Long Tones for Saxophones | 5 strategies and .pdf

[@kevinngo9138]

On behalf of every one of us I'd like to thank you for the amazing work you do for the saxophone community! One of my friends just got into saxophone playing and i've been quoting you and sending her all of your videos, we're both thankful for your work!

[@drwallysax]

Thanks Kevin, I really appreciate the support. Hope your friend enjoys the saxophone study, she's lucky to have a saxophone-friend!

[@tctc2470]

Couldn’t agree more with Kevin’s comment below. Thank you, Dr Wally. You are a gift that keeps giving!

[@wongfortpin8753]

Thank you Dr. Wally. Following your good saxophone lessons from Melaka, Malaysia.

[@drwallysax]

Well hello from sunny North Carolina! Glad you're here :)

[@clivecolledge4191]

Thank you Dr Wally for the long gone teaching and the downloads.

[@drwallysax]

Most welcome, Clive. Happy practicing my friend :)

[@maxgraysax]

I love using the unison drone functionality available on Tonal Energy Tuner. I may even add in the fifth if I’m feeling saucy.

[@drwallysax]

The 5th! You animal!

[@SaxmanShawn]

How do you use the drone function on TE Tuner? I have the app but not sure how to do that.

[@maxgraysax]

@@SaxmanShawn On the “tuner” tab, click the microphone/note button in the bottom left. Make sure to use headphones!

[@DolphScreamingSax]

I loved the ''long vegetables'' remark. La classe !!

[@danpinsonsax]

I’ve used Blue In Green as a long tone warmup in cases where the student was itching to learn a jazz tune.

[@baddognobiscuit2]

Thanks so much for the explanations...all of them! I've learned a ton from you

[@baddognobiscuit2]

Also, your tone is gorgeous!

[@bobpremecz5429]

Saxophone Fundamentals 2.0 - just downloaded it. Fascinating edits and changes. From 54 down to 45 pages with less white space. Name that tune now named. I'm Down with that Vision. Fundamentally, I like it so far.

[@drwallysax]

Thanks Bob, aiming for Less, but Better!

[@robstevens9590]

Thanks Wally. I generally play a melody (very slowly) to practice my long tones.

[@drwallysax]

Can't go wrong with a good melody, happy tuesday Rob!

[@MessengersoftheCross]

Dr.Wally you crush it every time. Thank you for doing what you do Sir. I have a question??? How can we get our overall sound quieter? Like when playing with a Piano with no mic in a wallpaper type gig?

[@drwallysax]

First: thanks Wayne! To play quieter, a slightly firmer reed will certainly help! Also, LONG TONES heheheheheheheh. Sorry.

[@ThusOwls]

For long tone practice, I like to play along to Bohren Und Der Club of Gore. If you don't know them, I suggest the record Piano Nights.

[@danielfeaster6621]

Thanks for this awesome video Dr. Wally. I have printed the Fundamentals lesson and really enjoy it. The question is, can I use this same pdf for both tenor and alto? Thanks.

[@bjarkifreyrbjarnason9419]

Thanks Dr. Wally. Your videos are always great!

[@drwallysax]

Well that's very kind, thanks my friend :)

[@larryscroggins7290]

I like Amazing Grace in different keys ... also good pentatonic practice ... (also Taps)

[@drwallysax]

Good interval work in that for sure!

[@ChipTheMusicMan]

Wow, Doc...I really need to get back to long tones. I, of course, did them for a while but felt like I wasn't doing them "right" and so that might be counterproductive so I stopped to focus on other things that needed my attention. With this I can make sure I'm doing them correctly...can't wait to show my wife how long my tones are 😂

[@drwallysax]

Dear god, Chip......you are a true saxophonist....

[@ChipTheMusicMan]

@@drwallysax I've finally made it, thanks to you, Doc and a host of like-minded sax players/teachers!

[@francistaylor5097]

Thanks for the new Fundamentals PDF. The tone studies and scale exercise you demonstrated a while back are so useful. Is the backing track you used in this video widely available?

[@drwallysax]

It's just something I whipped up in Logic Pro for fun, not an actual download :)

[@francistaylor5097]

If you play it as an ascending pattern it is reminiscent of the theme from The Crown!

[@bobbo0708]

for long tones i open up my Tonal Energy app and using the Sound Wheel, I try to get the smiley face for as long as I can, then move to the next note. I cover the full range of my tenor.

[@drwallysax]

excellent, but remember - we tune the intervals as well! The note "B" isn't in tune just because the smiley face says so- it depends on context!

[@robertpayne5233]

I like to start long tones on middle B natural as it is the most open note. I do a pattern where I play a note for two beats and then down a half step for four beats and then a rest for two beats and repeat this over the entire range also going up a half step at a time, so I do this going up as well as down. I try to make the tone of the B natural carry over the entire range. I try to be aware of everything, my posture, are my fingers relaxed, is my throat open etc. as well as my tone. I think if you just go through the motions, you are wasting a lot of time.

[@drwallysax]

Going through the motions - well put. Being present is key. Happy practicing Robert!

[@lyntedrockley7295]

@@drwallysax yeah something similar. I do, and encourage all my students at whatever level to: start on lower register G. Pick a slow tempo with good breath and play G tongued for 4 beats then slur down to F hold for 4 beats. Stop, reset embouchure, prepare breath, play F tongued 4 beats slur up to A. Then in simlar fashion A down to E, E up to B, B down to D, D up to C, C down to C. All the while listening for good starts, even pitch and volume, smooth transition, quality of second note, good end. This gets harder and harder as the intervals increase. Later introduce dynamics and upper register and cross register start on C2. I'm so glad your video endorses all of the concepts I encourage. I hope my students are impressed when I tell them to watch it.

[@ToolTechSoftware]

Tonal Energy Tuner. A real good drone practice

[@drwallysax]

It's great, I just can't have my phone in my practice studio. I'm a man-child that gets distracted too easily.

[@ToolTechSoftware]

@@drwallysax haha. Am the same

[@wartinskater]

Dr Wally what happen to the Listening assignments in the last year book / the website? can't find them anymore on the webiste. Just completed month 1 and was eager to start month 2 starting on the listening part. Thanks in advance

[@jacobsnook8428]

Dr. Wally I have a potentially loaded question for you. How would you recommend practicing tone when you don't know what exactly to practice. I know I still have something but don't know what it is yet

[@jrubincornier]

You said you will do a breathing video and that can be an issue for me. I usually try and take a full count to breathe. My issue comes in where I don't take in enough air when I need to sneak a breathe and then I have to sneak another and another in all the wrong places. What dost I need to do?

[@pomeroseguitars]

Hi Dr. Wallace. My daughter is interested in your lessons. Is your private school open?

[@davesaxoligist]

Dr Wally I really enjoy your lessons.I do several versions of long tones.The main one I do is soft to loud and back.I also sometimes use a scale and hold for 8-10 beats.Just mixing it up a little to keep it interesting

[@drwallysax]

Variety is super smart, mixing it up! Happy Tuesday, Dave!

[@kameronmickelson1666]

TE Tuner is great!!! Give it a try...

[@drwallysax]

I dig TE Tuner! but I can't have my phone around me when I practice 😅

[@apistosig4173]

Fabulous!

[@drwallysax]

You're fabulous my friend. Happy Wednesday :)

[@EladOren100]

Great video, Wally! I have a question: How long should it take for me to start hearing a noticeable difference since starting to do the exercises more regularly? I've always played long tones but really didn't put any effort or cared about it until I started seeing that it's definitely a noticeable problem with my sound, so I was just wondering, how long should it take? Will it be better by the next school year? P.s. Of course I'm gonna continue playing long tones even after it made an improvement, I now know the significance of long tones and lnow not to stop doing them.

[@drwallysax]

Great question, but really tough to answer! Could be a few weeks, could be a few months. Think of compound interest, little bit every day will add up to amazing things over time. Keep at it!

[@EladOren100]

Thanks! Guess I'll just have to wait until I see improvement myself. Love your videos!

[@Matchstick2]

Cool!

[@drwallysax]

You're cool my friend :)

[@davesaxoligist]

I like to use vibrato along with long tones.First I do at least 5 to 10 minutes on long tones.Then I will add vibrato and do an additional 5 minutes on vibrato with the long tones.

[@umangsmehta]

I'm guessing Jared is Larry's brother ? 🤣

[@drwallysax]

his accountant

[@w2tty]

Loud vegetables!!

[@drwallysax]

Loud and Long. Like a 90db stalk of asparagus.

[@chrismills5110]

Why are you teaching biting a mouthpiece? It is so old fashioned .Teeth have no part to play in Saxophone playing

[@drwallysax]

I'm assuming you're joking? I've never met a (competent) professional player (in my 20+ years of professional work) that uses a floating or double lip embouchure.

[@robannmateja5000]

@@drwallysax , ya, and my instructor, sax professor who runs a saxophone studio at a well regarded university, is always working with me to utilize the same embouchure that you advocate. I must say that it is working for me and is starting to feel quite natural! (I am not a music major... LOL). I love your channel and your exercises as they complement my own instructor's approach quite well!