Professional Saxophone Players
to Check Out
Eugene Rousseau
Eugene Rousseau is one of the premier classical saxophonists in the world. He performs with major orchestras and bands internationally and performs with flawless technique, sound, and musicality. Listen how he colors and shapes his notes in each video
Timothy McAllister
Timothy McAllister is the Saxophone Professor at the University of Michigan, but has a world-renowned reputation for his artistry, pure tone, and expressiveness. Pay attention to how delicately and how strong he can play to create many different musical feelings. I highly recommend listening to all of the John Mackey Soprano Sax Concerto as well as the Rush Concerto.
Arno Bornkamp
Arno Bornkamp is a professor at the Conservatory of Amsterdam, but also travels around the world performing with many small ensembles, orchestras, and bands. His playing is very virtuosic, technically impressive, and musically filled with emotion. He plays all types of saxophones.
Instrument Step Up Links
An easy way to improve your saxophone tone and ease of playing is through an improved ligature. Many advanced and even professional saxophone players play on Rovner Ligatures. Many players recommend the "Versa" Ligature.
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Another good brand of ligature is also the BG "Super Revelation" Ligature.
Mouthpieces
Another easy way to improve play-ability, response, and sound on saxophone, without putting out a fair amount of money to purchase a new instrument, would be to upgrade the saxophone mouthpiece.
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Vandoren and Selmer make great saxophone mouthpieces. The Vandoren OPTIMUM AL-3 Saxophone mouthpiece is the most popular from Vandoren.
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The Selmer S-80 C* (C-star) is another popular mouthpiece across the world and is designed for advancing students, high school level, and professionals.
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Before purchasing an instrument, always consult with your music teacher or private instrument instructor!!!
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Step Up Instruments
When looking at a step up saxophone, the best brands are Selmer Paris, Yamaha, and Yanagisawa. An alto saxophone that will set students up for the rest of high school and college is a Selmer Paris Reference 54. Other affordable professional alto saxophones are the Yamaha YAS-480, Yamaha YAS-62III, or Yanagisawa AWO10.
Here are great step up models for Tenor Saxophone:
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Here are great step up models for Bari Saxophone:
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Be sure to play test!
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