Getting Started Page 3
Before you attempt your first note, you should adjust the neck strap to the proper length so you don’t have to reach for the mouthpiece or tilt your neck. This cuts off the air stream, not to mention, it gets uncomfortable. You should also adjust the neck so that it is lined up straight with the body. And finally, twist the mouthpiece so that the tip of the reed is horizontal with your lower lip. Don’t forget to tighten the screw for the neck, you don’t want it to move around. The Saxophone should be adjusted to come to you in a comfortable posture, whether standing or sitting.
One of the more important aspects to establish before you actually start the exercises is to set a tempo for yourself. Tap your foot at a medium rate and count in your head 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. Give yourself one measure to lead into the exercise and then start. I hope to be able to figure out how to offer the sound files with and without the click track in the background. Working with a metronome can be tricky. They are very precise and do not allow any slack. The purpose of a metronome is to not allow you to speed up on the easy parts or slow down on the more difficult sections. For now, the sound files on the lesson pages will be me playing with a metronome. I hope some of this information has helped. I will add to this section periodically. For now, get your horn together and click next to proceed to the next page where I will talk about setting up a practice routine.
