frustrated

[darryl]

i KNOW i should practice on the mouthpiece but i've been putting it off b/c of my new mouthpiece. when i play on the mouthpiece alone all i get are squeaks.

lakey 4*4 with a rico 2.5. i checked where i should put my embouchure w/an index card. when i put my embouchure there, if i put the slighest pressure, the mouthpiece will squeak an in tune A on the tuner.

what should i do? for the mouthpiece exercise, am i allowed to put more mouth on the mouthpiece to practice? is it okay to bring more of my lower lip on the reed to get the sound out? help!!!

[danny_tb]

The "proper" embouchure is the one that Larry Teal's book (the art of playing the saxophone - or something similar to that) suggests. Using that embouchure may or may not work for you.

On the other hand, you may need different reeds (different brand, model or hardness). A friend of mine can get nothing but squeeks from Alexander Superial, Rico Royal, and Marca reeds, but he finds that he can play well on normal Rico, Vandoren, Rico Jazz, and Vintage Select reeds.

[Andrew]

It could be the mouthpiece table not being flat or reed table not being flat, or both! These two problems can cause squeaks very easily.

[Paul Coats]

hese three articles have all you need to learn a good embouchure and develop good tone. This mouthpiece method was taught to me by Santy Runyon, who, in Chicago in the 1940-50's, taught at his Runyon Studio some of the finest saxophonists around... Charlie Parker, Sonny Stitt, Lee Konitz, Paul Desmond, Harry Carney, Charlie Fowlkes, Johnny Bothwell, Chu Berry (and three other Cab Calloway saxophonists), the entire Lawrence Welk sax section, Art Pepper, and many more. I can assure you it works.

http://www.saxontheweb.net/Coats/Beginner_Corner3.html
http://www.saxontheweb.net/Coats/Beginner_Corner3.html
http://www.saxontheweb.net/Coats/Beginner_Corner4.html

Some have reported difficulty with this method, having squeeks with the Lakey pieces. Try another mouthpiece for this and see what happens.

[Charlie A.]

Hi!
I am Charlie A. and I want you to know that the advice given to you by Paul Coates is most proper.
On my site, www.gigdust.com, there is a very inexpensive booklet written by Santy Runyon titled, "Suggestions for WW PLayers" that will give you the necessary information to help overcome your delimma.
Regards,
Charlie A.

[origani]

Although I do use the mouthpiece only exercises, I've been wondering...

Doesn't the length of the mpc have any effect? I find it much easier to blow the proper note on my modern mpc than on my stubby vintage soprano piece. It (or I) tend to blow about a semi sharp.

I can bring it down but it seems pretty natural that it would be sharp. Anyone know if it should be?

Cheers.

Steve