problems with middle D

[A.C.]

For some reason, I have a tendency to pop up to the altissimo A when I'm playing middle D, this happens when I come at it from a lot of directions. For intonation and tone's sake, I tend to place imagine my sound (or breath) coming from my soft palate rather than more forward in my mouth. This also helps me with playing my mouthpiece by itself in tune. I practice long tones and overtones, but the middle D is still a consistent problem, because I have to do a BIG oral cavity adjustment for it, and in quicker pieces, it throws of my embouchure off for the rest of the tune. Any suggestions? :?

[MS]

check or have a repairman check your octave mechaniciam. Make sure it's not bouncing.
Sometimes a sluggish left hand third finger will cause a harmonic A2 to sound, if that 3rd finger goes closed just a fraction late. I t causes the octave keys (body and neck to bounce in confusion). Hopefully you won't need a radical change in voicing for the D2. Good luck. :D

[Sigmund451]

Jup. Go to the shop. I had the same problem with d wanting to jump eight miles high unless mouthed just right. I dont know what he did but no more problem.

[Paul Coats]

If the octave mechanism is not fully closing the neck pip, or bouncing, the D will crack to an A.

ALSO, if you have a leak in the vicinity of the G pad, the same tendency to overblow to the A will occur. Check the G and G# pads for leaks.

[jazzdoh]

I am a tenor player but have had the same problem on alto for some time, even though my sax has been checked and serviced and I am aware of the sluggish left hand third finger.
I have tried different mpc`s and reeds [although it does seem worse on lighter reeds]
Is there an other reason that this problem occurs?
I would love to know if one has any ideas.

Many thanks