Playing the saxophone The importance of learning to whistle

[Pete Thomas]

People have asked what they can do to help their playing when they have no access to a saxophone. I (and others) have suggested the alernating smile/whistle exercise to help make your embouchure stronger and more flexible.

This post promotes whistling way beyond that, ie practising whistling itself per se.

Why?

• It can be practiced almost anywhere anytime.
• It does help with flexibility of not just embouchure but also of oral cavity and tongue position.
• It requires accurate pitching of notes that does not rely on the saxophone keyboard, hence it truly works for aural training.
• Although some articulation (note starting and stopping) may rely on a throat action (something we discourage in saxophone technique) it also can promote us of lung/diaphragm use for air control. Once you are aware I don’t believe any throat action with the whistling would cross over and adversely affect your saxophone technique.

 

[cappers]

People have asked what they can do to help their playing when they have no access to a saxophone. I (and others) have suggested the alernating smile/whistle exercise to help make your embouchure stronger and more flexible.

This post promotes whistling way beyond that, ie practising whistling itself per se.

Why?

• It can be practiced almost anywhere anytime.
• It does help with flexibility of not just embouchure but also of oral cavity and tongue position.
• It requires accurate pitching of notes that does not rely on the saxophone keyboard, hence it truly works for aural training.
• Although some articulation (note starting and stopping) may rely on a throat action (something we discourage in saxophone technique) it also can promote us of lung/diaphragm use for air control. Once you are aware I don’t believe any throat action with the whistling would cross over and adversely affect your saxophone technique.

Interesting! I whistle or hum a lot, always have. Since taking up the sax I’ve been whistling more to develop my embouchure.
I used to use my throat for articulating but have found that using my tongue by touching the roof of my mouth as if it were the reed works. Also tongue shape and position to change pitch. I believe it is helping hone my articulation and voicing, and also with note recognition etc.

 

[Targa]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrUsfyVmeKg

 

[rhysonsax]

Which makes me think of this great film.

View: https://youtu.be/rmkbudWbQ9A?si=FSvQy2xr3w2cH3pU


Rhys

 

[Trigger]

Watch Nelson Rangel whistling it will inspire you , brilliant sax player , excellent flute and piccolo player , he then starts whistling

Yes at this point you want to kick him off the stage for being to damn talented 🤣🤣

 

[rhysonsax]

Toots - the original jazz whistler ?

View: https://youtu.be/5whW1pRlLJo?si=Qdq673mspE7Z0sHr


Rhys

 

[MikeMorrell]

People have asked what they can do to help their playing when they have no access to a saxophone. I (and others) have suggested the alernating smile/whistle exercise to help make your embouchure stronger and more flexible.

This post promotes whistling way beyond that, ie practising whistling itself per se.

Why?

• It can be practiced almost anywhere anytime.
• It does help with flexibility of not just embouchure but also of oral cavity and tongue position.
• It requires accurate pitching of notes that does not rely on the saxophone keyboard, hence it truly works for aural training.
• Although some articulation (note starting and stopping) may rely on a throat action (something we discourage in saxophone technique) it also can promote us of lung/diaphragm use for air control. Once you are aware I don’t believe any throat action with the whistling would cross over and adversely affect your saxophone technique.

Wholly agree, Pete!

Just as a supplement (with which you may or not agree with), my Big Band MD - and also my jazz improv workshop leader - recommends 'singing' some (written out) parts, solos and intended improvisations. Mainly because 'singing' helps instrumentalists get a much better musical 'feel' for what they're playing. And thereby improves their expression, dynamics, breathing, etc. for some specific sections of a score or solo or improv. IHMO his recommendation also helps instrumentalists with 'voicing'.

None of this helps with embouchure development. But it may help with things like aural training and increased awareness of (natural) throat and oral cavity positions required to sing (and play) certain sequences of notes.

'Whistling' is great suggestion! FWIW, back in the day when I was still travelling long distances to work each day, and often stuck in traffic, I used to take my mpc + reed along and attempt to strengthen my embouchure by blointo my mpc each time I was stuck in a long and slow traffic queue. I have no idea whether -and if so, to what extent - this daily 'exercise' actually helped. But at the time, it felt good to be doing something positive towards learning to play sax.

 

[thomsax]

Sing and whistle is basic for all musicians.

There are differnt types of whistles and they activate different face muscles (embouchure).

The ordinary whistle with round mouth and happy surprised eyes (big eyas and lifted eye brows).

The "wolf whistle" (no fingers in your mouth) with firm lips lower lip over the teeth and adjust the the airstream with the tongue.

Start to whistle with round mouth and happy face. Move the whistle from the happy face and ordinary whistle to more "biting and firm" lips. The innocent whistle becames more piercing and nasty and your eyes becomes more snake eyed as well.

Growling and whistle is a great. Hum/sing a tone with your chest and whistle a tone at the same time. I discovered I could do this after many throat infections when I was a child. If you play wo octave key you will reforce the multiple tone sound even more.

 

[PiccoloPirate]

Trust your Mom, Laddie, it beats carrying Bagpipes.

 

[Targa]

Trust your Mom, Laddie, it beats carrying Bagpipes.
View attachment 28229

I wonder if young Jimmy whistled while he worked.

 

[AlonW]

Some people can't whistle, it helps to have a gap in your teeth. I have a gap, and I whistle a lot, but not everyone can.

 

[AlonW]

"According to research, whistling helps the brain under stress to simply relax. Instead of thinking about problems, the mind is diverted to letting out a tune that can also calm the soul down. According to personal experience and observation, folks who whistle often for apparently no reason at all tend to be happier people." Link

 

[Dr G]

Some people can't whistle, it helps to have a gap in your teeth. I have a gap, and I whistle a lot, but not everyone can.

Different whistles…. Tuneful whistling tends to use the lips.