I love how he nearly goes on a tangential calculus lesson eight minutes in, and then reels himself back in to music. Serious respect for both his saxophone powers, teaching style, and scientific/mathematical literacy.
Thanks from Russia, Sirvalorsax! You are the best saxophone teacher I have found on the web, and at the age of 60 after two years of searching, I know what I'm saying. So let you live to see a hundred, man, stay healthy, and never stop doing good just as you do right now. This world needs deep ones like yourself - who can also share their thoughts.
Thank you I’m 84 years young and started to play sax the right way and the tips I got from you are priceless I’m after the George Auld sound and getting close
This guy is crazy good at explaining stuff. Says exactly what he needs to without a bunch of fluff and still manages to get a lot of information out in one video. Love it!
The guy who coaches me stressed long tone practise and playing without the octave key. Great for embouchure control. Practised in the afternoon then went to an evening big band session. Concentrated on the reading so much I forgot to use the octave key! Sounded in tune though. LoL
honestly i was glued paying attention....so much so....i realized what he was talking about as i self teach..... explained different yes...which make more sense......like the little secrets you discovered but wasn't sure what made that last few notes better.......thank you..... straight sax sounds like your bathing a beautiful woman in a traditional white tube with flowing bubbles of lathery love......which it could hit a little lower.....like drop warm chocolate into flow. thanks again. Great job
This must be my favourite video: it was on my birthday! I started playing the saxophone because I was given one as a birthday present at age 36, almost 10 years ago! thank you Sirvalorsax for all the tips!
Man this just reiterates the teachings of Senta in his altissimo book where the first exercises are purely playing octave key notes WITHOUT the octave key. Creating the octave wirh your lips and voicing as opposed to the machine
My Goodness. I have only been playing Alto Sax (Very Badly lol) for a year and a half and moved to Tenor two weeks ago and have been struggling with my sound and trying to replicate the sound of the Alto. I just watched this video and based on what you instructed, I can get overtones across all the notes. My sound is also much better after only 2 hours of practice. You are indeed a master at teaching and I cant thank you enough
Knowing and understanding is a great skill, but breaking it down so rookies like me get it is a whole other level of knowledge and love. All my love and respect to you and your work brother
Hey man you are so right on. You explain so simply. Dave Liebman teaches the same thing but not as simply as you. And, I think your sound is better than Liebman. This is because you are so natural, so real, so fundamental. Thanks, and keep up the great teaching.
I feel like the skies parted and wisdom just floated down from above. This makes a ton of sense, I've never seen it explained so well. I sure do enjoy your videos, you have a gift and it's clearly been paired with hard work. Thank you so much.
There's a big difference in being told 'do this and this' to get something, and being told the why and the how. This is the mechanics of the 'why and how'. In whatever we do, if we know why and how we're doing something, it makes the activity more intuitive, and makes it easier to work out any problems, rather than just trying to copy somebody, who can make subtle adjustments we just won't see. My understanding levels just went up a couple of notches. Thank you!
This is a very articulate yet a very simple way of understanding your lecture. I am glad that you were able to go a little slow in the explanation on this video. Please, continue at this pace, fore there are those of us who are not that advanced players to capture your instructions at a fast pace. Excellent work. I really appreciate it. Peace out!
Just recently discovered your channel and just found this gem. Love your videos, and this may be my favorite I have seen thus far (caveat, still have more of yours to watch). I have actually watched videos by people I respect who say you should not adjust your sound or your range using your embouchure). Then, I go and watch all these great saxophonists (Rollins, Brecker, Grover, Bird, Trane, Oliver, Jacquet, and more) and their bottom lips are moving just like yours forward and back … changing up that “fulcrum.” Thank you, for being the first I have found to really break down the mechanics of what they are doing. It’s amazing how you can take such cerebral concepts that have been evading description for years and break it down so clearly without pretentiousness or condescension. As amazing as you are as a player, you are equally formidable in pedagogy. Thank you for the tremendous body of work you have shared with all of us. Much love, good sir!
A human octave key. Absolutely brilliant , sir v. I am lol. All the real estate 🏡, and the calculus. Mechanical advantage transcribed to acoustical advantage. Man, this is the sweetest sax lecture I have seen on the tube in 25 years. I like the aerodynamics(air flow) talk as well, and-the hydrodynamics (hose). Jfs. Alto 🎷, bass 🎸, 🎺, Church organ (full organ). Vandoren A7 M, Vandoren leather lig. Sel series 3.
After watching this video several times and 37 days of ardous practice, I can say I drastically improved my embouchure, not sounding great but improving. Thanks Sir Valor.
I’ve watched this video a number of times now. Each time I watch it I pick up new ideas and capabilities. I’ve actually managed altissimo G and A fairly reliably since watching and with practice. Thankyou. Excellent resource. Please continue helping us with your knowledge 👍😀👍😀👍
I've been using a rubber band at times to shorten the facing but with your explanation, no longer necessary. Thanks for the great science (physics) lesson . tenorsaxsam
This is great! I wish that a video such as your video was available when I was developing my altissimo range. I had to make these discoveries on my own and it took a long time.
Thank you for the video. I really enjoy the way you approach the saxophone. The images you give on how to make a sax work shows the talent of a great professor.
Thank you so much for this, I only found your site by accident this morning, and found it fascinating, and was practising as you played and making the same sounds, only too happy to subscribe for more! brilliant and refreshing!
Okay, I watch youtube videos all the time, and have for many years, but I don't think I've ever commented even once before. That's why I'm surprising myself here, but I just have to say how impressed I am by your detailed, yet easy to understand description here of the physics of a sax embouchure. I'm a tenor player myself, and I really appreciate how you break things down and provide such useful information in an interesting and fun manner. Well done Sirvalorsax!!!
Man this was so helpful. The machine explanation was what I had learned some years ago in my physical science course I had in hs,however to see it related to the mouthpiece and embouchure allowed me to conceptualize this concept way better then some of the vague explanations that people have given me before. Thanks alot!
Love this video, man. The explanation of technique, the humor bits here and there, and of course, the simplicity. Write that book and make an album! (Though I know it’s hard with all the stuff going on out there and the pandemic). Point is we’d all buy them both. :)
Really enjoyed this. As a beginner I was taught to not move the embouchure in a general attempt to stop biting. So there's a lot to unlearn for sure - as you demonstrate here, it's clear all the great players are constantly adjusting position - over time I'm sure there's a perfect spot for each note that gets burned into muscle memory with practice. But permission to shift that lower lip is very welcome.
great stuff!!! as a sax player myself i can say thats a great video and in fact its inspiring me to make more educational videos myself!!! i could add that every body sounds different in any mouthpiece so dont hear too much rumor about them.i never forget when i bought an Aizen from a sax player who sounded great on it and i sold it in a week ... i just sucked on it.. when back to my cheap vandoren and i was happy again..
This was fantastic! It was so clear and specific with well worded indications of exactly which variables to focus on. I love how you covered several elements like mechanics, resonance, and the relationship between body and instrument. Thank you for making this and I can’t wait for more great content!!
Another amazingly insightful video! You have taken a complex topic and made it simple! As an engineer, I greatly appreciate your ability to bring in the scientific explanations to help make our own sound better. I too tend to lean towards a medium open tip & longer facing length and then use my lip to adjust the softer reeds I also prefer. I am nowhere near your level of expert playing level, but with your video, I can get closer. Keep up the great work you are doing for the Sax community. Thanks. PS: Please feel free to toss in a few Clarinet and Flute videos. You also sound amazing on them. You put out a few videos on sax doubling. I suggest putting out a sax and clarinet doubling tips and tricks video which would include how you are able to adjust your embouchure to adapt between them. Thanks again for your great work!
Love your fulcrum/balance analogy. And your paraphrase of the octave key situation sounds very similar to something i heard 40 years ago from a Mr Rollins. Great stuff man!
I have practiced your technique for a couple of days now. I played in key in the normal register but up till now my upper register was always sharp throw the whole range. NOT any more thanks to what you have taught me. My tone is also less stuffy too. Thanks so much.
Thanks a lot. I noticed some of these concepts by experience but the way you explained it was very articulated and complete. Tone development is one of my favourite subjects and there are not many videos out there about this subject matter. keep up the good work buddy. 👏
Bro. This some amazing way to explain this concept! Please do more around the same idea. I was so glad when you said that air speed is a confusing concept, because it is LOL. I really hope you will continue this way of explanation soon. Thank you so much for a brilliant approach.
Sirvalorsax bro, I’ve been following your channels for a long time already. I have seen it all LOL. Now I’m just asking for more of this brilliant stuff.
This dude is one of my favorite UA-cam teachers. He really knows what he's talking about deeply. Than you for sharing, Sir Valor
Couldn't agree more. I could listen to him for hours.
Thanks
@@Sirvalorsax do you our offer lessons?
I love how he nearly goes on a tangential calculus lesson eight minutes in, and then reels himself back in to music. Serious respect for both his saxophone powers, teaching style, and scientific/mathematical literacy.
Great lesson, hope you realize how lucky we are to take lessons from a master teacher on UA-cam for free.
Thanks from Russia, Sirvalorsax! You are the best saxophone teacher I have found on the web, and at the age of 60 after two years of searching, I know what I'm saying. So let you live to see a hundred, man, stay healthy, and never stop doing good just as you do right now. This world needs deep ones like yourself - who can also share their thoughts.
Thanks
Amazing video. I gotta say that there is no other teacher on UA-cam like you man. Keep up the amazing work 👍
Thanks
I
I agree....He is .... the best....!!!
Thank you I’m 84 years young and started to play sax the right way and the tips I got from you are priceless I’m after the George Auld sound and getting close
you're a Jedi - the way you explain this stuff is just so good - thank you!
Happy to help!
Im your big fan Brendan
This is the best video on sound development on sax that ive ever seen
Thank you. I'm currently working on the book with playing exercises and more
The mechanical analogies here are really useful. This is the only good saxophone channel on youtube.
This guy is crazy good at explaining stuff. Says exactly what he needs to without a bunch of fluff and still manages to get a lot of information out in one video. Love it!
I have been struggling with overtones for a while now, and this was by far the most helpful and informative video on youtube.
Thanks
The guy who coaches me stressed long tone practise and playing without the octave key. Great for embouchure control.
Practised in the afternoon then went to an evening big band session. Concentrated on the reading so much I forgot to use the octave key! Sounded in tune though. LoL
honestly i was glued paying attention....so much so....i realized what he was talking about as i self teach..... explained different yes...which make more sense......like the little secrets you discovered but wasn't sure what made that last few notes better.......thank you..... straight sax sounds like your bathing a beautiful woman in a traditional white tube with flowing bubbles of lathery love......which it could hit a little lower.....like drop warm chocolate into flow.
thanks again. Great job
LOL, Lathery Love!!
Excellent instruction. As a beginner I appreciate his videos.
Glad it was helpful!
The University sax prrofessor instructs diligently.
Excelentissimo behavioral objective and presentation.
Thanks, champ!
Thanks for watching
Calculus & physics to teach saxophone!? You, sir, are amazing. Great video.
Thanks
This lesson is gospel. Very enlightening.
This is one of the most important videos on saxophone sound on UA-cam, thanks for sharing your brilliance.
Thanks
FANTASTIC tips. So we'll explained, and it works!
This must be my favourite video: it was on my birthday! I started playing the saxophone because I was given one as a birthday present at age 36, almost 10 years ago! thank you Sirvalorsax for all the tips!
Hats off.You are a patient and good teacher.
Thanks
Your videos are so erudite and well thought through. You are a very gifted teacher 🙏
😀
Thank you! that was the key! since then I can play the saxophone ❤🎉😊👍👍👍
Amazingly simple explanation for something that's hard to do well! Only great teachers are able to explain things like that. Awesome job!
You know when you have a teacher that wants you to learn with genuine solitude. Thank you sir!
Very welcome!
Man this just reiterates the teachings of Senta in his altissimo book where the first exercises are purely playing octave key notes WITHOUT the octave key. Creating the octave wirh your lips and voicing as opposed to the machine
My Goodness. I have only been playing Alto Sax (Very Badly lol) for a year and a half and moved to Tenor two weeks ago and have been struggling with my sound and trying to replicate the sound of the Alto. I just watched this video and based on what you instructed, I can get overtones across all the notes. My sound is also much better after only 2 hours of practice. You are indeed a master at teaching and I cant thank you enough
Knowing and understanding is a great skill, but breaking it down so rookies like me get it is a whole other level of knowledge and love.
All my love and respect to you and your work brother
Thanks for giving back to the community. This knowledge is priceless 😎🫡
Wow. I think I'm going to end up watching this video about once a week, forever.
Dude you’re a scientist! I always tell my students all the time music is science. I’ll make sure they all see this thank you for sharing
Cool
An amazing teacher Mr.Spencer 😎 thankyou
You'll the best on Utube showing sax player how to do it right Thanks Be Safe God Bless each1
Thanks
Hey man you are so right on. You explain so simply. Dave Liebman teaches the same thing but not as simply as you. And, I think your sound is better than Liebman. This is because you are so natural, so real, so fundamental. Thanks, and keep up the great teaching.
I appreciate that! Thanks
I feel like the skies parted and wisdom just floated down from above. This makes a ton of sense, I've never seen it explained so well. I sure do enjoy your videos, you have a gift and it's clearly been paired with hard work. Thank you so much.
Glad you enjoyed it!
SMART AND CLEAR,.............BRILLIANT!
There's a big difference in being told 'do this and this' to get something, and being told the why and the how. This is the mechanics of the 'why and how'. In whatever we do, if we know why and how we're doing something, it makes the activity more intuitive, and makes it easier to work out any problems, rather than just trying to copy somebody, who can make subtle adjustments we just won't see. My understanding levels just went up a couple of notches. Thank you!
😄
This is a very articulate yet a very simple way of understanding your lecture. I am glad that you were able to go a little slow in the explanation on this video. Please, continue at this pace, fore there are those of us who are not that advanced players to capture your instructions at a fast pace. Excellent work. I really appreciate it. Peace out!
Thanks
Just recently discovered your channel and just found this gem. Love your videos, and this may be my favorite I have seen thus far (caveat, still have more of yours to watch). I have actually watched videos by people I respect who say you should not adjust your sound or your range using your embouchure). Then, I go and watch all these great saxophonists (Rollins, Brecker, Grover, Bird, Trane, Oliver, Jacquet, and more) and their bottom lips are moving just like yours forward and back … changing up that “fulcrum.” Thank you, for being the first I have found to really break down the mechanics of what they are doing. It’s amazing how you can take such cerebral concepts that have been evading description for years and break it down so clearly without pretentiousness or condescension. As amazing as you are as a player, you are equally formidable in pedagogy. Thank you for the tremendous body of work you have shared with all of us. Much love, good sir!
A human octave key. Absolutely brilliant , sir v. I am lol. All the real estate 🏡, and the calculus. Mechanical advantage transcribed to acoustical advantage. Man, this is the sweetest sax lecture I have seen on the tube in 25 years. I like the aerodynamics(air flow) talk as well, and-the hydrodynamics (hose).
Jfs. Alto 🎷, bass 🎸, 🎺, Church organ (full organ).
Vandoren A7 M, Vandoren leather lig. Sel series 3.
😀
Nice! Thanks for all your positivity and unselfish sharing of very helpful tips on the saxophone! Much appreciated and valued!
Thanks for watching
I'm an alto player and appreciate your vids a ton.
Bless
Thanks
Thank you Sir Valor. Gera-te explications
I think this is a great video. You have explained how embouchure can be used for creating correct tone and notes
Thanks
I think you would be fascinating to take lessons from. I wish I lived nearby.
After watching this video several times and 37 days of ardous practice, I can say I drastically improved my embouchure, not sounding great but improving. Thanks Sir Valor.
Excellent!
Been looking for you for years. It’s what I’ve been trying and now your confirming.
Let’s go, but in my own time.
Thank you
Cool
I’ve watched this video a number of times now. Each time I watch it I pick up new ideas and capabilities. I’ve actually managed altissimo G and A fairly reliably since watching and with practice. Thankyou. Excellent resource. Please continue helping us with your knowledge 👍😀👍😀👍
Thanks
I've been using a rubber band at times to shorten the facing but with your explanation, no longer necessary. Thanks for the great science (physics) lesson . tenorsaxsam
Glad to help!
This is great! I wish that a video such as your video was available when I was developing my altissimo range. I had to make these discoveries on my own and it took a long time.
Thanks Sir. That was very straightforward and clear. 👍
This is amazing, such a good teacher. Also, the resonance difference in the F#'s was clear.
Thanks for watching 👀 🙂
Excellent tutorial. A lightbulb moment for me. Thanks for your efforts.
Thanks
Thank you for the video. I really enjoy the way you approach the saxophone. The images you give on how to make a sax work shows the talent of a great professor.
Thanks
Very good video. Your explanation of acknowledging makes sense to your viewers. Thank you for sharing your talent and videos.
Cool
This lesson was so good, I didn't want it to end!!!
Thank you for your divine energy on helping others advance in their saxophone journey! I appreciate you! Have an amazing week!
Thanks, you too
You are a great teacher. Thanks man.
You're very welcome!
Thanks for taking the time to teach this. Very well done.
Absolutely fantastic lesson! You are a born educator.
Thanks
Such a great video man ive been watching you for 2 years now ive learned so much thanks for everything.
Thanks
Thank you so much for this, I only found your site by accident this morning, and found it fascinating, and was practising as you played and making the same sounds, only too happy to subscribe for more! brilliant and refreshing!
😀
Great information so well presented...you’re making learning saxophone much easier. Now it’s up to us, thanks so much!
Rock on!
Thanks! Great explanations. I can't wait to experiment during my next practice session.
Fantastic info!! I wished I’d had this type of guidance sixty years ago.This is a great channel.I hope you publish your book soon.
I wish I had UA-cam when I was in college. That is the philosophy behind why i make the videos the way that I do. Thanks for watching
What nice person you are !
Okay, I watch youtube videos all the time, and have for many years, but I don't think I've ever commented even once before. That's why I'm surprising myself here, but I just have to say how impressed I am by your detailed, yet easy to understand description here of the physics of a sax embouchure. I'm a tenor player myself, and I really appreciate how you break things down and provide such useful information in an interesting and fun manner. Well done Sirvalorsax!!!
Thanks
Just getting back to it, that is so valuable, thank you so much
😀
You’re the best , I am thankful for you doing the job, brother!
Thanks
Man this was so helpful. The machine explanation was what I had learned some years ago in my physical science course I had in hs,however to see it related to the mouthpiece and embouchure allowed me to conceptualize this concept way better then some of the vague explanations that people have given me before. Thanks alot!
Thanks for watching
Dude just cracked the case for upgrading your altissimo playing in 18 minutes
Lol
Love this video, man. The explanation of technique, the humor bits here and there, and of course, the simplicity. Write that book and make an album! (Though I know it’s hard with all the stuff going on out there and the pandemic). Point is we’d all buy them both. :)
😀
Gold..love it.👌. cheers from Oz
Really enjoyed this. As a beginner I was taught to not move the embouchure in a general attempt to stop biting. So there's a lot to unlearn for sure - as you demonstrate here, it's clear all the great players are constantly adjusting position - over time I'm sure there's a perfect spot for each note that gets burned into muscle memory with practice. But permission to shift that lower lip is very welcome.
Glad it was helpful!
great stuff!!! as a sax player myself i can say thats a great video and in fact its inspiring me to make more educational videos myself!!! i could add that every body sounds different in any mouthpiece so dont hear too much rumor about them.i never forget when i bought an Aizen from a sax player who sounded great on it and i sold it in a week ... i just sucked on it.. when back to my cheap vandoren and i was happy again..
Thanks for watching
This was fantastic! It was so clear and specific with well worded indications of exactly which variables to focus on. I love how you covered several elements like mechanics, resonance, and the relationship between body and instrument. Thank you for making this and I can’t wait for more great content!!
Thanks
Sir, this is brilliant. Publish a new illustrated technique book IMMEDIATELY! This lesson alone will set you up financially for life.
Thank you so much for this! With just this one lesson, my overtones are so much better! I was struggling before.
Glad it helped!
Thanks Sirvalor. We are blessed and fortunate to have your wisdom and hopefully to apply the knowledge you give us correctly. Many thanks.
Such a revelation! thanks so much for this way of seeing things
😄
Fantastic examples and exercises. Great!
Thanks
Brilliantly explained and demonstrated, thank you for the information and valuable lesson to help my playing.
😀
Great Sax Player dude! Enjoy listening to your advise.
Always learn something new, or explained differently yet understandable. Thanks for what you do...
Another amazingly insightful video! You have taken a complex topic and made it simple! As an engineer, I greatly appreciate your ability to bring in the scientific explanations to help make our own sound better. I too tend to lean towards a medium open tip & longer facing length and then use my lip to adjust the softer reeds I also prefer. I am nowhere near your level of expert playing level, but with your video, I can get closer. Keep up the great work you are doing for the Sax community. Thanks. PS: Please feel free to toss in a few Clarinet and Flute videos. You also sound amazing on them. You put out a few videos on sax doubling. I suggest putting out a sax and clarinet doubling tips and tricks video which would include how you are able to adjust your embouchure to adapt between them. Thanks again for your great work!
Love your fulcrum/balance analogy. And your paraphrase of the octave key situation sounds very similar to something i heard 40 years ago from a Mr Rollins. Great stuff man!
Some valuable information, thank you..
Very interresting! Thanks for making this video!!
Cool
I have practiced your technique for a couple of days now. I played in key in the normal register but up till now my upper register was always sharp throw the whole range. NOT any more thanks to what you have taught me. My tone is also less stuffy too. Thanks so much.
Sweet!
Thanks a lot. I noticed some of these concepts by experience but the way you explained it was very articulated and complete. Tone development is one of my favourite subjects and there are not many videos out there about this subject matter. keep up the good work buddy. 👏
Hey Sirvalorsax, I hope you are safe and doing well in these troubled times. Love the vids sir!
Thanks for watching
This is such a great video, now I’m gonna stay tuned for real.
😀
Wow! Great explanation. Really helped me better understand the subtleties of embouchure control. Looking forward to more on this.
Thank you!
Very good material. You are an excellent teacher:)
Thanks
So well spoken. Amazing video.
You are an awesome teacher
Thanks
thank you sir valor! you are a genius
Awesome explanation. Great work.
Thank you!
Bro. This some amazing way to explain this concept! Please do more around the same idea.
I was so glad when you said that air speed is a confusing concept, because it is LOL.
I really hope you will continue this way of explanation soon. Thank you so much for a brilliant approach.
Thanks, please check out some of my other videos where I explain things like this
Sirvalorsax bro, I’ve been following your channels for a long time already. I have seen it all LOL. Now I’m just asking for more of this brilliant stuff.