[Blondebabe64]

Okay so my band teacher tells me that I have to start playing louder because I am the lead alto of our Jazz band. But the thing is I can not possibly blow any more without passing out and it is still not as loud as he wants it to be. I just bought a new mouth piece in the summer it was a Selmer C* matched with a standard BG ligature and 3 1/2 vandoran reeds. And I have been playing for 5 years. Someone please help me I am tired of being yelled at to play louder.

 

[rs1sensen]

Play loudly to the point where you sound good. Any tips we could give you beyond that could be detrimental to your playing. Some mouthpieces have special baffles that speed up the air, and there are ways to sort of make baffles on the spot for something like a C* (essentially by molding a piece of gum or similar material to fit in the mouthpiece), but you also could be somewhat limited by your horn.

When I was in Middle School jazz band, I can still remember my band director egging me on into playing louder. He even challenged me and another playing to see if he was louder than us. In truth, he was playing on a professional horn and had much greater chops than my friend and I. To this day, I can get my pro horn waaaay louder than my student Yamaha, and still sound good. What I realize now was that he didn't want me to play louder, but bigger, which is an important distinction.

I think a big part of all of it is attitude too. You are performing, so show it off. Stand a little straight, pretend that you're the best sax player in the entire world and everyone wants to hear what you're about to play. You might be surprised that this will effect your sound, but it will.

 

[ChuBerry47]

Get a metal mouthpiece, and softer reeds.

 

[johnnysax]

A mouthpiece with a more open tip (along with softer reeds) will definitely increase your projection. However, your intonation may suffer.

 

[maestroelite]

Don't get a metal mouthpiece, just get a Meyer they're cheap and great. A C* won't project as well or be as bright but works for classical playing.

 

[rs1sensen]

You may or may not like a metal mouthpiece. I don't like them, feel odd in my mouth. Plus...being made out of metal does not make a mouthpiece loud. Many of them are quite tame, actually.

If you must go the mouthpiece route...and depending on your age and playing ability, I'd be hesitant to send you that direction right away, I'd look at something like a Meyer, as mentioned above. But...with the proper chops, you can sound like anything on nearly any mouthpiece. The C* is one of the best-all arounders anywhere and is effective for anything from classical to jazz.

 

[hakukani]

Try stepping down a half strength in reeds.

When practicing, play long tones, taking in more mouthpiece. It'll sound crappy at first, but keep going, and you'll devlop control and power--yes, even on a C*.

 

[AltoRuth]

Okay so my band teacher tells me that I have to start playing louder because I am the lead alto of our Jazz band. But the thing is I can not possibly blow any more without passing out and it is still not as loud as he wants it to be. I just bought a new mouth piece in the summer it was a Selmer C* matched with a standard BG ligature and 3 1/2 vandoran reeds. And I have been playing for 5 years. Someone please help me I am tired of being yelled at to play louder.

I've been in those shoes relatively recently---although I have a few years on you (OK, many years!) I started playing lead alto in a jazz band, after having played concert band music exclusively, and I was using a C* mpc. Our director was constantly on me to play louder. Getting a larger tip piece like the Meyer solved my difficuly very nicely. I, too, don't like the feel of a metel piece. You might have to try out a few before finding the one you like. Do some reading here at SOTW to help point you to some possibilities. You will need a softer reed, and possibly a different one on a larger piece. Again, experiment. In the meantime, a somewhat softer reed on the C* might give you more projection---can't hurt to try.

Good luck and keep us posted. Ruth

 

[bruce bailey]

I used a Selmer D for nearly 40 years and switched to a Super Session D. You may want to try one as the approach is similar but the results are great. Loud, vibrant but still able to give control. Try some different facings but be prepared to use a softer reed.

 

[bluesaxgirl]

I know exactly how you feel...
I was practicing in my band room one day and one of my directors walks out of the band office with his mouth hanging wide open.
Ever since then, I've been told to play louder--every time by every person.
I feel like if I was to play louder, I was lose my tone. I am assuming this is how you may feel also.
When I come up with something, I'll be sure to tell you.

 

[CountSpatula]

Try stepping down a half strength in reeds.

When practicing, play long tones, taking in more mouthpiece. It'll sound crappy at first, but keep going, and you'll devlop control and power--yes, even on a C*.

This guy has my vote...

 

[gary]

I do not disagree with any of the above suggestions (I know why they're saying what they're saying) but I believe you're just fighting with yourself with a C* and 3.5 Vandorens (I assume blue box). That setup is what I use for classical playing - and I've also played jazz on a C* - but I think with a Meyer 5M or a Jody Jazz HR 6* (my recommendation) and another brand and strength reed (perhaps Rico Jazz Select, or Rico Royals at #3 strength), you're still going to have the control over your equipment but you'll be able to carry better with less work.

One thing to really keep in mind, though. "Projection" not blowing your brains out is what should have priority. Many of the suggestions above deal not only with playing with power but with projection - they're not always the same. With the proper support and concept you can project better than folks next to you who are getting a double hernia blowing but have poor projection.

 

[harmonizerNJ]

I had a Selmer C* for the first few years I had my Mark VI Alto. When I moved to other hard rubber mouthpieces having a bigger tip opening (Meyer and Ottolink, ending up on a Meyer) it helped my sound in several ways, including helping me to get a bigger sound. There are better players than I who have already commented here that a big sound is possible with a Selmer C*, and I am sure they are right. But for me, leaving the C* was the start of a process that helped me greatly.

 

[AltoRuth]

I'm in total agreement with Gary's post, above. He says more clearly and with considerably more authority what I was trying to convey in my earlier post.

An observation and question---I'm assuming that the person who began this thread is a woman. She, bluesaxgir, and I have all been told to play louder. Is there some kind of gender thing going on with this? Do women generally play in a more restrained manner? If so, why? Is it a physiological or personality difference? Any comments?
Ruth

 

[rs1sensen]

AltoRuth, I don't think. I've heard many a female blow my socks off in volume. In my post, I recounted a similar situation with my own band director, and I'm a male. I think that the developing player often doesn't have a very big sound, both in volume and "size." It seems to me that if the player has potential, pushing them to play louder will eventually result in them achieving a bigger sound (since they try to do their best to sound good while playing loud).

I think that some players are overly confident, to a fault. Most of us have doubts about our playing and wonder if we are good enough, or if we really sound good. It's a good thing, it keeps us working hard.

Also...it should be noted that student-line instruments often cannot achieving the same loud and large sound that a professional horn can. Yes, I sound similar on my student Yamaha YAS-23 to my professional Selmer Series II, but as soon as I start pushing volume, the Yamaha reaches a limit and the selmer keeps going. So...some of it is in the horn and setup too.

 

[Blondebabe64]

Thank you all so much you are being a big help. I should probably clarify that I am not playing on a student saxophone though... it's an intermediate B&S. If anyone else has any more suggestions please post them...Thanks!!!

 

[Jim Clark]

One of the more common reasons for a small sound is not taking in enough of the mouthpiece. This gives less area of the reed to vibrate, making it more difficult to get a big sound. Or sometimes just too much lower lip on the reed will affect your ability to project. I have a student who had so much of his lower lip rolled in that his sound was small even with the "proper" amount of mouthpiece in his mouth. Changing the amount of lower lip on the reed really opened up his sound.
The "default" position is to have your teeth above the spot where the reed contacts the mouthpiece face (see diagram). Your lower lip is in that same range. Take in too much mouthpiece and your sound is "honky" harsher and hard to control. Take in too little mouthpiece and your sound becomes darker and softer. Hope this helps.


Good luck!

 

[Tenortones]

Listen, babe,..as far as the mechanics you should most definitely get the Meyer 5M or better yet call jody espina mthps. and he will recommend the 6*HR. Then try some medium strength reeds.

Your band director should be advised however that lead alto is not about volume-it's about time, phrasing, swing, you know? Don't get in the game of trying to compete with the brass-it's usually a no win situation, especially in school.

So make that change, experiment w/reeds, and then work on YOUR sound-and listen to Phil Woods!!!

 

[gary]

...and listen to Phil Woods!!!

Perhaps he's best, or only, know to many as a soloist but IMO one of the best big-band lead alto players ever. Good suggestion.

 

[amoram]

Just tell the others to play more quietly