I've been playing the alto since 6th grade (I'm now a senior). Started playing Tenor halfway through my 8th grade year, and, like alto, took right to it. Marched Alto freshman year, and played Tenor for concert the same year. Really awkward going back and forth for a while. Marched and played alto for concert my sophomore year, and played tenor for jazz (which or 'new' band director had just started). Last year I marched and played Tenor for jazz and played alto for concert.
All of my highschool years, our band has been small. Freshman there were 2 altos and two tenors. Sophomore 3 altos, and one tenor. Last year we started with 2, got a switcher 2 months before large group (from flute), and after christmas got another switcher (yet again a flute). So we ended with four. And no tenors.
This year, we will have 7 or 8 altos. (Yay!) That I must lead -_-' (not yay, horrid leader here. But, they all do listen to me. I'm not the
nicest person around)
This year, I am marching alto (there's 7 of us, most there's ever been! and 3 tenors, one less than last year. ^.^) I'm hoping to play tenor for jazz (but I've a feelin' I'll be on alto), and I'ma try and talk our band director into me on bari for concert. As I really like playing low.
Boy. Do I tend to ramble, or what?
And now I'll ramble more. This time about my sax.
I've a Julius Keilworth alto sax. Now 12 years old, was my brother's first. He was not meant to ever touch an instrument. The neck piece was stolen his 7th grade year, and was replaced my 8th grade year, 3 or four years later. (It took them like 6 months to find one that fit.) It's heavy, but I deal with it. Love it too much to really complain. It's got a great sound. When I actually am concentrating on sound and not bored out of my mind with the song that we've played 70 times already. Or excited. i get excited, I sound horrible... I got a plastic reed last year for it, and my sound improved. Then I moved up to Van Doren 4s, and it sounded even better. I'm thinking of going to 4 1/2s this year. But my Keilworth is my baby. Which, reminds me, I was looking through a catalog (going after tenors) and came across the same make and what not, for $3000. nearly died right there. My mom got it for my brother for $600 or so.
I played this crappy school tenor until last year, when our band director ordered a brand new Yamaha, just for me. Wanted an exprienced sax and marcher in the tenor section, so he turned to me, his all too willing 'every-sax-you-can-give-me-I'll-play' girl. It played like a dream. Really would like to get my own Keilworth tenor though..
xXxKoKoRoMixXx
im going to high school next year and we've already started doing summer band practice.
i started playing the alto sax in 4th grade, but in the middle of 6th grade i switched to bari sax. now i'm going into 9th grade and i'm going to march the alto OwO
it's really hard adjusting to the alto again >w< i miss those deep vibrations i used to make (lol that sounds weird) now i just sound all high and squeaky
gonk You'll be better for starting early. My band started 2 weeks after we got out. Well, we had a free week, and then we started. So.. 9 days.. Give or take a few hours.
I hate switching back and forth, unless its from alto to tenor. Hate the higher instruments.
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