Can practicing less actually make you a better saxophone player? That’s exactly what happened to me after I made just four simple changes to my routine. Now I spend less time practicing but my improvement has skyrocketed. Below, I’ll show you exactly how to copy my method to save hours, speed up your progress, and […]
These 4 Simple Changes Make Good Sax Players Great Read More »
Have you ever wondered why some sax players choose metal mouthpieces while others stick to hard rubber? I spent years extensively testing every kind of saxophone mouthpiece imaginable and discovered key differences most players never even consider. In this post, I’ll break down the differences that actually matter, debunk a persistent myth about metal versus
Are Metal Mouthpieces Better Than Hard Rubber? Read More »
“Why don’t manufacturers just make reeds that work more consistently?” If you’ve played saxophone for any length of time, you’ve probably asked yourself some version of this question. It’s a fair question, especially when you’ve paid good money for a box of reeds and only one or two actually play well. In our recent
Why Don’t They Just Make Better Reeds? (And What You Can Do About It) Read More »
Finally there is a great, American made Baritone Sax Mouthpiece at an amazing price. A couple years ago, we started this ambitious project to develop excellent mouthpieces that were made in the USA, hand finished, and affordable. We really want students and beginners playing on gear that is going to make everything easier and
We Designed the Ultimate Bari Sax Mouthpiece for Beginners Read More »
Throughout my musical education, I have worked through countless books on how to play the saxophone. There are so many good ones out there, this list is just a few of the ones all saxophone players should be aware of. By all means, add any others you like in the comments. 48 Studies For Oboe
4 Books Every Sax Player “Must” Study Read More »
This is an American-made Buescher Aristocrat tenor saxophone. It was built in 1946 in Elkhart, Indiana. This is a great playing saxophone, it looks very cool, plays incredibly well in tune, and has a beautiful tone. There was a time when the best saxophones in the world were made in the USA. But it has
One Change Killed American Saxophone Manufacturing Read More »
In a recent conversation with amazing saxophonist Will Vinson, we explored the challenges and breakthroughs that come with mastering jazz improvisation. Many students express frustration, feeling that despite their technical skills, their playing lacks excitement and creativity. Will shared his journey from being a shy musician in London to becoming an accomplished artist in New
A Cure for Boring Solos with Will Vinson Read More »
Something not many people know about me is that I earned a four-year degree in classical saxophone performance. While my career has taken me down a path of jazz and popular music, those years of intense classical study laid a foundation that has influenced everything I’ve played since. No matter what style of music you
Classical Saxophone Taught Me These 3 ESSENTIAL Concepts Read More »
Saxophone players often struggle with reeds that don’t quite feel right, sometimes punishing themselves by playing on a reed that could be vastly improved with just a minute or two of simple adjustments. Mauro from ReedGeek sees this all the time at trade shows. Players hand him their reeds, he makes a few precise changes,
Making Average Sax Reeds Play INCREDIBLE Read More »
Every opportunity I’ve gotten has been through jam sessions. That’s a powerful statement from the incredible saxophonist Tivon Pennicott, who has worked with legends like Ari Hoenig, Esperanza Spalding, and Gregory Porter. When we met up at the NAMM show, we had an amazing conversation that left me inspired, and I’m sure it will
Every Opportunity I Had Came From Jam Sessions – Tivon Pennicott Read More »
Altissimo: Underrated by Many At the most recent NAMM show, I had the chance to ask a lot of great saxophonists their opinions on whether altissimo is overrated or underrated. Not surprisingly, the results were mixed. Several saxophonists, including Mindi Abair, Tivon Penicott, and Najee, believe the altissimo range of the saxophone is underrated.
Is Altissimo Overrated? Read More »
I had the great pleasure recently to speak with 3 time Grammy Winning saxophonist Jeff Coffin, most well known from his years of playing with Dave Matthews Band, at the JEN conference in Atlanta, Georgia. We talked a bit about sound, and how influenced he is by vocalists to get the sound that he
What’s the Point of Your Sax Technique? – Jeff Coffin Read More »
Use This Instead of the Blues Scale You already know your blues scale. Hopefully, you know your major scales and some minor scales. But there’s a scale you probably don’t know or at least you aren’t using yet that can transform the way you improvise in every style of music, making you sound better,
The Most Important Scale for Jazz You’re NOT Using Read More »
Are Vintage Saxophones like the Mark VI and Balanced Action Overrated or Underrated? At the 2025 NAMM show, I took the opportunity to ask several professional saxophonists their opinions on vintage Selmer Mark VI, Balanced Action, and vintage saxophones in general, in a game called “Overrated or Underrated.” Grace Kelly and Mike Phillips expressed
I Asked Pro Sax Players if the Selmer Mark VI is Overrated Read More »
Conversation with Kirk Whalum: Intersection of Music and Language I recently had the wonderful opportunity to sit down with legendary saxophonist Kirk Whalum at the JEN conference in Atlanta, who shared insights on the deep connection between learning music and mastering a language. Kirk reflected on his journey with the French language, learning it
Beyond Technique: Kirk Whalum on Playing from the Heart Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. I’m about to share with you dozens of things you can do to become a better saxophone player and musician this year. These things are going to apply to every level of player from beginners to seasoned pros. I made this list as
How to Become a Better Sax Player in 2025 Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Ted Nash on Jazz, Maturity, and the Art of Music I recently had the wonderful opportunity to sit and speak with Ted Nash at the JENN conference in Atlanta, where he shared his profound insights on jazz, the saxophone, and his lifelong commitment
Overcome Your Musical Fears – With Ted Nash Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. The Truth About Musical Ability Most people don’t understand what separates strong musicians from those who can’t really play. It’s very common for people to say he or she is so talented, I wish I had that kind of talent. As if great
If You Want to Become a Great Sax Player… Do This Read More »
KB Sax Necks There’s a guy who makes saxophone necks by hand in New York City. His name is Kim Bock, he’s from Denmark and his custom made necks are played by some of the top saxophonists in the world. I visited his workshop in 2020 and made a video about the whole fascinating
Putting an ELITE Saxophone Neck on “Student” Horn Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. I’ve got a great book on improvisation I want to tell you about and why I think it will make you become a better improviser. Vincent Herring For a very long time Vincent Herring has been one of my favorite alto saxophone players.
This Book Will Make You a Better Improviser Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. All Time Best Soprano Saxophone Players Here are 10 of the best soprano saxophone players of all time. Keep in mind that these are limited to Jazz and popular music genres. We’re not including classical saxophonists here. If I leave someone out that
TOP 10 SOPRANO Saxophone Players of all Time Read More »
