As I watch a ton of videos of yours and others, about the Saxophone, it would seem that lip pressure and controlled amounts of air, are what it take to ge the right reed vibration, to produce ear-pleasing sounds. Is that about the size of it?

When I was a fifth grader, (many years ago) I toted around a trombone (my dad plays the trombone) back-n-forth to school. I liked it ok, but when I got my braces a year or two later, the air required to play it, made my teeth “buzz” so uncomfortably, that I quit the trombone (not to mention how the braces were cutting into the inside of my mouth when I played, as well).

I bought a Native American Flute some years ago, and learned about covering holes to produce different notes, and the surprisingly soft air presentation into the instrument that is needed, to produce proper notes in that instrument.

So I’m coming with only those reference points, into Saxophone. Nothing else.

Seems that there are so many Saxophone players who spend a great deal of money, energy and time, in buying mouthpieces and reeds. Isn’t it possible to find a decent mouthpiece, and a decent reed type, and use those for a long time, without the apparent frustration of trying to find the right mouthpiece and reed marriage?

I’m making a rookie assumption, that the squeaks and sqwalks of the amateur, are because they are trying to push (typically) too much air thru the mouthpiece and reed, and the god-awful sounds that come out, are the reed over-reacting to the unnecessary push of air. Does that about capture the problem? Shouldn’t most rookies like me, realize up front, that “less is better,” and that “even flow (sustain)” is better?

Last week, I was allowed (from a friend) to borrow an Alto Saxophone, because I said I was interested in learning the instrument. Unfortunately, the instrument in question (a “Horace” Stencil of a Martin or Beauhler I’m told) is in pretty rough and unplayable condition. Today I will be visiting a local Saxophone Shop (http://www.timmoranwoodwinds.com/) to ask the Technician to put in writing “what it will take to make this horn playable”). I will spend some time looking over his Inventory of new and used Saxophones, with a preference for the Tenor ones.

When it comes to the question of air, I’m a fairly strong-lunged individual, (in fact, when I get X-Rays of my lungs from time to time, they tell me that my lungs are “so large” that they have to do segmented X-Rays, to capture the whole length of them. So I figure that explains why I can do long sustains and hold my breath longer under water than most folks (lol). I’m assuming that physical uniqueness will be helpful with the Saxophone (lol)?

-Soupy