Hi everyone!

You know, there’s a reason why musicians play music – we LOVE it! I don’t think there’s anything that gives me greater pleasure than to show off my talents at an event, gig or party and blast music from my light up saxophone non-stop!

However, as anyone would tell you, playing an instrument for the first time can seem daunting and tricky to master. But as the old saying goes “practice makes perfect” and if you’re truly passionate about music, with the drive to learn and improve, then you’ll be on your way to musical success.

So, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, here are a few saxophone tips and tricks for all you fellow saxophonists out there!

Remember to breathe

Sometimes playing the saxophone can feel like you’ve just ran in a marathon and it’s easy to feel out of breath!

The best thing is to do diaphragmatic breathing exercises for the flow of breath to be at a constant pace and more importantly for you to keep playing. One thing to learn is making sure your throat is always open and pushing down on your abdomen as you tense your diaphragm for an excessive amount of air to be expelled once built.

Invest in a quality mouthpiece and reed

For quality sound, you need a quality mouthpiece and reed. A cheap plastic mouthpiece will make your music sound average, but if you’re looking to rock the world with your amazing tunes, upgrading to a better mouthpiece will help improve the tone and melody.

The reed itself is made of arundo donax (scientific name for cane) or other natural materials and no two are the same! Similar to the mouthpiece, the reed largely influences the sound of your saxophone and you don’t want to fall flat. It’s also handy to change it often as the quality reduces the older it gets.

Good posture and position

This isn’t only taught in terms of etiquette, but posture and position can also affect the way a saxophone can be played or changed. Keep a straight back!

I’ve learnt to be mobile as I play whilst keeping the perfect vibrato or tone with every beat which this takes A LOT of practice but once you’ve got the hang of it, it will be easy as pie!

Find the perfect setting

As a travelling saxophone player, I love to play all over the world and against some of the most spectacular scenic views! From beaches and lakes, to forests and cities it really brings the music to an out-of-this-world level!

Being able to express myself in such beautiful and inspiring environments is an incredibly powerful feeling and even in Ibiza’s best nightclubs or bars, the party atmosphere lifts my saxophone and spirit up.

So, try to find a comfortable and open space for you to practice or play in, where you won’t be silenced, and you get to blast your music out loud.

If you’re looking for a bespoke saxophone player to make your event’s entertainment an unforgettable one, then hire the one and only Girl on Sax by emailing [email protected] or calling 07740 192973. Check out my website for more information.

Hello my fellow music lovers!

Today I’ve decided to do something a little different from the usual and share some fun facts about my favourite instrument – Saxophones of course!

As a female saxophone player, I love playing music all over the world at the most stunning and gorgeous holiday hotspots abroad, or even right here at home in the UK! In my opinion, there’s no better feeling than dancing with my light-up sax in hand and creating some truly awesome musical memories!

This instrument has played a HUGE part in my life and I wouldn’t pick any other as I get to play a wide range of tunes, music genres, and tailor the music to your specific event or celebration – whether it’s living it up in Ibiza at a pool party, or setting the mood for a slow romantic ballad at a wedding.

So, here are a few fun facts about saxophones that some of you may be surprised by!

Saxophones are part of the woodwind family

Woodwind? But aren’t saxophones a brass instrument you may ask?!

Well, even though saxophones are mainly made of brass, the way sound is produced by vibrating through a single reed mouthpiece makes it part of the woodwind family – similar to a flute or clarinet.

Versatile instrument

What makes the saxophone such an amazing instrument to play is just how versatile and dynamic it is! With most woodwind instruments, it uses a system of keys to cover up the holes and allow the player to create different pitches. This is why I get to play loads of modern, classical, and jazzy songs that are perfectly tuned to your event, wedding or party!

Loads of different types!

There isn’t just one type of saxophone either! In addition to the four commonly known saxophones (soprano, alto, tenor, baritone), the sax family actually has five other siblings: the sopranissimo (or soprillo), sopranino, bass, contra bass and subcontra bass saxophones.

Saxophones can also be made out of copper, plastic, acrylic, and silver, but there is only one unique light up saxophone in my book!

There’s a reason why they’re called SAXophones

Developed in 1800s, the saxophone was created by Adolphe Sax, who was a gifted musician and designer and could play a variety of wind instruments.

He set to invent an instrument that would be able to smoothly transition between other ensembles and invented fourteen types on top!

 

If you want to create a truly unique musical experience for your next event or celebration entertainment, hire Girl on Sax today by getting in touch via my contact page, or call me on 07740192973.