on the shoulder that it rests on as all the weight of the saxophone will be held there. It also stops discomfort from happening in the thumb area as the saxophonist won’t have to hold their instrument on their thumb constantly.

The most common strap is the strap that just fits on the neck of the saxophonist, they look like this:

Modern saxophone straps usually have the comfort of the saxophone as the main priority in their design. The part of the strap that is in contact with the neck of the saxophonist is soft and hard wearing and often made of a special material that is designed to absorb shocks. The cable that then attach to the saxophone are thin but strong so support the weight of the saxophone.

Neotech saxophone straps

Neotech is the name of a company who make many different woodwind and brass accessories. They make their saxophone straps out of a special material which is soft, doesn’t rub, and absorbs shock around the neck. Many of Neotechs straps fit the clarinet, the English horn and the oboe.

This particular strap is full adjustable to fit any of those instruments and comes with a selection of easy to attach plastic hooks. This strap also features what Neotech call a ‘unique adjustment slide’ so that the strap can be adjusted to suit the body and strength of the person using it.

How to choose your professional saxophone

When looking to buy a professional saxophone, if you are a professional musician you will already know that you will need to be spending several thousand of dollars on your new instrument. This can be a daunting prospect as firstly, it is a lot of money to spend and secondly, you will want to choose the perfect instrument as you will want it to last a long time in your professional career.

What style do you want?

As you can buy many different saxophones you first need to decide on what style you want to play on your saxophone. When you are a student it doesn’t matter if you play jazz and classical on the same instrument but when you are a professional it is advisable to have a different saxophone for playing different styles as different styles require different tones.

What size?

This may seem obvious but what size are you looking at buying? Saxophones come in different sizes and keys so this will tie in with the question above. You will have to base your saxophone size on the style of music that you want to play on it.

Give it a go!

It is very good advice to play the saxophone you are considering buying before you buy it. Seeing as you are looking at several thousands of dollars to spend on this saxophone you will want to make sure that it is the right one for you first. Many places that sell professional saxophones will let you try it out for a week or more so that you can get an idea of how the saxophone suits you and your solo and ensemble playing.

Do you need an upgrade?

The most common reason for wanting to upgrade to a professional instrument is the desire for a better tone or better quality of tone but beware upgrading your instrument too early. It is best to get advice from a professional before deciding to buy a professional saxophone. It is also best to buy your new saxophone from someone who knows what they are doing.

Servicing

When you have decided on the saxophone that you want, make sure it is properly serviced. There is nothing worse than buying a new instrument to find that it isn’t exactly serviced right. With brass and woodwind instruments however it is always best to buy a brand new instrument as they are the best quality. Stringed instruments are always best when they are older as they get a better tone the more they are played. A professional saxophone is best brought brand new.

The most popular saxophone brands are Yamaha, Selmer and Buffet Crampon but there are also any other brands of saxophones that are available on the market today. This page is an overview of some of the types and styles of saxophones that are available. Some of these names are vintage saxes which means they will be more expensive, but also more respected. First let’s have a look at Armstrong saxophones.

Armstrong Saxophones

The Armstrong name is also associated with flutes, piccolos and clarinets. Armstrong started making saxophones in the 1980s in America and originally started off as band instruments being played in jazz and big band ensembles. Today they are used for all types of saxophone music but it is still true that Armstrong saxes are used in jazz and big band music primarily.

Many Armstrong saxophones are older and will need to be serviced thoroughly before being played to make them playable. Having said that though, when you look at older saxophones in depth, you will find that older instruments have better craftsmanship than the cheaper instruments that are produced today.  New Armstrong saxophones are still being made but beware the saxophone that just comes branded ‘Armstrong’ as it is likely that it will be one of the cheaper saxes that don’t produce a good sound.

LA Saxes

LA saxes are a company who have made saxophones for over 30 years and for over 30 years their saxophones are been respected and loved by saxophonists all over America. One of the main defining features of LA saxes is their wide array of different finishes including this black and gold finish sax featured in the picture above. The modern LA Sax company is run by businessman Dennis Bamber who oversaw the creation of a special saxophone for former American president Bill Clinton. One of the reasons behind LA Saxes bold and original designs is that the company want their saxophones to be not only heard but seen and noticed.

Jupiter Saxophones

Jupiter are a company that are more well known for their trumpets than their saxophones but still, their saxophones are made well and well respected within the saxophone world even if they are mainly used as student instruments. Jupiter saxophones are cheaper than other saxophones as one of their main defining features is that they aim to be affordable so that beginners and parents of children of school age can afford them.

A case is a very important part of the kit that makes up your saxophone. All saxophones need a case to be stored in and to be transported in. Saxophones have some of their parts taken apart when they are stored in their cases and therefore have several sections. Cases generally have firm foam put inside the case so that the case protects the parts of the saxophone from shock if it gets dropped or bashed around. Many saxophone cases have areas for accessories and spare parts such as spare ligatures, reeds, lubricating oils, cork greases and cleaning cloths.

Gig Bags

Gig are a manufacturer of instrument cases and make cases for most popular instruments. In the list of their most popular of selling cases are flute, violin and saxophone cases. The main attraction of gig bags are the colours that they come in. It is possible to order your gig bag for saxophone in many different bright colours which will appeal to children as well as adults.

Gig bags are made of a durable, waterproof material called rayon canvas and packed inside with high density internal foam padding. One of the original features of gig bags is that they have what is called a ‘grab handle’. This handle is a small one above the straps which is easy and quick to pick the case up from. This is featured on all gig bags with straps on the back. The straps on this gig bag are full ones and have reflectors on the back. Many musicians who travel by bicycle use gig bags as the straps are suitable for using on long journeys.

Rampone & Cazzani

The gig cases are what is known as ‘soft’ cases and some cases have harder exteriors such as the following case made by Rampone & Cazzini. This case however is not suitable for saxophones with detatchable necks but it is a good example of the hard cases that are available on the market.

GRRR Alto Case

These cases are really visually appealing. They are also very lightweight and when this is coupled with a hard shell. The funky designs are on the inside and the outside of the case, the inside of the case is furry. The case has zip fastenings and a shoulder strap with inside sections for accessories and spare parts.

Rosetti Cases

This Rosetti case is very hard  and incredibly lightweight, its bright red colour also appeals to younger children which is good as this case is for an alto saxophone which many children start to learn on. It has double padded back straps and sections on the inside of the case for different accessories.

Reed

A reed is made from a type of cane and is used in saxophones to produce a sound from the instrument. The sound is produced from the reed when it is blown into, the reed vibrates and the sound is produced from there. Most reeds are made from raw cane, which is then whittled down to the exacting specifications that reeds have. Reeds come in different thicknesses which are called ‘grades’ with grade 1 being the softest reed and grade 5 being the toughest reed. It is harder to get a sound out of a higher graded reed than a lower graded reed. Some reeds can also be made of a fibreglass and plastic mix. These reeds are able to be played straight out of the box as they do not require wetting before being played.

Ligature

Saxophone ligatures are made mostly of leather and this is how they differ from other woodwind ligatures. A ligature holds the reed in place, it has two screws which can be tightened or loosened to suit the instrument. Not all saxophones are made exactly the same and therefore they will all have slightly different measurements. Ligatures can be bought fairly cheaply and many saxophonists carry around a spare in their cases.

Bell

The bell of the saxophone is the part of the saxophone where the sound emerges. It is called the bell because it is shaped like a bell. The bell is situated halfway down the saxophone and is much bigger than a clarinet bell.

Straps

Sax straps are what a saxophonist attaches to their saxophone to be able to hold it around their neck. This is a system of safety for both the saxophone itself and the saxophonist. The saxophone will benefit by having a safety net as such, there won’t be as much risk of it being dropped.

Keys

Saxophone keys are what the saxophonist presses to change the pitch of the sound that is coming from their instrument. The keys are usually plated in a precious metal so that they don’t rust or corrode easily.

Reed trimmer

A reed trimmer is an accessory used by all woodwind players who use reeds in their instruments. Reed clippers are very similar to nail clippers, they simply clip the reeds to the exact length that they need it. Reed trimmers aren’t used by all saxophonists and they are usually kept by people who manufacture reeds and sell them on to companies who sell them.

Choosing a saxophone reed is a difficult task for someone who doesn’t know anything about it. The brand and strength is very important in the sound that is produced from the instrument.

What strength reed do I need?

Before picking the brand of the reeds you need to pick the strength of the read. Many people think that you start off on a soft reed and work your way up to a harder reed, like you would with weights in a gym, starting light and working up to heavier ones. Reed strengths are measured in ‘grades’ with people staring out on the saxophone starting on a very soft grade 1 reed and moving up in half steps till the reach the hardest reed, a grade five. This is not always the case however. It is also not true that the best saxophonists use the hardest reeds. The reed you use will depend on the sound you want to produce, a harder reed is better for a louder sound and also for a quite but forceful sound.

Ultimatley the strength of reed that a saxophonist uses depends on their personal preference. If they feel they can get the sound they want from a grade 3 reed when a grade 2 is suggested then they should use the grade 3. It is always the choice of the saxophonist.

What brand of reed do I need?

This is another area that is completely up to personal preference. One of the best selling brands of reeds however is Vandoren which is popular with student and professional musicians the world over. Vandroren also produce reeds for clarinets and oboes. Another popular brand is Rico Plasticover, a reed which as the name suggest, is covered in plastic. Many people report that these are good reeds to use in an emergency as they play well straight out of the box. Most reeds will need ‘playing in’ just as a new string on a violin or guitar would. The reed needs a chance to get used to the instrument and the saxophonist needs a chance to get used to the exact feel of the reed. Even though reeds are graded in strength, no two reeds will be the same. There will always be slight differences between two grade 2 reeds or two grade 5 reeds even if they are of the same brand.

A German make which has been popular in Europe is Henke. They haven’t been too popular in the UK and the US just yet but some people have been getting them imported as they play well.

Vandoren saxophone reeds

Hemke saxophone reeds

Rico saxophone reeds

Selmer are a little known French musical instrument company. They specialise in woodwind instruments and can be traced back to the 18^th century. Even though Selmer can be traced back to France and are essentially a French company they are now based in the US and sell a large majority of their instruments to American customers.

A little Selmer history:

The Selmer brand name comes from the Selmer family who can be traced back to the rural regions of France in the 18^th century. Like most big musical instrument manufacturers they started off small in a workshop run by one man. The Selmer family were not always called Selmer however, they started off with the name Zelmer. Several generations later one of the sons decided to change the family name to Selmer and hence the Selmer brand name was born. The Selmer family started out by only repairing clarinets and many years later when they realised there was a great trade in making them did they start to manufacturer them themselves. At first business was slow but it soon started to pick up and many hundreds of years later Selmer is a well respected, if not the best known, manufacturer of saxophones.

Selmer make all major woodwind and brass instruments. This is an interesting point about Selmer. Many expert instruments makers usually stick to one type of instrument family. For example; Stentor only make violins but Selmer make both woodwind and brass.

Types of Selmer Saxophones

Selmer make the three major sizes of saxophones: alto, tenor and baritone.

Selmer Alto Saxophone Outfit

This saxophone is silver plated with a brass body which is standard in most alto saxophones. The keys are also silver plated which makes for more a more durable instrument. In selected instruments there is mother of pearl key pads which makes for a better feel under the fingertips. The Selmer Alto saxophone is designed to fit the measurements of an average hand and all the keys are within easy reach without having to stretch too much. For this reason this saxophone is suited to children who are starting to learn. The Selmer Alto saxophone has a high F# key and an adjustable thumb rest to ensure maximum comfort when playing. There is also a C# adjusting key. The bell of the Selmer alto sax is engraved with the Selmer logo so that it is unmistakably a Selmer instrument.

For more information on Selmer saxophones visit:

http://www.selmer.com/