International sopranino Research Survey

[Juana Palop]

Hello,
My name is Juana Palop, and I´m a Spanish student of Arno Bornkamp in the Amsterdam conservatory.
I´m making my final research about sopranino saxophone and, investigating, I found this amazing forum! !
This is my first contribution to the forum, but for sure will ot be the last one!!
Nice to be with you all, here!
I would love you to fill in the following survey,and forward it to as much as possible saxophonists, in order to help me to figure out what is actually the situation of the extremely high range saxophones,and its playing.( i think is a field not enough explored yet...) so... here you are:


SURVEY ABOUT THE SOPRANINO SAXOPHONE

NAME (OPTIONAL):
COUNTRY:
TEACHER(OPTIONAL):
LEVEL OF STUDY:
A Student
B Professional performer
C Teacher
D Amateur
E Other...

1 Have you ever played or listened to the sopranino saxophone?
A Yes
B No
If not, please don’t answer the questions 2, 6 and 7.
If yes, what was your impression?


2 Do you think that sopranino saxophone can be played at the same level as the rest of the saxophone family?

A: I don‘t know, I’ve never think about it.
B: No, because of the bad instruments the brands make.
C: Yes, but you need to practice a lot.
D: Other:


3 Do you think that sopranino saxophone is at the same level (mainly in terms of sound quality, expression and intonation) as extremely high members of other instrument families like piccolo flute, piccolo clarinet in Eb, or piccolo trumpet?
A: Yes
B: No
Can you explain why?



4 What is in your opinion the contribution of sopranino saxophone to the saxophone ensemble?

A: Is necessary.
B: Is not necessary at all.
C: Would be interesting.
D: Other:


Can you explain why?







5 Have you ever heard a piece written for sopranino solo or with more instruments wich are not saxophone?
A: Yes
B: No
Did you find this/those piece/ s succesful?
A: Yes
B: No

Why?


Do you know a piece original for the instrument? Can you tell me witch one? ( if you don´t know the whole information about the piece, please, tell me about the composer, or the performer...anything that helps me to find it)







6 Do you have suggestions for the improvement of the mechanism and the intonation of the instrument?
A: Yes
B: No
C: I don’t know, I 've never practiced the instrument seriously.
If yes, what are those?




7 What do you think of the timbral qualities of the instrument?
A: There is still a lot to investigate in materials and the shape of the horn.
B: It depends very much on the combination mouthpiece/saxophone, a lot more than the other saxophones.
C: They are good enough, it is a question of finding the right combination and work a lot with it.
D: I don’t know, because I 've never practiced the instrument seriuously.
E: Other:




8 Would you like to learn to play this instrument? Do you feel attracted to it?
A: Yes
B: No
C: I don’t know
Can you explain why?











9 Do you think that practicing the sopranino has some of those technical advantages? Improvement of the flexibility, easy way to get to the top tones feeling, etc?
A. Yes
B. No
If yes, would those be a reason for you to practice it?
A: Yes
B: No
C: I don’t know/ I don’t think so.
D: Other:


Can you explain why?






10 Witch brand, model of sopranino and combination mouthpiece/ instrument do you think is the best nowadays? Please, put a “NO” at the right part of the option if you don’t know the brand at all, and add a brand if they make sopraninos and is not on the list.
A: Yanahisawa
B: Selmer
C: Conn
D: Buescher
E: Evette Schaeffer
F: King
G: Orsi
H: Kalison
I: Other:
J: I don’t know.

Why?





Do you want to leave any comment, answer a question I didn’t ask, or make some point more clear?
Please do it here:









Thank you so much!!

[sycc]

International sopranino Research Survey

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello,
My name is Juana Palop, and I´m a Spanish student of Arno Bornkamp in the Amsterdam conservatory.
I´m making my final research about sopranino saxophone and, investigating, I found this amazing forum! !
This is my first contribution to the forum, but for sure will ot be the last one!!
Nice to be with you all, here!
I would love you to fill in the following survey,and forward it to as much as possible saxophonists, in order to help me to figure out what is actually the situation of the extremely high range saxophones,and its playing.( i think is a field not enough explored yet...) so... here you are:


SURVEY ABOUT THE SOPRANINO SAXOPHONE

NAME (OPTIONAL): David
COUNTRY: USA
TEACHER(OPTIONAL):
LEVEL OF STUDY: D
A Student
B Professional performer
C Teacher
D Amateur
E Other...

1 Have you ever played or listened to the sopranino saxophone? A
A Yes
B No
If not, please don’t answer the questions 2, 6 and 7.
If yes, what was your impression? Great experience,fun specaility sax


2 Do you think that sopranino saxophone can be played at the same level as the rest of the saxophone family? C

A: I don‘t know, I’ve never think about it.
B: No, because of the bad instruments the brands make.
C: Yes, but you need to practice a lot.
D: Other:


3 Do you think that sopranino saxophone is at the same level (mainly in terms of sound quality, expression and intonation) as extremely high members of other instrument families like piccolo flute, piccolo clarinet in Eb, or piccolo trumpet? A I own one and can play it fairly well. My daighter has and plays a piccolo
A: Yes
B: No
Can you explain why?



4 What is in your opinion the contribution of sopranino saxophone to the saxophone ensemble? C

A: Is necessary.
B: Is not necessary at all.
C: Would be interesting.
D: Other:


Can you explain why?







5 Have you ever heard a piece written for sopranino solo or with more instruments wich are not saxophone? A
A: Yes
B: No
Did you find this/those piece/ s succesful? A
A: Yes
B: No

Why? I played my nino w/ church choir in place of a recorder. It went well.


Do you know a piece original for the instrument? Can you tell me witch one? ( if you don´t know the whole information about the piece, please, tell me about the composer, or the performer...anything that helps me to find it)







6 Do you have suggestions for the improvement of the mechanism and the intonation of the instrument? B
A: Yes
B: No
C: I don’t know, I 've never practiced the instrument seriously.
If yes, what are those?




7 What do you think of the timbral qualities of the instrument? C
A: There is still a lot to investigate in materials and the shape of the horn.
B: It depends very much on the combination mouthpiece/saxophone, a lot more than the other saxophones.
C: They are good enough, it is a question of finding the right combination and work a lot with it.
D: I don’t know, because I 've never practiced the instrument seriuously.
E: Other:




8 Would you like to learn to play this instrument? Do you feel attracted to it? A
A: Yes
B: No
C: I don’t know
Can you explain why?











9 Do you think that practicing the sopranino has some of those technical advantages? Improvement of the flexibility, easy way to get to the top tones feeling, etc? A
A. Yes
B. No
If yes, would those be a reason for you to practice it? A
A: Yes
B: No
C: I don’t know/ I don’t think so.
D: Other:


Can you explain why?






10 Witch brand, model of sopranino and combination mouthpiece/ instrument do you think is the best nowadays? Please, put a “NO” at the right part of the option if you don’t know the brand at all, and add a brand if they make sopraninos and is not on the list.
A: Yanahisawa
B: Selmer
C: Conn
D: Buescher
E: Evette Schaeffer
F: King
G: Orsi
H: Kalison
I: Other: Rampone R1(I own this nino-excellent sax)
J: I don’t know.

Why? Rampone is big bore w/ red brass which darkens and warms tone a plus w/ such a high pitched sax





Do you want to leave any comment, answer a question I didn’t ask, or make some point more clear?
Please do it here:

[Little Sax]

Hello,
My name is Juana Palop, and I´m a Spanish student of Arno Bornkamp in the Amsterdam conservatory.
I´m making my final research about sopranino saxophone and, investigating, I found this amazing forum! !
This is my first contribution to the forum, but for sure will ot be the last one!!
Nice to be with you all, here!
I would love you to fill in the following survey,and forward it to as much as possible saxophonists, in order to help me to figure out what is actually the situation of the extremely high range saxophones,and its playing.( i think is a field not enough explored yet...) so... here you are:

SURVEY ABOUT THE SOPRANINO SAXOPHONE

NAME (OPTIONAL):
COUNTRY:
USA

TEACHER(OPTIONAL):
LEVEL OF STUDY:
A Student
B Professional performer
C Teacher
D Amateur
E Other...D) Amateur


1 Have you ever played or listened to the sopranino saxophone?
A Yes
B No
If not, please don’t answer the questions 2, 6 and 7.
If yes, what was your impression?A) Yes


2 Do you think that sopranino saxophone can be played at the same level as the rest of the saxophone family?

A: I don‘t know, I’ve never think about it.
B: No, because of the bad instruments the brands make.
C: Yes, but you need to practice a lot.
D: Other:C) Yes


3 Do you think that sopranino saxophone is at the same level (mainly in terms of sound quality, expression and intonation) as extremely high members of other instrument families like piccolo flute, piccolo clarinet in Eb, or piccolo trumpet?
A: Yes
B: No
Can you explain why?A) Yes, but this mainly has to do with the player not the horn.


4 What is in your opinion the contribution of sopranino saxophone to the saxophone ensemble?

A: Is necessary.
B: Is not necessary at all.
C: Would be interesting.
D: Other:


Can you explain why?A) Is necessary - Although not every piece calls for a sopranino (nor should they), the sopranino can add quite a bit to a full sax choir.



5 Have you ever heard a piece written for sopranino solo or with more instruments wich are not saxophone?
A: Yes
B: NoA) Yes


Did you find this/those piece/ s succesful?
A: Yes
B: No

Why?A) Yes - (Qualified) Bolero has a part written for "F Sopranino" which to my knowledge was never actually built. For several reasons the F sopranino part is usually played on Bb soprano instead, but occasionally on Eb sopranino is used. The Eb sopranino gives a different tonal quality and can be used quite effecitvely.



Do you know a piece original for the instrument? Can you tell me witch one? ( if you don´t know the whole information about the piece, please, tell me about the composer, or the performer...anything that helps me to find it)Bolero as mentioned above.



6 Do you have suggestions for the improvement of the mechanism and the intonation of the instrument?
A: Yes
B: No
C: I don’t know, I 've never practiced the instrument seriously.
If yes, what are those?B) No



7 What do you think of the timbral qualities of the instrument?
A: There is still a lot to investigate in materials and the shape of the horn.
B: It depends very much on the combination mouthpiece/saxophone, a lot more than the other saxophones.
C: They are good enough, it is a question of finding the right combination and work a lot with it.
D: I don’t know, because I 've never practiced the instrument seriuously.
E: Other:C) Material choice isn't going to make a measurable or discernable difference in the sound of these instruments.



8 Would you like to learn to play this instrument? Do you feel attracted to it?
A: Yes
B: No
C: I don’t know
Can you explain why?A) I do play the instrument.



9 Do you think that practicing the sopranino has some of those technical advantages? Improvement of the flexibility, easy way to get to the top tones feeling, etc?
A. Yes
B. NoA) Yes - I actually find the highest notes of my sopranino easier to play than the top notes of my Bb sopranos. Intonation is more difficult and focuses practice in other ways to adjust appropriately.


If yes, would those be a reason for you to practice it?
A: Yes
B: No
C: I don’t know/ I don’t think so.
D: Other:

Can you explain why?A) Yes - But I like to practice it just for fun anyway.



10 Witch brand, model of sopranino and combination mouthpiece/ instrument do you think is the best nowadays? Please, put a “NO” at the right part of the option if you don’t know the brand at all, and add a brand if they make sopraninos and is not on the list.
A: Yanahisawa
B: Selmer
C: Conn
D: Buescher
E: Evette Schaeffer
F: King
G: Orsi
H: Kalison
I: Other:
J: I don’t know.

Why?I play a Yanagisawa Elimona sopranino. I've only played two sopraninos and the other was also a Yanagisawa Elimona. My preference is a metal Yanagisawa mouthpiece, but I've tried the hard rubber model, several Selmer mouthpieces, and a vintage Conn mouthpiece as well. I am only aware of Yanagisawa, Selmer, R&C, and Orsi making sopraninos currently, that is aside from the Yanagisawa clones coming out of Taiwan under various names.


Do you want to leave any comment, answer a question I didn’t ask, or make some point more clear?
Please do it here:I would ask how many sopraninos (both manufacturers and models) that an individual has tried or currently plays. Since a relatively few number of people have played sopraninos, most of the information your likely to receive will be statistically erradic and possibly irrelevent.


Thank you so much!!Your welcome

[sycc]

Boy that went over big. FWIW you got replies from 2 of the nino's biggest fans!!!

[PhineasC]

Juana Palop;1016491]Hello,
My name is Juana Palop, and I´m a Spanish student of Arno Bornkamp in the Amsterdam conservatory.
I´m making my final research about sopranino saxophone and, investigating, I found this amazing forum! !
This is my first contribution to the forum, but for sure will ot be the last one!!
Nice to be with you all, here!
I would love you to fill in the following survey,and forward it to as much as possible saxophonists, in order to help me to figure out what is actually the situation of the extremely high range saxophones,and its playing.( i think is a field not enough explored yet...) so... here you are:


SURVEY ABOUT THE SOPRANINO SAXOPHONE

NAME (OPTIONAL): Phineas Henshaw
COUNTRY: USA
TEACHER(OPTIONAL): Self
LEVEL OF STUDY: Professional performer/Teacher
1 Have you ever played or listened to the sopranino saxophone? Yes

2 Do you think that sopranino saxophone can be played at the same level as the rest of the saxophone family? Yes, but you need to practice a lot.

3 Do you think that sopranino saxophone is at the same level (mainly in terms of sound quality, expression and intonation) as extremely high members of other instrument families like piccolo flute, piccolo clarinet in Eb, or piccolo trumpet? Yes However, not quite the same playable range.

4 What is in your opinion the contribution of sopranino saxophone to the saxophone ensemble? D: Other: Music is about creativity, so just create a place for it to fit.

5 Have you ever heard a piece written for sopranino solo or with more instruments wich are not saxophone? Yes

Did you find this/those piece/ s succesful? Yes

6 Do you have suggestions for the improvement of the mechanism and the intonation of the instrument? Yes

7 What do you think of the timbral qualities of the instrument?
C: They are good enough, it is a question of finding the right combination and work a lot with it.
There could be more of a selection of Mouthpieces!

8 Would you like to learn to play this instrument? Do you feel attracted to it?
A: Yes

Can you explain why? I am a flute player that plays Picollo. I practice more on the piccolo for many reasons. The main reason is portability, the other is the level of dificulty. My piccolo playing helps my flute playing. Since I have be playing on the Nino, it has drasticly improved my control on other Saxes.

9 Do you think that practicing the sopranino has some of those technical advantages? Improvement of the flexibility, easy way to get to the top tones feeling, etc? Yes

If yes, would those be a reason for you to practice it? Yes

Can you explain why? See answer to number 8

10 Witch brand, model of sopranino and combination mouthpiece/ instrument do you think is the best nowadays? Please, put a “NO” at the right part of the option if you don’t know the brand at all, and add a brand if they make sopraninos and is not on the list. Other: I play on a Saxophone.com Sopranino with a Sendefi mouthpiece.

Why? So far, I have not found sopraninos that play any better for the price than the Sax.com one. Another issue is intonation. There may be better ones out there, but so the Sax.com Nino does the job very well.

Do you want to leave any comment, answer a question I didn’t ask, or make some point more clear?
Please do it here: Now, you can get a good Nino for relatively cheap, so start buying them so more options will become available!