Need To Develop A Decent Soprano Sound Fast!

[Helen]

I was hoping some of the more regular soprano players on this board might be able to help me...

I play primarily tenor and bari. I have to play some soprano fills and a few solos in about 4 weeks. I was wondering if anyone here has any suggestions for how to develop my soprano embouchure in such a short time. I'm doing long tones against a tuner, and really trying to focus on developing a nice sound across the full range of the horn. Any suggestions besides that? I'm putting in about an hour a day on the horn, sometimes a bit more. Yes, I have a tonal concept for the horn already, it's just my embouchure...or lack thereof....that prevents me from reaching it consistently.

Maybe it's because I'm more of a large horn player, but soprano has always seemed so foreign to me. I like the sound, but it just isn't my regular "voice" so I think I struggle with it more than I really need to.

Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks...

[Razzy]

Good start with the long tones. I would do them twice a day, range of the horn, about 10 seconds on each note. Don't go for notes that require you to bite, you'll get there. Just never bite! Keep pushing the air faster and faster until the note is playable, a little bit more each day up in the top register. You may feel like your head is going to pop off at times but only stop if you feel you're getting a serious headache! A more open setup with softer reed should help this out, it certainly did for me.

Next add apreggios, scales slurred over the full range, and chord progressions and such. For some real embouchure-testing stuff you could pick up the Berbiguier 18 exercises for flute and play them on soprano, I play them on alto, and they can be quite frustrating but really work out your chops, especially "over the break"-type register playing.

[MarkD]

Paul C's article is a must read: http://www.saxontheweb.net/Coats/Soprano.html

Be sure to page down and see the section on Intonation.

[Mike Ruhl]

I agree with Razzy, except that long tones should be held until you're out of breath. But a big "ditto" on maintaining a relaxed embouchure and open throat. Just keep playing the little beast as much as you can over the next few weeks.

[Helen]

Just keep playing the little beast as much as you can over the next few weeks.

Thanks guys for chiming in. I've been working with your suggestions, and it has made a difference. My tuning is coming in more on the 3 really "bad" notes that I had on the horn. By really bad I'm talking almost 50 cents sharp. The rest of the notes are as in tune for me on my sop. as they are on any of my other horns.

I am using a Pan American curved soprano. I just want to know...How can something that looks so cute be so devilish??

:twisted:

That's what I think of when I think of "the little beast". I'll take a bari or even a bass anyday...They are sooo much easier to play!

Thanks again folks...

[Dave Dolson]

Helen: Others rave about vintage curvies, but not me. My one experience was like yours, except mine was a Conn - and the scale was unplayable for me. I don't which comapny made the Pan American, but I believe it is a stencil from Conn or Buescher.

A curved Buescher I tried drove me nuts with the bell key flapping against my right fingers. Your intonation problems may not be you (others will claim it is a mouthpiece problem, but I'm not convinced of that theory, either).

Sopranos will play - really!! You just have to buy one with a proper scale -and they are out there. DAVE