Alto Saxophone Technique Class

This class is the basics of playing the alto.

Classroom Teacher: [chugnut]



Students
- [Sandman666]
- [Warheart]



Brief Outline


YOU MUST BE ABLE TO READ MUSIC, HAVE AN ALTO, AND BE ABLE TO MAKE IT PLAY NOTES, AND BE ABLE TO TONGUE (SEPARATE EACH NOTE)
Maybe take a single lesson from a local music teacher before this course

-Lesson 1

Just simple stuff for you to practice

-Lesson 2

Slurring, how to accent, and how to staccato.



-Lesson 1

Welcome to class.

First i'll just give you guys a fingering chart

http://www.cannonballmusic.com/altofingering.php

These are some scales to practice
G A B C D E F# G
C D E F G A B C
F G A B# C D E F

PRACTICE!
advanced stuff on the way



-Lesson 2

Welcome to class.

Today we'll be learning how to slur, play accents, and play staccatos.

First of all, here are definitions of what they mean:

Slur- played without separation
Accent- emphasis placed on a note
Staccato- played in a detached and distinctly separate manner

Slurring

To slur, just don't tongue! Blow continuously and switch notes but don't tongue.

Playing Accents

Right before you blow the next note during a tongue, let the air build pressure in your mouth before releasing.

After releasing the air, hold it while blowing less and less air

This is a normal note:

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<<TIME>>
This is an Accent:

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Notice they last the same amount of time

Playing a staccato

Tongue very sharply to end the note sooner. The staccato will end up taking the same amount of time as if it weren't a staccato, but part of that time will be silence. Also follow the instructions for Accents (above) except the part about holding the note.



Go or return to:
-The Music Department
-The Instrumental Techniques Sub-Department
-EPC Departmental Staff
-Elfpack College