Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. At the recent Namm show, I had the pleasure of sitting down with the renowned saxophonist Mark Gross for a captivating conversation about his musical journey spanning decades. From playing alongside legends like Dizzy Gillespie to sharing his wisdom with […]
Mark Gross: The Necessary Components for Jazz Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Did you know that Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie were opera fans? It’s well known that Charlie Parker was very much into classical music and that Dizzy Gillespie predicted that their music would become the classical music of the future.
The Charlie Parker Opera Lick Read More »
If you’ve ever wished for a clear, proven path to becoming a better saxophonist — without endless trial and error — you’re not alone. Thousands of players worldwide have joined the BetterSax Membership to accelerate their progress, deepen their understanding of music, and have more fun every time they pick up their horn. Whether you’re
Rapidly Improve Your Saxophone Playing with the BetterSax Membership Read More »
If you’re aiming to improve your saxophone playing without spending a dime, you’re in the right place. The BetterSax Shed offers a treasure trove of free saxophone content—spanning all skill levels—to help you play better, faster, and with confidence. What’s Inside the BetterSax Shed? The BetterSax Shed is your go-to resource for free saxophone lessons,
Best Free Saxophone Lessons Read More »
Where to Begin Ready to kick off your saxophone journey the right way? Let’s make sure your gear is set up to support your progress—not hold you back. Below, you’ll find exactly what you need to start strong and stay inspired. Best Beginner Saxophones Most beginners start with an alto sax, and sometimes a tenor
Best Beginner Saxophone Gear Setup Read More »
The BetterSax Geeklet The Geeklet is my favorite saxophone accessory and it has changed everything for me when it comes to reeds. The Geeklet is incredibly easy to use, while making every reed play so much better. Learning how to make just a few adjustments to your reeds can make playing the saxophone so
BetterSax Geeklet the Best Saxophone Reed Adjustment Tool Read More »
BetterSax Classic Tenor In 2020, the BetterSax Alto was introduced with the aim of offering a high-quality instrument at an affordable price, and its success has been remarkable. Responding to popular demand, we have just released the BetterSax Classic Tenor, which follows in the footsteps our mission with the BetterSax Alto. What sets this
BetterSax Classic Tenor Read More »
BetterSax Burnin’ Baritone Mouthpieces Introducing the BetterSax BURNIN’ baritone mouthpiece, meticulously crafted in the USA by Jody Jazz. This expertly designed and hand-finished mouthpiece boasts a roll-over baffle for exceptional power, projection, and brightness, ensuring your sound stands out when needed. Its large chamber delivers a lush warmth and depth, creating a complex and
BetterSax Burnin’ Baritone Mouthpieces Read More »
What was your very first saxophone mouthpiece? If you’re like me, you probably don’t remember. It was whatever came in the case with your first instrument. Mine was a rental sax and the mouthpiece had deep teeth marks gouged into it. Bleh. I’ve seen some pretty gnarly mouthpieces on beginner setups and besides often
Your FIRST Saxophone Mouthpiece Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Most Common Saxophone Bad Habits I can pretty much guarantee that everyone watching this is guilty of at least a couple of these bad saxophone habits. We all have bad habits that are holding us back from being better versions
Start Breaking These 7 Bad Saxophone Habits Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Have you seen all these videos lately about YouTubers quitting? I’ve been watching a few myself, and then I came across Rick Beato’s 10 minute completely unedited monologue about how he finds them very fascinating. He mentions in his video
A Musician’s Perspective On Quitting YouTube Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. What is Improvisation? This is a question that doesn’t get asked much. We just assume that people agree on what improvisation is. When you are a student you will likely be asked to improvise before anyone actually gives you a
You Were Lied To About Improvisation Read More »
The case your saxophone lives in is usually an afterthought, but there’s some important stuff you should know about saxophone cases. If you’ve got a bari sax, I want to show you one of the best bari sax case solutions I’ve ever come across. I want to also thank the sponsor of this video,
Why Your Sax Case Matters.. It’s Not What You Think Read More »
Jingle Bells I’m going to show you how to take a melody you already know and make it sound a lot more interesting and fun. The tune we’re going to use is Jingle Bells. When you learned it for the first time, you probably learned a very basic version, aka the Noob version. Let’s
3 Jingle Bells Versions | Beginner – Advanced Read More »
The Nuvo jSax is a starter instrument designed for young musicians who are just starting out. I recently did an unboxing and review of it so that you can get an in depth look at how it stacks up for beginners. Assembly & What is Included The Nuvo jSax does come with assembly instructions
Should beginners start with this? – Nuvo jSax Review Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. I recently had the unique opportunity to visit the Jody Jazz Factory in Savannah, Georgia, where I delved into the intricate process of crafting what many consider to be some of the best saxophone mouthpieces in the world. In this
Why are Jody Jazz Mouthpieces So Good? Read More »
This past week I had a great saxophone player at my house for a few days. We were working on filming the content of an upcoming course for BetterSax. I noticed something about this particular musician while spending a lot of time with him, that I have noticed in other musicians that play at a
What if we got our dopamine from playing saxophone? Read More »
I visited my friend John Leadbetter of JL Woodwinds in New York City last month and we had a great time making this video about the most sought after vintage saxophones ever. I think you’ll really enjoy this one. Details of each saxophone in the video are listed below, and John played each one
Top 5 Vintage Saxophones Read More »
This list has many of the things I use everyday and think other sax players will find quite helpful or at least, nice to have. Think of it as a gift guide/idea generator. No shame in getting yourself any of these items, but if you are shopping for a saxophone player I’m sure you’ll
25 Things Sax Players Need/Want Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. I recently had the chance to sit down with saxophonist Vincent Herring, a prominent figure in the world of jazz. We discuss his role in carrying forward the legacy of great alto saxophonists in jazz, and delve into his musical
Vincent Herring – Carrying on the Alto Sax Legacy Read More »
This summer I visited Japan for the first time, and was blown away by how crazy they are about saxophones. Not only are some of the finest instruments in the world made there, like Yamaha and Yanagisawa, there is also a smaller brand you may not know about called Ishimori, based in Tokyo. They’ve
Ishimori Mouthpieces and Ligatures Read More »
