Are You Making These 5 Saxophone Mistakes?

[@HouriSamatsu]

I'm a trombone player and all of your videos, even the sax specific ones, have been very helpful in terms new ideas both musical and practical. Great work

[@djhott1022]

Jeff your a blessing someone once told me the only way you keep what you have is by giving it away God bless you brother your passion for helping us all is amazing I couldn't thank you enough wish I live next door to you lol

[@StantawnKendrick]

you told the truth

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

+Stantawn Kendrick That's what I do.

[@kristiangreene8401]

Stantawn Kendrick, love your content!

[@tommizner3274]

+Jeff Schneider you're the man! Been playing for 2 months now and your stuff has been easily the most informative out there.

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

+Tom Mizner So happy to hear that, Tom. Thanks for watching, and good luck with the sax!

[@xasma]

The scooping is so common at my school. Most sad players are striving to be cover artists and that's the only style they learn sadly. Thanks for the video !!

[@xasma]

+HenryJonesVictor yeah I meant sad. I think I picked it up from winton Marsalis.

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

+xas It's like the plague!

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

+HenryJonesVictor hahah

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

+xas Wynton!

[@xasma]

+Jeff Schneider EXACTLY

[@alexovenden8698]

Great advice, Jeff, thanks so much for putting in the effort to help us all!

[@petegrogan6808]

Wot ho Jeff. I've been watching a handful of your videos and wanted to say congrats on a lovely teaching style. You're gentle and roaming, thoughtful etc. It comes across in a great way. I'm sorry to chime in on a note of disgruntlement having not said hello before but I have to take exception to the "...another video in the future about the proper way to scoop". I couldn't agree more that the scoop is a a sax hazard and it's something to be aware of but - the proper way? In accordance with what? I could ramble on but I think the point that I'm making is that the inflection of ones sound on the instrument is one of the most highly personal aspects to playing - one that I personally find it difficult to teach in fear of imposing my subjective opinion upon. Direction in 'accepted standard practice' yes but..... Aaaaanyway, this is already too long. I hate the scoop but - the correct way - sorry but I can't agree here. Nonetheless, the rest of this vid and your other vids are crammed full of spot on useful advice - fine credit to your helpful work here! Hoorahahaha!

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

+Pete Grogan Thanks for your comment, Pete. Sound is definitely a personal aspect of playing the saxophone, but there is indeed proper and improper technique. For instance, putting your bottom teeth directly on the reed is improper technique. That being said, once you learn the rules, it's a personal choice as to whether you intentionally break them or not. Feel free to respond. I think it's an important discussion to have. Thanks again for you comment and thanks for watching!

[@chistofanor]

Your mistake / advise number 3 has been a live changer to me. Thanks a lot Jeff!

[@nadavmalkielymusic]

you have changed my life with your tips especially with the loosen bottom jaw

[@benop_]

When's the scooping video coming out? Kinda have a hard time scooping and wanna know the proper way to do it. I use to scoop way to much but I'm beginning to do it a lot less.

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

Thanks for reminding me, Ben! I'll do it soon!

[@shaneb203]

@@JeffSchneiderMusic What's the video called?

[@ramonfw]

Extremely helpful! And I still hope you didn't forget about your video on the proper way to scoop. :) I'm looking forward to it!

[@rubencoronado5840]

best teacher i ever have! thanks man

[@nickcavill8824]

Hey Jeff thought-provoking stuff again. Your scoop comment touched a nerve! I thought about it and I guess I do it too much, I also scoop certain notes eg often high B so probably sounds even more predictable. So, what's the 'proper' way? Is it more to do with a fingered grace note-style thing from the semitone below, rather than using the embrochure...? looking forward to the Ban the Scoop video

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

hahah I love the ban the scoop title idea, Nick. It's definitely an embouchure technique, though. It has to do with air direction and tongue placement. Make sure you're not puffing your cheeks. Stay tuned for a video that digs in further. Thanks for the comment!!!

[@robertgreen3702]

Thanks Jeff. Sound advice.

[@wyndhleodumegwu253]

Thanks again, Jeff; helpful tips.

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

Glad to hear it. Thanks, Wyndhl!

[@wyndhleodumegwu253]

Jeff Schneider: - with gratitude, Jeff!

[@kenjett2434]

I have not played in a long time but back in school music was everything. Practice is everything I practiced 6 to 8 hours every day of course didn't have internet in those days but wish we did in some ways. Through internet have found the tools that I was missing that kept me from being a great player because I had no one who explain the little things that make great players great.

[@bethanyd133]

What would you say is the best way to practise standards/improvising alone? As in is it better to do unaccompanied or with a backing track? I say this because when practising I do all of the patterns, studies etc but then often sort of lose direction when it comes to actually playing tunes.

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

+Bethany D Great questions, Bethany. I think it's useful to practice with a backing track but even more useful to practice without one. The drums, piano, and bass should always be "backing you up" in your head while playing with or without a live band. Short answer: do both! Hard to pinpoint why you're losing direction without being able to hear you play. If you'd like to try a Skype lesson, feel free to email me at [e-mail]. Thanks for your comment!

[@subespacio85]

Hey Jeff, how are you? After 5 minutes or so of playing (tenor or bari, whichever mouthpiece I choose), I get this awful noise sounding like drool or humidity trapped within the mouthpiece and/or reed. I tried many things, to quickly suck through the mouthpiece, even to put some cork grease within the mouthpiece and near the reed to repel the water, but it doesn't last for more than 5 minutes. I often end up removing the reed from the mpc, drying and reassembling it, but this isn't practical since it takes some time and only lasts for 5 or 10 minutes.. any advice on this?

[@thwninjascopez]

One person doesn't like being told to practice :/

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

+THW NinjaScopez hahaha

[@mrthylacine1]

"And I don't mean practicing the scales while on Facebook" What have I ever done to you?

[@ericblachman232]

If you're still around, can we all hear you play/demonstrate? My reasons are selfish, I admit. My own curiosities have me obsessed about Saxophone and the beauties of it in the context of Jazz.

[@JBluver202]

Lol at the pinching part. I definitely needed the reminder

[@rbaker1819]

Ok I'll ask the question, What is meant by scooping notes?

[@marcogreggio9494]

Sorry for my poor english, I didnt understand mistake no. 1, could you explain? a synonim? Thank you!!!

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

+Marco Greggio Hi Marco, by scooping I mean bending/sliding up to the note with your embouchure.

[@marcogreggio9494]

Ok thank you!

[@Billygoatbuff]

I thought the problem was scooping down more? That was my problem at least because I had always heard to push the mouthpiece in and drop the jaw.

[@michaelabbo2779]

I love scooping into the high D it sounds so good

[@palletcolorato]

Thx for the tips!

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

Thank you for watching, Tim!

[@irisgarcia2197]

make a video about resistance please, I've just started playing in a latin group and I run out of air too fast

[@XasNitram]

Yes!

[@d.guillaume8941]

Still accurate. Thanks for the teach.

[@KaiazaxGamer]

what does "scoping" means? on 00:05. Sorry, i don't speak english well

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

Scooping = bending up to the note

[@saxman7131]

Number 3 is all me. I’m way too tight and just wear myself out. Number 4. Perfect practice makes perfect.

[@MattSchifferTaw]

How many hours would you consider to be a good minimum?

[@Sanegaming2]

that music at the end scared me so much

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

+Astronaut Sloth It's a bit shocking, isn't it?

[@PhrygianPhrog]

I keep my embouchure loose-ish (following Allard Method)...but sax plays too flat. I shove the mouthpiece in but it's going beyond the cork :(

[@renib1159]

GREAT--thank you

[@khalidgardner472]

just subscribed and i wanna freestyle jazz

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

Thanks for the sub, Khalid!

[@khalidgardner472]

Its no problem bro your welcome

[@katiechomick7501]

What do i do if I'm tounging to hard so that it makes a sound kind of like flat tounging before each note

[@charlottecady9417]

I've been playing for 14 years and starting to have jaw issues. :/ It pops really loud when I chew.

[@warvandal3443]

Charlotte Cady Wow Charlotte - hilarious lol

[@sauxphilippe]

GOOD GUY !

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

haha thanks!

[@sauxphilippe]

i knew i was right !

[@PetersJazz1]

Dont even understundom what scooping is. Is when à tune is started under or over pitch and fixad to pitch. Excesser my bad English and autocorrection to Swedish language.

[@jimmyb1133]

Never heard of ''scooping" what's that????

[@chrisloder3363]

I scoop way too much! XD

[@TheKingOfHeartsIV]

same and my reed's hairline is crazy

[@kayleeannschlein2003]

What does scooping even mean, I'm so confused

[@soybeans2734]

my band teacher told me that when i place my reed on the mouthpiece you should see a thin black lines making it a milimeter apart so im not sureee what to do now lol

[@PetersJazz1]

Sorry, but what is scoping??

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

+PetersJazz1 Just answered your email, but for everyone else...scooping refers to bending up to or sliding up to a note. Thanks, Peter!

[@eliastouil7686]

Can't wait for that video, I still don't understand what scooping is :s :s

[@georgerosebush9754]

Pitch, the pitch starts low then goes up.

[@sophiasimmons3307]

i just play oboe for like ten minutes then I don't bite on my mouthpiece lmao

[@shaomane3551]

Drives me ballistic when players just throw their reed on!

[@sydniwee]

Sorry but what is scooping😅

[@FireCalvinMaster]

Phua Xinni It's basically intentionally starting a note flat, then bringing it back in tune.

[@sydniwee]

Braingears ohh ok thank you😊

[@elliej320]

Be my teacher!!!! I sound so bad and I've been playing for 3 years and I'm only a grade 2 working grade 3

[@MrFeuerbach]

Jeff, une rumeur affirme que vous êtes le fils de Woody Allen ? Est-ce vrai ? Is it true ? Are you a son of Woody Allen ?

[@MarioRamirez-661]

first

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

+mario ramirez win.

[@warvandal3443]

Scooping = Spandau Ballet saxophone If you need an example of the Scoop, check their sax 'player'. Truly dreadful lol. Alot of guys in the early 80s pop world just got themselves a horn and 'played' - cringe x 1000