While on Twitter the other day I came upon a post asking whether or not to purchase a saxophone from an unknown instrument maker. Of course my answer was no, because you do want to purchase an instrument from a name you can trust. So, what do you look for, and how do you purchase a saxophone?
If your child is just starting-out in an instrumental program, and has no (or very little) experience you want to look for a student-line instrument. Saxophones can be, and are expensive! A student-line alto saxophone can cost anywhere from $500.00 to $1,000.00, and those are the student models. If your child is learning on tenor saxophone it`s going to cost more. So no, you do not want to go with an instrument from an unknown saxophone maker.
Parents, you have some options on credible brand names both new and used. If looking for a used saxophone some trusted names are King 613 and Cleveland models, Bundy, and Vito. The best student-line saxophones are from "The Big 4". These are the best student-line saxophones, but also the most expensive. These saxophones can cost anywhere from $1,000 - $1,500. The Big 4 are:
1. Yamaha
2. Selmer (Paris)
3. Keilwerth
4. Yanagisawa
If you don`t want to spend $1000+ on one of The Big 4, some other saxophones worth looking at are Vito, Beuscher, Jupiter, and Selmer (USA).
There are saxophones you want to say away from, or think twice before buying. Saxophones unknown by music professionals, e.g. saxophonist and music educators are instruments you probably want to avoid. Be cautious of saxophones at a price less than $500.00; cheep is not always good. Saxophones made in China should also be avoided.
Many people purchase instruments from the newspapers, pawn shops, on-line, and exercise other options and choices. I recommend going to an established music store. Music stores make instruments available with rental programs, rent-to-own options, and purchasing plans. Another reason for dealing with an established music store is for the products and services they can offer. Music stores are a very valuable resource to music students, music educators, and parents.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Post-Bop and Avant-Garde Jazz Saxophonist Keith Gamble: Metropolitan Detroit Musicians League Novice Adult...
Post-Bop and Avant-Garde Jazz Saxophonist Keith Gamble: Metropolitan Detroit Musicians League Novice Adult...: For 2011, this year marks the first year the Metropolitan Detroit Musicians League has hosted a Novice Adult Recital. Why a Novice Adul...
Metropolitan Detroit Musicians League Novice Adult Recital
For 2011, this year marks the first year the Metropolitan Detroit Musicians League has hosted a Novice Adult Recital. Why a Novice Adult Recital, and not simply an Adult Recital? The MDML organized the Novice Adult Recital for those adults taking-up music lessons for recreation - recreational music making. The Novice Adult Recital creates an opportunity for adult recreational music learners to perform with others who are playing for the joy of making music, and not performing on stage with someone who is a doctorial canidate for music performance, or someone making a career out of music.
Held at Evola Music in Shelby Township, MI, on Sunday, October 16, 2011, fine performances were given by all who participated. I want to give a special acknowledgement to Mark Brown, Esq. who studies alto saxophone with me. Mr. Brown is a wonderful student who is making fine progress, and his performance today reflects that progress. Mark Brown performed Robert Schumann`s Traumerei, arranged by Sigurd Rascher for alto saxophone. Mark was accompanied by Mr. Walter Pookrum on piano. After the two performed Traumerei, Mr. Brown played When Sunny Gets Blue as an unaccompanied saxophone solo. Both solos received much applause from the audience.
After the Novice Adult Recital many in the audience approached Mark Brown complimenting his playing. One or two also commented that Mark should be performing in the Adult Recital; not the Novice Adult Recital.
I am focusing my blog on Mark Brown, Esq. because he studies saxophone with me, but I do want to say bravo to all those who performed at the Novice Adult Recital. I truly enjoyed all of the performances, and it was wonderful having the chance to hear the works of American folk music, Faber, Burgmuller, Saint-Saen, and Debussy.
See you Tuesday, Mr. Brown.
Held at Evola Music in Shelby Township, MI, on Sunday, October 16, 2011, fine performances were given by all who participated. I want to give a special acknowledgement to Mark Brown, Esq. who studies alto saxophone with me. Mr. Brown is a wonderful student who is making fine progress, and his performance today reflects that progress. Mark Brown performed Robert Schumann`s Traumerei, arranged by Sigurd Rascher for alto saxophone. Mark was accompanied by Mr. Walter Pookrum on piano. After the two performed Traumerei, Mr. Brown played When Sunny Gets Blue as an unaccompanied saxophone solo. Both solos received much applause from the audience.
After the Novice Adult Recital many in the audience approached Mark Brown complimenting his playing. One or two also commented that Mark should be performing in the Adult Recital; not the Novice Adult Recital.
I am focusing my blog on Mark Brown, Esq. because he studies saxophone with me, but I do want to say bravo to all those who performed at the Novice Adult Recital. I truly enjoyed all of the performances, and it was wonderful having the chance to hear the works of American folk music, Faber, Burgmuller, Saint-Saen, and Debussy.
See you Tuesday, Mr. Brown.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Post-Bop and Avant-Garde Jazz Saxophonist Keith Gamble: My Film Review: Higher Ground
Post-Bop and Avant-Garde Jazz Saxophonist Keith Gamble: My Film Review: Higher Ground: If you are looking for mindless entertainment with a religious theme, you will not want to see Higher Ground. There is nothing simple a...
My Film Review: Higher Ground
If you are looking for mindless entertainment with a religious theme, you will not want to see Higher Ground. There is nothing simple about this film; no black hats and whites hats, and no winner takes all. Higher Ground is a story told by Corinne ( Vera Farmiga ), and her struggles with belief and faith. Corinne never losses her faith, but she does question it. Corinne is an intelligent multi-dementional character who others view as being "luke-warm" with her belief and faith, everyone with the exception of Annika ( Dagmara Dominczyk ), and her mail carrier.
Higher Ground does however treat many of the films other characters as one dementional; following the religious patriarchs, with Corinne`s husband Ethan ( Josha Leonard ) as a card carrying member of followers. During the film the wedge between Ethan and Corinne widens as Ethan gets stronger in his faith, while Corinne just refuses to drink the kool-ade.
Higher Ground is not making my list of favorites, but this film is worth seeing.
Higher Ground does however treat many of the films other characters as one dementional; following the religious patriarchs, with Corinne`s husband Ethan ( Josha Leonard ) as a card carrying member of followers. During the film the wedge between Ethan and Corinne widens as Ethan gets stronger in his faith, while Corinne just refuses to drink the kool-ade.
Higher Ground is not making my list of favorites, but this film is worth seeing.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
African American Art and Culture: The art music of Charlie Parker
Bebop started at Minton`s Playhouse by black musicians, and Charlie Parker was the spirit of the bebop movement. Known as the black jazz capital, Minton`s Playhouse in Harlem is where bebop began. The jazz scene was taking place at Minton`s Playhouse in Harlem, and on 52nd Street ( aka The Street ). Minton`s Playhouse was a laboratory for bebop, where great musicians like Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, and Charlie Parker would play. The Kings of Minton`s never played "ordinary music"; they played bebop to eliminate players who couldn`t play.
Once bebop developed it began moving to other clubs on 52nd Street. Around 1945, black musicians were playing on 52nd Street for the money, and for media exposure at clubs such as the Three Deuces, Kelly`s Stable, and other clubs on 52nd Street. These clubs on 52nd Street were becoming more important to musicians than the clubs in Harlem.
Charlie Parker was a virtuoso, and an important figure to other musicians who were looking to Charlie Parker for direction. With his strong, bright, and individual sound, Bird was also one of the great blues and ballad players. Charlie Parker composed bebop masterpieces including Ko-Ko, Cherokee, My Old Flame, Billie`s Bounce, Embraceable You, Parker`s Mood, Lover Man, Yardbird Suite, and many others.
Jazz is black music, and bebop was about change and evolution. Bebop was not about being safe and standing still. Bebop is one of the most enduring styles of music from the United States, and an American underground art and culture that was played after-hours, fast and aggressively, and aesthetically shocking. Bebop was self-defining black culture, and bebop lines were fractured with passing tones, and was difficult to count and play.
As for Charlie Parker he was on a decline by 1954. According to Miles Davis, Charlie Parker had become fat, tired, not showing for performances, and playing badly. He was even banded from Birdland ( the legendary club named in his honor ) after an argument with the owners. Charlie Parker died March 12, 1955, but his music continues.
Once bebop developed it began moving to other clubs on 52nd Street. Around 1945, black musicians were playing on 52nd Street for the money, and for media exposure at clubs such as the Three Deuces, Kelly`s Stable, and other clubs on 52nd Street. These clubs on 52nd Street were becoming more important to musicians than the clubs in Harlem.
Charlie Parker was a virtuoso, and an important figure to other musicians who were looking to Charlie Parker for direction. With his strong, bright, and individual sound, Bird was also one of the great blues and ballad players. Charlie Parker composed bebop masterpieces including Ko-Ko, Cherokee, My Old Flame, Billie`s Bounce, Embraceable You, Parker`s Mood, Lover Man, Yardbird Suite, and many others.
Jazz is black music, and bebop was about change and evolution. Bebop was not about being safe and standing still. Bebop is one of the most enduring styles of music from the United States, and an American underground art and culture that was played after-hours, fast and aggressively, and aesthetically shocking. Bebop was self-defining black culture, and bebop lines were fractured with passing tones, and was difficult to count and play.
As for Charlie Parker he was on a decline by 1954. According to Miles Davis, Charlie Parker had become fat, tired, not showing for performances, and playing badly. He was even banded from Birdland ( the legendary club named in his honor ) after an argument with the owners. Charlie Parker died March 12, 1955, but his music continues.
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