Veggie Dave
Sax Worker
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Yeah, not exactly news.
Over the last 12 months I've been increasingly unhappy with my intonation while playing alto. Tenor hasn't been a problem since getting the Keilwerth MKX but I've not been as happy as I could have been with the alto. It wasn't until I was asked to regularly play with digital instruments, and their unnaturally perfect intonation, that I realised there was a problem - especially at the top end of the instrument, which is where all the parts written for me seemed to be centred.
Yesterday I finally realised what the issue was - I was playing the alto like it was a tenor. By that I mean my emboucher was far too relaxed. This goes against everything I've worked on for years as I've always focussed on relaxing how I play. It also goes against what I thought was obviously true, which turns out to be the exact opposite. By using a firmer emboucher on the alto, I've found the intonation across the whole instrument is now far more accurate than I've ever managed and, more surprising for me, the firmer emboucher is somehow much easier on the facial muscles, noticeably increasing my playing stamina. I assume that's because I'm not constantly lipping up and down.
I know, everyone has known for a century that the alto needs a firmer emboucher than the tenor but I hadn't realised to what extent the difference actually is. Hopefully, my stupidity will help someone else who finds themself in the same situation.
Over the last 12 months I've been increasingly unhappy with my intonation while playing alto. Tenor hasn't been a problem since getting the Keilwerth MKX but I've not been as happy as I could have been with the alto. It wasn't until I was asked to regularly play with digital instruments, and their unnaturally perfect intonation, that I realised there was a problem - especially at the top end of the instrument, which is where all the parts written for me seemed to be centred.
Yesterday I finally realised what the issue was - I was playing the alto like it was a tenor. By that I mean my emboucher was far too relaxed. This goes against everything I've worked on for years as I've always focussed on relaxing how I play. It also goes against what I thought was obviously true, which turns out to be the exact opposite. By using a firmer emboucher on the alto, I've found the intonation across the whole instrument is now far more accurate than I've ever managed and, more surprising for me, the firmer emboucher is somehow much easier on the facial muscles, noticeably increasing my playing stamina. I assume that's because I'm not constantly lipping up and down.
I know, everyone has known for a century that the alto needs a firmer emboucher than the tenor but I hadn't realised to what extent the difference actually is. Hopefully, my stupidity will help someone else who finds themself in the same situation.