Low Eh!

For the last few years, while finishing my degree, I have been performing in saxophone quartets on the baritone saxophone chair exclusively. This year, I moved to the soprano saxophone chair, and it’s been eye-opening to sit on the opposite end of the section.

Here are three things that I’ve learned since moving to my new chair.

1. Endurance – In my first few rehearsals, I was exhausted by the end. I would lose focus, and my pitch would be unstable. I have only used the soprano in improvisational contexts, where I can phrase the way I feel most comfortable, and take the chances that I deem necessary, not in a situation where most of the music is on the page. Daily practice, specifically on the soprano (my students have heard it in every saxophone lesson), and working with different reed and mouthpiece combinations have helped develop my endurance and concept on the soprano.
2. Setting The Group Sound – Playing baritone saxophone in quartets is a chair that I love, and there’s a lot of listening up to the soprano chair for articulation and phrasing. It’s also a new experience to breathe the group in, and it feels like a ton more responsibility. Now, sitting on the soprano book, I have the rest of the group listening up to my lead voice, so I’ve had to think more about how I phrase, articulate, and shape the group sound.
3. I Love It – I love playing this chair! It’s making me consider elements of my playing from a different perspective, which ultimately, will help me grow as a musician, and saxophonist.

I feel really fortunate to be able to experience this chair!