mouthpiece choice for type of room/style of playing

[Anonymous]

This is a good one Johnny!
Because i like Jazzy/Rock more than classical (depending on the piece),
i’ve been playing with a Guardalle King on Alto for the past months – love it

In the meantime i’ve been getting prepared for my 1st Saxophone grade 2 exam.
Just 3 weeks away from my exam – all set to go!
Only got 2 sax lessons left & a practice with a piano player before the exam.

Had my Sax lesson today, and my Sax teacher, who meets up with all his students on the day
of the exam – to give some last minute support, who is also familiar with the room of the exam,
and all the requirements etc..
Tells me my sound is too funky/Jazz for what the examiner expects for classical music,due to my setup!
Which is ok as we both knew that all along, for the past months.

So Today he lent me one of his yamaha 5c mouthpieces, to try out, and he said this is the sound
that the examiner expects to hear in classic pieces, and also its the right projection for the size/conditions
of the room of the exam – which he has played in lots of times.

So now i’ve got to practice the last 3 weeks with the yamaha rubber mouthpiece until i do the exam,
then he says i can give it him back, and resume using my metal guardalle.
Which is really exciting as it gives me the feel/1st hand experience for what type of set-ups go with the type of
music you want to play, and the type of room you are playing in.

If i do any further classical grades, he says he’l lend me a selmar rubber mouthpiece to try out.
It was an awesome experience, as he tired me out with various yamaha rubber mouth pieces,
once we got the mouthpiece right, then we tried various reed sizes, i played these – he listened
and advised which sounded suitable – reminded me of going to taylor and having a custom fit!

[Anonymous]

forgot to add, when i played the yamaha rubber, it sounded flat to me,
but not to my Sax Teacher (the mouthpiece was in Tune)!
This is what he expected me to say.
My inner ear was comparing it my guardala sound, and giving me
false feelings. Where as he could tell the difference!
A bit worrying for me if i go in a shop and tryout mouthpieces,
i could be turning down a good sounding mouthpiece.

When i went home, i played it for an hour, and it no longer sounded
flat and sounded more in tune, which shows my inner ear took
quite some time to re-align to a different kind of sound for the exact same
pitch.

[john]

I know exactly what you’re going thru. When I was studying at the university I had to have a “classical:” sound as well so had to buy the mp my teacher recommended to get thru all the tests etc. It was just a phase in my life, I don’t use that mp anymore, ever. I’m not a classical player (as you know!) But anyway, if you want to pass this exam you must play their game!

[Anonymous]

Lol – play their game! I like that,very wise!
but seriously i’m open to trying anything which
may be to my advantage if i know what effect it has.

What i couldn’t believe was that to me the sound
from the mouthpiece sounded awful yet it was the
sound he was looking for, and after a while the sound
sounded ok, and after an hour i had to admit the tune sounded
better on the rubber mouthpiece.
It’s like you don’t sing a funeral song in the style of happy birthday …
So much to learn!

[Author]

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