[bluesaxgirl]

Hi SOTW! Long time, no post. I hope everyone is doing well. I have recently started volunteer teaching at a music school. One of my alto saxophone students is a complete beginner. We have had two lessons together. Of course, I wanted to teach the student low G as the first note. He could not play it at all, usually it came out as a middle C or Bb. So, I had him play a middle B, C, and D, all of which he can do fine. I suggested lowering his jaw, loosening his embouchure, and blowing hot “deep” air through his instrument, all to no avail. I had him slur down from a B and A to a G, still didn’t work. I had him sing the pitch then try to play, and that didn’t work either. I even tried playing his horn and it works fine, so it’s not an instrument issue. I’m at a loss. Any other tips to get him to play a G?

 

[Grumps]

Tell him you're gonna punch him in the gut and to prepare himself accordingly. Once he's set, put the horn in his mouth and have him play a G.

 

[Nefertiti]

Hi SOTW! Long time, no post. I hope everyone is doing well. I have recently started volunteer teaching at a music school. One of my alto saxophone students is a complete beginner. We have had two lessons together. Of course, I wanted to teach the student low G as the first note. He could not play it at all, usually it came out as a middle C or Bb. So, I had him play a middle B, C, and D, all of which he can do fine. I suggested lowering his jaw, loosening his embouchure, and blowing hot "deep" air through his instrument, all to no avail. I had him slur down from a B and A to a G, still didn't work. I had him sing the pitch then try to play, and that didn't work either. I even tried playing his horn and it works fine, so it's not an instrument issue. I'm at a loss. Any other tips to get him to play a G?

Are you a 100% sure he wasn't accidentally pressing one of the side keys. Sometimes with beginners with small hands they will do this. It can be really minimal pressure but just open the key a tiny amount to change the note to a Bb or C...........

 

[milandro]

Welcome back.

I think he may be experiencing high anxiety , he is probably so scared to fail that he fails and finds confirmation of his fear in what happens.

I think that you should talk to him to see if this is the case.

Once you have determined that there is the possibility that he is having this problem. See if you can have him relax, perhaps make him breath a little and then try to make him play the mouthpiece alone, then add the neck then the rest of the horn.

Build up his feelings of self esteem with positive feedback. Rememeber if you are scared anything that confirms your fear will make you want to run away.

Good luck! Being an educator isn’t easy.

 

[bluesaxgirl]

Tell him you're gonna punch him in the gut and to prepare himself accordingly. Once he's set, put the horn in his mouth and have him play a G.

Well, that will certainly be fun to try. Thanks, Grumps!

 

[bluesaxgirl]

Hi SOTW! Long time, no post. I hope everyone is doing well. I have recently started volunteer teaching at a music school. One of my alto saxophone students is a complete beginner. We have had two lessons together. Of course, I wanted to teach the student low G as the first note. He could not play it at all, usually it came out as a middle C or Bb. So, I had him play a middle B, C, and D, all of which he can do fine. I suggested lowering his jaw, loosening his embouchure, and blowing hot "deep" air through his instrument, all to no avail. I had him slur down from a B and A to a G, still didn't work. I had him sing the pitch then try to play, and that didn't work either. I even tried playing his horn and it works fine, so it's not an instrument issue. I'm at a loss. Any other tips to get him to play a G?

Are you a 100% sure he wasn't accidentally pressing one of the side keys. Sometimes with beginners with small hands they will do this. It can be really minimal pressure but just open the key a tiny amount to change the note to a Bb or C...........

I'm actually not too sure. I did check his fingering and thought it looked okay. I will make sure next week. I really hope this is the issue because it's an easy fix!

 

[bluesaxgirl]

Welcome back.

I think he may be experiencing high anxiety , he is probably so scared to fail that he fails and finds confirmation of his fear in what happens.

I think that you should talk to him to see if this is the case.

Once you have determined that there is the possibility that he is having this problem. See if you can have him relax, perhaps make him breath a little and then try to make him play the mouthpiece alone, then add the neck then the rest of the horn.

Build up his feelings of self esteem with positive feedback. Rememeber if you are scared anything that confirms your fear will make you want to run away.

Good luck! Being an educator isn't easy.

Thank you! He seems pretty even-keeled and laid back. I always try to build self esteem in my lessons too. He really is doing a great job despite the setback. I will deliberately go through some relaxation techniques will him next week.

 

[buddy lee]

Silly question, but, have you made sure his saxophone is 100% playable by playing it yourself?

 

[Nefertiti]

Silly question, but, have you made sure his saxophone is 100% playable by playing it yourself?

Yes, she said she did this in the original post........

 

[Nefertiti]

I'm actually not too sure. I did check his fingering and thought it looked okay. I will make sure next week. I really hope this is the issue because it's an easy fix!

I would bet that this is the problem. You might not even see the key open because they are barely pressing it but I have had this happen plenty of times with beginners.........While they are playing you can make sure by pressing those keys totally shut and see if the note is fixed.......

 

[lostcircuits]

Yes, she said she did this in the original post........

Just as a sanity check, did the OP try the student's horn with the student's mouthpiece or did she put on her own mouthpiece?

 

[AddictedToSax]

Are you a 100% sure he wasn't accidentally pressing one of the side keys. Sometimes with beginners with small hands they will do this. It can be really minimal pressure but just open the key a tiny amount to change the note to a Bb or C...........

I was playing clarinet more lately after not playing it for a long time because my back was too sore to manage the sax. I was having trouble on certain notes. I noticed I was slightly pressing the side of my right knuckles on the side keys. It doesn't take much pressure at all to create a leak.

I remember seeing you here when you were a high school kid. Welcome back.

 

[saxoclese]

Re: Teaching beginner lessons, student can't play G

Some deductive reasoning: What key when opened affects the note G, but not the notes B and C? My guess would be the lowest RH side key that plays Bb. Why then does the D come out fine? Probably because the students RH position changes to finger the D and he is no longer "bumping the Bb key. Some younger students who have smaller hands have difficulty not bumping side keys and palm keys by accident.

It never hurts with beginning students to check the "tone producer" which consists of the mouthpiece and neck. On alto the note should be an Ab concert.

 

[Stretch]

Re: Teaching beginner lessons, student can't play G

I've run into beginners that were handed a horn with a mouthpiece that was much too open for someone just starting out.

 

[bandmommy]

Just as a sanity check, did the OP try the student's horn with the student's mouthpiece or did she put on her own mouthpiece?

It's FLU SEASON. Playing on someone else's mouthpiece is the LAST thing anyone wants to do.
A wise man once told every one of his band members, "If you wouldn't kiss the person on the mouth don't play their instrument with their mouthpiece."

Hi kiddo! I'm betting that a palm key is the culprit. Have fun with those kids. Your heart will smile with every one of their accomplishments. ☺

 

[lostcircuits]

It's FLU SEASON. Playing on someone else's mouthpiece is the LAST thing anyone wants to do.
A wise man once told every one of his band members, "If you wouldn't kiss the person on the mouth don't play their instrument with their mouthpiece."

That's exactly why I was asking.

 

[lostcircuits]

Re: Teaching beginner lessons, student can't play G

Some deductive reasoning:

It never hurts with beginning students to check the "tone producer" which consists of the mouthpiece and neck. On alto the note should be an Ab concert.

Ditto, you can't say that the horn was fine unless you also check the neck and MPC

 

[bruce bailey]

It sounds like the octave pip on the body is leaking since it starts with G BUT if it works for you, then it is probably due to a side key getting touched.

 

[jgreiner]

Concur with those saying the little goober is most likely hitting one of the side keys with his right hand.......or ever so slightly hitting a LH palm key. I teach beginners all the time and believe me, that's the most common issue.

 

[saxoclese]

Concur with those saying the little goober is most likely hitting one of the side keys with his right hand.......or ever so slightly hitting a LH palm key. I teach beginners all the time and believe me, that's the most common issue.

Wouldn't opening a palm key interfere with the D, C, and B as well?