[Tim Smith]

Sent your comments along to my daughter, and she is looking forward to working on it. I’m hoping she’ll agree to let me post a video over on the Blog – for some feedback – when she’s ready…

Appreciated,
Tim

[Tim Smith]

Very interesting, Johnny…, horn itself requires less air, but she needs more air for the low notes. I wonder if she’s pushing too little from the diaphragm as a rule, but gets away with it in the mid-to-upper register.

Will definitely be passing these tips along to her. It is very cool to have access to a seasoned pro’s voice on things like this.

Thanks so much,
Tim

[Tim Smith]

Thanks, Johnny, I’m downloading that lesson as soon I finish typing here…

I wasn’t real clear on what she said about the low notes, except for one thing. She said she can’t get those low notes out on the alto with the tone/sound she desires. On the tenor – you know it’s much easier to get that kinda fat full sexy tone at a low volume. She said the only way she can get the notes is to blow them pretty loud – which in her mind forces her to sacrifice the sound she wants just so she can hit the right note. Does this make sense?

This may be a limitation with the alto that can only be overcome by someone at a higher skill level – such as yourself – I don’t know. If that’s the case, she may need to come up with an alternative melody line on those low measures.

I do know the rest of the tune is coming along nicely – I wondered whether she’d get it, you know, on the tone thing. But I think she IS getting it – I really do. To my ear, she is really trying to emote, and on the bigger parts of it she’s doing that very nicely already.

Appreciate your response, Johnny.
Tim

[Tim Smith]

Quote:

Quote from saxjohnny on December 17, 2014, 11:38
Us and Them on alto? Most definately! I just tried playing it on alto after reading your question and it sounds great.

cheers
Johnny

Johnny,

Quick question regarding your comment above….
My daughter is really liking this tune and has made good progress on it. One problem, though, is the lowest note on the score – the A#. She’s having trouble hitting it on her alto – she even wonders if it’s out of range for her horn. Is there some special fingering maybe? Got any suggestions for her?

Thanks,
Tim

[Tim Smith]

Agreed. The solo fits that organ harmonic line so well – if they’re real squares, we’ll find out!

[Tim Smith]

Alright Johnny,

Thanks a lot for your response! Exactly what I was hoping to hear… We aren’t sure yet whether they’ll allow her to bring the backing track, but even if they don’t I think it could still be impressive enough.

I’m hoping to get my daughter on here to check out your site. She loves to play, that’s for sure – and is not opposed to putting the time in. So I know she could pick up some very good and helpful stuff to become a better player.

This solo just touches that sax sweet spot for me. It’s funny – I was actually searching for Al Stewart’s “Year of the Cat”. My disappointment immediately disappeared after finding “Us & Them”. I’m a child of the 70s, even a Pink Floyd fan, and had totally forgotten about it…

Thanks again,
Tim

[Tim Smith]

Thanks for the audition tip, sxpoet…
Do you happen to have an answer to my questions about the tune, “Us & Them”?

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