learn alto saxophone advice

[Benwong]

Dear all,
may I get your advice on this topic?
I learnt classicl guitar before and now would like to study alot sax by myself, is it possbile to do it? I think the breath method is the most important factor to be studied, right?

I do not buy my sax up to now, Yamaha 23 is the best choice? but it do not have the F# key on it, the saleman todl me that it is very important and asked to me to buy a highes graded one

your advice to me would be appreciated

[HC]

Feel free to disagree, these are just my humble opinions.

Saxophone could be learned by yourself, BUT you'll save a lot of time if you had gotten a private instructor. Many things that took me a long time to find out could be told by any instructor. When I taught myself clarinet, (I learned sax first), it took 3 months for me to stop squeaking. I could have sworn that it have taken much less time had I had a private teacher. Most people in the better bands in our school took private lessons since 4th grade. People that gets stuck in the lowest band all came from private schools, which in general has bad music programs.

I think the tone is the most important factor to study, which includes breath control. This is one of the many things that seperates the "men from the boys".

Yamaha YAS-23 is one of the best student saxes out there. I have a Vito student saxophone, which is the same saxophone as the Yamaha. Had it for 7 years and remain my only alto.

As for the high F#... I have yet to use it. I could only think of one time in which I have to use the high F key. I have never had to use the high F#. I believe you could subsitute altissmo fingerings for the F#, so the extra key is not needed in my opinion. [/b]

[JfW]

Dear all,
may I get your advice on this topic?
I learnt classicl guitar before and now would like to study alot sax by myself, is it possbile to do it? I think the breath method is the most important factor to be studied, right?

I do not buy my sax up to now, Yamaha 23 is the best choice? but it do not have the F# key on it, the saleman todl me that it is very important and asked to me to buy a highes graded one

your advice to me would be appreciated

The guy is a salesman, likely on commission and therefore wants to get you to buy a premium model for a greater spiff.

Players go both ways on the High F#. Most modern day intermediates and proffessional horns have them and many fine vintage instruments lack them. For a first instrument I wouldn't worry about it one way or the other.

The Yamaha YAS-23 is a student horn with pretty decent keywork, but I wouldn't buy one new as they tend to go for around $1300 American. At that price, you are not that far off from getting a proffesional level instrument from Yanagisawa.

[Benwong]

thanks HC and Jtf
Hc, may I get your comments on the Vito saxophone, how about its perfromance, some told that it is come from Yamaha 23 adn made in USA, is it right?
thanks
Ben

[HC]

I believe that is the Vito VSP Bari, that is a Yagaswana, but made in USA. (correct me if I'm wrong, guys)
My Vito Student IS a Yamaha 23 to my knowledge, but the only difference is that the Yamaha has the adjustable thumbrest and the Vito doesn't. On the body, it is stamped "JAPAN", so it is obviously not made in the US.

[HC]

Forgot to comment on the performance:
I've played saxophone for 7 years. I played my teacher's Yamaha Custom Z and though it did seem better, I didn't think it was worth my two grand. As I said before, this is my only alto and I don't have any plans on getting another one. The saxophone has been to the repair shop a few times, but nothing serious. This saxophone will last you many years, and will probably make a decent "backup horn" if you decide to go pro.

[Benwong]

thansk HC
would you mind telling me that
the breath method is diffcult to mange? I hope you can give me some experience and detail as I know nothing about it
thanks