Got a question about playing full range chromatic scales, specifically how to master the high and low ends.
We don’t spend as much time in these areas of the saxophone’s range, so naturally we aren’t as comfortable with them.
For the chromatic scale and other scales, there’s a practice technique I learned that really helps.
Rachel:
Hi, I’m trying out for All District on alto sax. Right now I’m really struggling with my extreme registers when I play the full range chromatic!
Neal:
Hey Rachel, that happens, the high and low extremes are harder to play. You probably just want to focus on them a bit in isolation. The mid range isn’t as hard, so don’t spend as much time on it. If the lows are really hard to play, you could have leaks. What would you say specifically is difficult about it?
Rachel:
Mostly fingering up to speed, and tonguing fast enough when I descend.
Neal:
There was an exercise I learned called ‘micro scales’. You can use it on any scale, including the chromatic. Take five notes and play them from bottom to top or top to bottom. You can do this across the range of the saxophone and find out where you are having trouble and then concentrate on those places. For those parts, slow down and spend some time on them. It will help your fingering technique and articulation too.
Rachel:
That sounds great, thank you so much!
Hello neal,
This is chester again I hope you get this soon because this is a relatively important issue for me.
One of my career goals for music is to teach, and this summer I’m going to get my first real taste of it, I will be teaching a fourth grader who has had a saxaphone (the same type as mine e-flat alto) for two years but lacks the initiative to really practice.
I know that I will be able to formulate a basic lesson plan after assessing her skills but I was wondering if you knew any music lessons that were practical as well as exciting so I don’t lose my student’s interest. That has been the problem with my other students.
Hey Chester,
Probably by telling her the things that her practice will allow her to sound better on. Kind of like in math class where the students ask when they’ll ever use something.
Maybe get some improvisation in there too. I had fun with that when I was learning early on.
And maybe ask if there’s a song she wants to learn.
Some of the practice isn’t the most ‘fun’ but you want some fun in there too.
-Neal