Saxophones?

[Amy]

I currently play alto sax and am loving it, but I am beginning to think about taking up an second sax.
I am thinking of hiring one over the summer as I will have time to play about with it properly.

Which one would people reccomend? Tenor or Soprano? (please give reasons why)

Oh and don't suppose anyone knows of any sax teachers in the liverpool area? think i may be about to lose mine

[princessmoose]

Hmm, both have their advantages.

Soprano is quite hard to keep in tune, so you do need a good embouchure, but lots of good music around for it.

Tenor - I found when I played this I had to adjust my embouchure a bit and had to give it a bit of umph to get a good strong sound out of it.

Which do you prefer out of those? I've always wanted another sax and I can't really make up my mind between them!

I'd bash a guess at saying go for soprano, it will help strengthen your embouchure and if you ever join a quartet and play the right music you will have the tune .

Try this site www.musicteachers.co.uk/home.php it might come up with something. I'm only 30mins from L'pool but aren't here most of the year so I'd be pretty useless .

[Amy]

I like them both I quite the like the sound of the tenor more than the soprano but that may be because I have heard more music on tenor.

There is something about the soprano I like am not sure what it is, it just appeals to me, but I like the look of the tenor more.
I know it is about sound more than looks, but do any of you have a preference between curved and straight soprano saxes?

Thanks for the link nat, there are two, one I have already bin warned off, and the other one I tried to get when I started but when I rang he was on tour in germany and told me to ring him back in a few months if I still wanted lessons...but he is good I may ring him and see if he is back in the country yet

Only 30min?? its always seemed longer than that when going to chester (think thats right)

[princessmoose]

The tenor does have a great sound yeah, it's my sax teachers main instrument and it's fab.

I prefer straight soprano saxes, I think probably because it is more similar to a clarinet which I am used to. Curved ones are usually used by younger students with small hands and they can't reach the Bb/B/C# left hand keys on a straight one.

Which one is no good?PM me it if you want. It's probably worth giving the other one a ring to see if he is back, how much he charges etc.

I'm 10mins outside of Chester, right near a train station, so it is definitely no more than 30mins for me. If you do want any lessons/help in hols I'd be more than willing to help.

Let me know if you ring that guy.

[Amy]

I don't think that it was because he was no good (he has a waiting list so must be good) that I was warned off think it was more the preference of the person I was talking to. I could probably give them a try and see.

[princessmoose]

Ah right. Hmm, perhaps arrange a one off lesson with them both so you get to see what they are like but you are then not committing yourself just incase you don't get on with them.

[Amy]

I am now the owner of a tenor sax , they didn't have a straight soprano and didn't like the curved one, which helped me make up my mind so I have a tenor for 3 months to try.
I haven't got round to finding another teacher yet as I have found out I have 3 lessons left with my current teacher.

[princessmoose]

Ace!!! Hope you enjoy it!

I am playing tenor in the swing band when I go on tour in Oct. Will be a nice change.

[Amy]

I have got my new teacher, I finally rang him up, he seemed nice enough and has agreed to give me lessons

His name is Mike he plays sax in various groups in liverpool, though I have never actually heard him play live I have heard recordings from his site and sounds great.

[princessmoose]

That's great .

[saxophonist]

I STILL havent heard back from my hopeful new sax teacher... tell him to check his emails Nat

[princessmoose]

I'll see what I can do .