[scoleo]

I'm a band director looking to create a better warm-up/exercise routine for my concert bands and jazz ensembles. As a brass player, I'm well versed in the brass-specific needs of my students (lip slurs, buzz exercises, etc.). I'm trying to educate myself about the SPECIFIC needs that are unique to my sax students. I'm obviously aware of the benefit of long tones, scales, etc, etc. In terms of aspects that benefit all wind instruments, I'm already covered. Can anyone educate me as to what sax-specific needs are needing to be addressed and what exercises to create to address those needs for my sax students? I teach beginners, middle school, and high school students, so I don't want to leave anyone out. Much appreciation!!

 

[rabbit]

I'll have to let other, qualified people addresss your needs.

You are exactly opposite the trumpet playing music director
who terrorized my H.S. band experience. Sister Mary Agony,
if I remember her name correctly, it been a while.

My compliments to you.

 

[TheOtter]

One good exercise is to slur octaves. For example, you can go down a major scale: C5-C6-C5-B5-B6-B5-A5-A6-A5, etc. All slurred. The idea is to practice long tones, and voicing the registers. The goal is to have the transitions, both up and down the octaves, be as clean as possible at different volume levels. This should help with intonation and general tone production.

Other than that, the only thing I can come up with is more general: anything that gets them blowing enough air through the instrument, articulating, and doing both at different dynamics. Pretty much the same as with any wind instruments.

Great question, for a couple of reasons - I hope others have some more ideas!

--Rob