Sleigh Ride From The First Alto’s Perspective

Sleigh Ride performed by the Hoover High School Symphonic Winds Band
Left: Dominic Geiger
Right: Benjamin Ballard
Thank you for watching and have a Merry Christmas!
Go check out last years video too!
• Sleigh Ride From the 2...

[@RadRio]

I love how in sleigh ride you can almost always manage to hear the bass clarinetist

[@IcedCube0310]

Finally an alto sound that doesn’t make me wanna kill myself! You guys sound amazing! The altos in band at my school suck.

[@benballard]

Thank you! But I’m sure practice will help them sound better.

[@auroraa.writes]

Fr though 💀

[@oboeland4050]

oh lol the horns in my band r bad and only one of the trumpets sounds good 😭 im the oboe player

[@oboeland4050]

and the worst trumpet in band is for some reason 1st trumpet like his tone is HORRIBLE OMGGGGG

[@elizaedward9037]

Our band tried to play it this year and just couldn’t get it ready in time! Happy to see what it could’ve been like lol😭

[@benballard]

Aw man I’m sorry! But hey there’s always next year, glad you enjoyed!

[@KikiGarcia-we2wq]

I play alto and I have a habit Of not looking at the conductor and this kinda helped I love how y’all got A bunch of jazz parts

[@mewhoisahumanonearth]

YESSS SAX PERSPECTIVE Nice tone bro

[@benballard]

Thank you!

[@JadedFett1138]

Beautiful tone you two!

[@benballard]

Thank you!

[@Cocoabuttersparkles]

Hello fellow alto saxes!!!

[@RizingArmy]

Wassup fellow alto sax, pleasure to meet you

[@RizingArmy]

@RobotVision5000 Alto sax brothers!

[@RizingArmy]

@RobotVision5000 yesssir! Lol

[@reginadaniels-jacoff2554]

Hello alto saxes

[@occtodaddy]

Hellurrr

[@RizingArmy]

Bro this is the best version of Sleigh ride I’ve ever heard, you guys did amazing ty for making this video I was looking forward to it a lot, I love playing the alto, and this was so amazing to see.

[@benballard]

Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed!

[@RizingArmy]

@@benballard Ofc bro

[@vanrougeV1]

I play alto for middle school so i hope i sound as clear as you guys in highschool!!

[@benballard]

I’m sure you will! Just keep pushing and practicing 💪

[@danocallaghan6875]

Mark and I did Big Band Jazz Machine here in Escondido CA for a couple of years after high school. Good times.

[@michaela1541]

This sounds so good! Haha I remember playing this in my schools winter concert last year

[@benballard]

Thank you!

[@danocallaghan6875]

Played 2nd chair 1st alto next to my buddy Mark in high school. Hoping our intonation and rhythm was as good as you guys. 😊

[@benballard]

Aw thank you so much! I’m sure it was!

[@illxune]

haha it's neat that you moved up chairs from last year!! first alto here as well ,, your tone is beautiful

[@Sunst0ne]

I was just about to say that too! The tone of these two is so amazing

[@benballard]

Thank you!

[@gallofilm]

😬

[@snickrs9096]

yo you guys sound really good!

[@benballard]

Thank you!

[@oboeland4050]

fr

[@oboeland4050]

Came here from Anna Kizzire’s video! Both you and Anna sound great! Tell her I say hi as well

[@benballard]

Thank you! Will do!

[@annakizzire]

hey! thanks so much (:

[@oboeland4050]

@@annakizzire ofc!

[@Della324]

I play alto and this is my first year, I’m already progressing faster than the other students and they suck. This is really refreshing to hear alto players that are actually good

[@honeycomb4life]

Great job! It’s sounded amazing! ❤

[@benballard]

Thank you so much!!

[@Evan-Wingett]

TENOR NUMBER ONE

[@elizabethjmasterson7317]

YES

[@aaaaaaaaaaearo]

ALTO IS SUPERIOR

[@lillyboys1422]

Tenor sax all the way

[@reginadaniels-jacoff2554]

ALTO NUMBER ONE WAY BETTER THAN TENOR

[@aaaaaaaaaaearo]

@@reginadaniels-jacoff2554 YESSSS

[@Betonryn]

This is so refreshing to hear! In our band the director for whatever reason makes brass cover up the woodwinds for every song so I can never hear altos 😭 you all sounds amazing !!

[@Madi-y6n7j]

Frr😢

[@benballard]

Thank you! I know exactly how you feel. Altos especially are told to play quieter in our band.

[@Madi-y6n7j]

@@benballard exactly it’s not fair 😭😢

[@henryvaughan7283]

@@Madi-y6n7jeven my fellow altos don’t like how loud I play what am I suppose to do?

[@Madi-y6n7j]

@@benballard sometimes I wish that I played trumpet😤

[@Kikicat_Plays]

You guys sounded awesome! great work!

[@benballard]

Thanks so much!

[@ReubenBBX]

why did the kids on trumpet (braeden) at this same concert get 500k veiws buy you only get 3.3k? we neen to fix that

[@jar6988]

Womp womp

[@onlyaepp]

this is a different band tho

[@pig3032]

Braeden's video was made a year ago

[@KikiGarcia-we2wq]

lil bro that was like two years ago (I think)

[@ReubenBBX]

@@KikiGarcia-we2wq 1 year ago actually but yes your right

[@KeithCooper-Albuquerque]

Great job this year! I see you moved up to the first part. Your tone has improved a lot. Keep up the good work!

[@benballard]

Thank you so much!

[@RizingArmy]

ITS FINALLY HERE 🎉🎉🎉

[@obbek]

That's the instrument I play too! Sax 4 life :D

[@jiistee7092]

chat they moved parts!!! W

[@therubygamer4329]

I have a feeling the trumpets took a vid as well

[@lizz6387]

I WAS JUST THINKING THE SAME THING

[@ReubenBBX]

@@lizz6387 yeah i just watched it

[@normaltophat]

Braeden’s vid was a year before this one(i still watch these even though its spring)

[@extremecowz7694]

2:11

[@jayluvsher]

love itt !!

[@Snowyy-mm8gc]

i think this also took place in braeden's vid

[@benballard]

Braeden was playing in this recording. But his video took place last year.

[@Snowyy-mm8gc]

@@benballard ohhhh okay tyyy

[@Sports_25pf]

I know I’m still somewhat new to the alto but how can you move your tongue and fingers that fast? I tried playing both sleigh ride 1st and 2nd part and I just couldn’t get it

[@benballard]

Honestly I still kinda struggle with that too. For getting your tongue to be faster, I’d say relax your embouchure while making the back of your tongue your molars. The only thing I can recommend for your fingers is finding a technical book with exercises you can practice. There’s plenty out there you can find. Of course, everyone learns differently but I’m sure with practice you’ll become a great musician!

[@Sports_25pf]

Thank you!!!!!! That should help great. 😊

[@Ianvejaras]

What reed do you use?

[@benballard]

I use a 3 vandoren blue box reed for concert

[@gallofilm]

not playing the marcato on one for the long notes is seriously pissing me off ngl

[@benballard]

Ogey

[@gallofilm]

@@benballard do it better

[@benballard]

@@gallofilmnah I’m good

[@gallofilm]

@@benballard highschool musicians will do anything except practice and improve 😭😭

[@benballard]

@@gallofilm not true but ok

[@HelloooThere]

Fart

[@L0w_Motvati0n]

Same

[@_yoursalad44]

Same

[@QueenProChicken]

Same...

[@thatrandomguy9812]

Same

[@HelloooThere]

All you farted too?