Saxophone

Cannonball Vintage Reborn Series Saxophones

Vintage Reborn Series saxophones feature light key action enabling quick, smooth, and responsive playing. And these horns are designed with vintage-inspired keywork and lightweight guards to ensure that they sound, look, and feel like the classic horns of years past. Each saxophone is hand-engraved by artisans in Salt Lake City, Utah. All include a certificate of authenticity signed by the artist who engraved the horn, and some engraving series also include Limited-number edition designs and certificates.

Meet Your Makers: And Insider’s Telling of the Story of JodyJazz Mouthpieces

In 1999 Professional NYC Musician and Jazz educator Jody Espina, met legendary saxophonist and mouthpiece maker Santy Runyon. Recognizing Runyon’s vast knowledge of the saxophone, not to mention his unique energy and spirit, Espina began to spend more and more time with him. When Santy specially customized a mouthpiece for him, Espina was astounded by the incredible difference it made to his sound and to his playing and it was at that moment that Espina became enlightened as to the tremendous significance of mouthpiece design and its effect and impact on saxophone sound. 

Playing Both Sides of the Horn: Approaching the Saxophone As a Classical and Jazz Instrument

The saxophone is usually viewed by the wider public as a “jazz instrument,” thanks to nearly one hundred years of iconography associated with that art form. However, most in the music community now recognize that the instrument is capable of performing in any musical style, from contemporary classical to jazz to rock to pop to salsa, and so much more. The saxophone has been viewed by most as a valuable and viable voice in every style of music for decades now. Anyone in the music education profession who claims the saxophone is not an instrument capable of playing classical music is derided as a fogey or curmudgeon.

Commentary: Bass Saxophone

Making a Case for the Bass… Saxophone

The bass saxophone, one of the most unique, multipurpose low woodwinds available, has been off of the radar for most music educators for the last half-century. However, the instrument is making a comeback. It’s time for everyone to learn a bit about the history – and future – of this great instrument.

UpClose: George Hattendorf

Concert bands and chamber groups drive Mountain Ridge High School’s comprehensive band program

If the performance opportunities offered to students are an indicator of a school music program’s vitality, George Hattendorf’s Mountain Ridge High School band program in Glendale, Arizona is positively thriving. Over the past decade, Hattendorf has overseen the development of an array of extracurricular, chamber-style ensembles that augment the Mountain Ridge concert and marching bands in what he describes as a “win-win” situation. “The kids are able to utilize a number of their skill sets from their concert band experience in the small groups,” he reasons, “and they’re also able to take skills that they learn in the chamber aspect and bring it back to the larger group.”

Gear: Sax Accessories

Beginner and step-up saxophone accessories for the education market

With a nearly constant stream of new products coming to market, it can be nearly impossible to stay up-to-date on the latest musical equipment innovations and designs. This can also present challenges in terms of figuring out what equipment to recommend to your beginning and advancing saxophone students. With this in mind, these following reviews of woodwind mouthpieces, ligatures, reeds, and neck-straps for the beginning and advancing students should help provide a starting point as woodwind students consider upgrading their gear.

Vandoren M|O Lite Alto Sax Ligature

The M|O LITE is made out of a synthetic material and offers the quick response and resonance of the standard line of M|O inverted ligatures at a lower price point.

Jupiter 1100 Series Saxophones

Eastman Sax Project

Student-Run Sax Choir Offers a Different Take on Chamber Music

The Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y. is home to the uniquely conductor-less Eastman Saxophone Project. In addition to being unconducted, the group also plays its music entirely from memory, for the purpose of "dramatically enhancing the level of interaction with its audiences."

All of this is to say that if you like saxophones and modern repertoire, you might want to check out this outstanding clip of the ESP performing John Mackey's "Asphalt Cocktail" at a spring concert on April 7, 2014.  

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2002 Essay Contest Winners

SUBJECT: HOW MUSIC HAS INFLUENCED MY LIFE

Winners receive a $1,000 scholarship to help further their music education. Winners' schools receive $1,000 worth of music products from the competition's co-sponsors - Yamaha Corporation of America, Avedis Zildjian Co., Alfred Publishing and United Musical Instruments.

2003 Essay Contest Winners

SUBJECT: My Favorite Musical Instrument Is...

Winners receive a $1,000 scholarship to help further their music education. The winning students' schools will receive matching awards in the form of musical merchandise from Alfred Publishing Co., C.G. Conn, Yamaha Corporation of America and Avedis Zildjian Co.

GRADES 4 - 8

2005 Essay Contest Winners

SUBJECT: What the National Anthem Means to Me...

Winners receive a $1,000 scholarship to help further their music education. The winning students' schools will receive matching awards in the form of musical merchandise from Alfred Publishing Co., C.G. Conn, Yamaha Corporation of America and Avedis Zildjian Co.

Ryan Laschober Grade 12, Age 18 Blue Valley North High School Overland Park, Kan. Instrument: Tenor Saxophone Director: Dr. Marion Roberts My school band and I were fortunate enough to have been requested to play at the 60th anniversary of the D-Day invasion commemoration in France.