alto sax teachers, I need help with books please! Options

[chraze1]

Hi sax teachers!,

I am a piano and theory teacher but bought myself an alto sax about 3 years ago and started to teach myself, I sing and play keyboards in a function band at the weekends, and recently started taking my sax and can manage a few easy solos and little fills here and there!. However it's got me thinking I'd quite like to have a look at what's required for grade 1!, could anyone help with what books I'd need to buy and if you think I'd manage a few early grades on my own since I have enough knowledge of keys and scales, sightreading etc, or would you advise me to invest in a good teacher from the word go?!!!
Also any good complitation books aimed at a relatively easy ability would be appreciated!

thanks all!!!

[barry-clari]

I'll guess, and it's only a guess, that you'll have no real problems with grade 1, possibly even now. It's worth getting hold of a study book (James Rae books are a good bet) to reinforce technique.

It's worth, even if you don't have regular lessons, to have a chat and a play to a good sax player, to ensure you're on the right track. Main risks for self taught sax players I find tend to be not enough air through the sax, and posture problems of varying types.

[chraze1]

I'll guess, and it's only a guess, that you'll have no real problems with grade 1, possibly even now. It's worth getting hold of a study book (James Rae books are a good bet) to reinforce technique.

It's worth, even if you don't have regular lessons, to have a chat and a play to a good sax player, to ensure you're on the right track. Main risks for self taught sax players I find tend to be not enough air through the sax, and posture problems of varying types.

Oh thank you Mr Clari!, I appreciate your response. I'll certainly get my hands on that book, and I'll probably have a look at the exam requirements to see if I think I could cope.
I would definately agree about the posture problem! I am also a singer and keyboard player and I stand on stage rather than sit, so I'm not sure if that helps a bit?, I try to be aware of not stooping, but I could probably use some tips. I use a Samson wireless airline 77 clip on microphone, which has definately helped to almost force me to control my breath and dynamics as it's such a responsive mic! I go out onto the dance floor and have a listen to my playing, it sounds fine going through the PA system with effects on, but I don't sound like that in my living room ha ha!!

[barry-clari]

I'll guess, and it's only a guess, that you'll have no real problems with grade 1, possibly even now. It's worth getting hold of a study book (James Rae books are a good bet) to reinforce technique.

It's worth, even if you don't have regular lessons, to have a chat and a play to a good sax player, to ensure you're on the right track. Main risks for self taught sax players I find tend to be not enough air through the sax, and posture problems of varying types.

Oh thank you Mr Clari!, I appreciate your response. I'll certainly get my hands on that book, and I'll probably have a look at the exam requirements to see if I think I could cope.
I would definately agree about the posture problem! I am also a singer and keyboard player and I stand on stage rather than sit, so I'm not sure if that helps a bit?, I try to be aware of not stooping, but I could probably use some tips. I use a Samson wireless airline 77 clip on microphone, which has definately helped to almost force me to control my breath and dynamics as it's such a responsive mic! I go out onto the dance floor and have a listen to my playing, it sounds fine going through the PA system with effects on, but I don't sound like that in my living room ha ha!!

At the first sound of the word 'stooping', I think 'is the neckstrap too loose'. Check this first. If all is well there, check you're not craning your neck in any way, particularly if you play with the sax to one side, as opposed to in front of you.

[Tenor Viol]

I'll guess, and it's only a guess, that you'll have no real problems with grade 1, possibly even now. It's worth getting hold of a study book (James Rae books are a good bet) to reinforce technique.

It's worth, even if you don't have regular lessons, to have a chat and a play to a good sax player, to ensure you're on the right track. Main risks for self taught sax players I find tend to be not enough air through the sax, and posture problems of varying types.

Oh thank you Mr Clari!, I appreciate your response. I'll certainly get my hands on that book, and I'll probably have a look at the exam requirements to see if I think I could cope.
I would definately agree about the posture problem! I am also a singer and keyboard player and I stand on stage rather than sit, so I'm not sure if that helps a bit?, I try to be aware of not stooping, but I could probably use some tips. I use a Samson wireless airline 77 clip on microphone, which has definately helped to almost force me to control my breath and dynamics as it's such a responsive mic! I go out onto the dance floor and have a listen to my playing, it sounds fine going through the PA system with effects on, but I don't sound like that in my living room ha ha!!

At the first sound of the word 'stooping', I think 'is the neckstrap too loose'. Check this first. If all is well there, check you're not craning your neck in any way, particularly if you play with the sax to one side, as opposed to in front of you.

Definitely no stooping. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) You should have the sling adjusted so that the mouthpiece goes straight into your mouth without having to move your head up or down. Also, you should not need to take the weight of the sax on your right thumb - the rest is there to just help you push the sax away slightly, not take its weight.