Sound, projection & volume

Youngblood Music Lesson with Zach and Tony

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Introduction

Hi, I'm Zach. This is Tony. You're playing Youngblood together. We're the Juggernauts. Today, we're going to talk about:

• Sound and projection
• Soloing
• The function of the saxophone in our band

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Projection

Importance of Projection

Projection is a huge thing. If you're playing in a band like this, you're going to want to get yourself a nice microphone. However, there are also things you can do to strengthen your sound.

Practice Tips

Unfortunately, these practices might not be the most exciting, but they are essential. Tony, take it away.

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Sculpting Your Sound

Common Issues for Saxophone Players

One of the problems with saxophone players is that they often spend too much time in the practice room:

• Trying to play as fast as they can
• Focusing on cool-sounding licks

This neglects the crucial aspect of sculpting their sound.

Playing Loudly in a Band

If you play in a brass band, you must learn to play loud. One of the biggest issues we encounter during clinics and workshops is that Zach and I can rarely hear the saxophone players when they're next to the trombone or trumpet players.

Although we aren't as loud as those instruments, you can definitely do things to strengthen your sound.

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Practice Routine

Key Practice Strategies

1. Posture and Core Support
   Ensure you have the correct posture and are supporting your sound with your core and abdomen.

2. Start with Long Tones
   When you practice, the first thing you should focus on is long tones, not jazz licks. Spend 10 to 20 minutes daily on long tones to be heard over the band.

   • For example, start from the bottom of the horn:
     • Play the low B flat and slur into the B for four counts.
     • Take a breath and repeat, aiming for perfection.

   Use a metronome set at around 50 or 60 beats per minute.

Range Practice
Continue this exercise through the entire range of the horn. It may feel boring, but it will enhance your projection and focus on your sound.

Scales and Focus
When practicing scales, do them slowly to focus on the sound you're producing.

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Finding Your Unique Sound

When you consistently practice these techniques, you'll eventually find your distinct sound. This unique sound will be recognizable when you solo.

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Sculpting Your Tone

Work on Partials

Think about sculpting your tone, much like a brass player.

• Different exercises exist for this purpose, and you can find various techniques in literature.
• A simple exercise I suggest is to start with the low B flat and work through the first three partials.

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Conclusion

Daily Consistency

Manipulating overtones of each tone helps in the maturity of your sound. As Zach mentioned, consistently working on this every day will sculpt your individual sound.

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Keep practicing, and you'll have a beautiful, strong projection in no time!