Holding the sax....

[Cowgods]

I've been learning the alto sax for about one a half years with a peer tutor. The tutor never really cared much about his group and didn't pay attention to how we were doing. My class teacher came in and told me that i've been holding the sax in an odd way this whole time. Instead of holding it on either side, I rest it on the center of my chair. She says I can keep doing it if I need too, but should I try to change my method?

[Paul Coats]

http://www.saxontheweb.net/Coats/Beginner_Corner2.html

Please forgive my old friend's slouched posture... he was doing pretty well for a man of age 95.

BTW, as I walked up to his studio that day, I could hear him in there on his alto playing the 24 Etudes for Flute by Jochim Anderson... at a pretty good tempo, cleanly and precisely.

[Cowgods]

Thanks for the link. I'll try playing like that instead.

[bassclarinet]

Bought a C-Melody. Have trouble holding it as none of the straps I have found on the market do a proper job (for me at least.) Have bought three, including a harness. Only one that really works at all is an Alto strap but it cinches up as far as my necktie. Noticed the "slouched" gentleman Paul uses to describe position has a long strap that looks identical in both instrumental pictures. What is he using? I also have RA and cannot grip well with the right hand (thumb does not work well) This causes the sax to swing out of my mouth and whack me in the teeth on ocassion. Is there a movable (adjustable) thumb-rest that will allow a non-cramping posture? I know, too many questions for one thread. Sorry.

[rlowenote]

bassclarinet

I also had trouble with straps for C-Melody. I found the inexpensive solution. I bought an $7.00 padded strap that had the 1 inch wide strap material and since it fit like a neck-tie with my sax, I unthreaded it and had a couple of inches of strapping removed and restitched back together. Now it hangs about two inches lower than the necktie position when adjusted for the sax.

[Paul Coats]

My wife restitched a standard strap to work for me with my curved soprano sax.