Up And Runnin

Yes finally, this comp is back on line. No thanx to some damn thunderstorm it konked out a few days ago, but is now fine. And i havent been able to listen to my cd cos it had been stuck in the D drive all the time...

Beechler No More. Enter Lebayle

After so many damn long days and a second rejection of my mum's credit card, i've decided dat i've ben wastin to much precious time and have thus cancelled the order for the beechler mouthpiece. dat would cost me about US $130 excluding shipping which ultimately would cost me about S$250 altogether. quite pointless i felt, and so decided to get the Lebayle french metal mouthpiece which my instructor let me try. only S$170.

Metal mouthpieces are so difficult to blow ok.. damn resistant, i was having a hard time trying to get a sound out of it because i've been on the rubber ebonite mouthpiece for like so long already. Moreover, the embouchure for the ebonite and metal was like so different. kinda felt like i was starting all over again adapting to the mouthpiece. and the tip opening was like kinda huge and the facing length even shorter which was like hell, how am i supposed to blow a mouthpiece like dat?? practice practice.

Anyway, this lebayle is matte gold plated and boy it was heavy, put it on the neck and you can feel how heavy the whole combined weight is~ but i kinda liked it cos it was gold? and it matched the sax pretty well~ but if only the sax was brushed instead of lacquer. then all would be matte~ nevermind, soon the sax would lose all its lacquer and would result in a matte horn~

Unnatural Underbite

So i discovered why i had a hard time playing the metal. i have a natural slight overbite which is kinda ideal. but when i form the embouchure, i tend to force myself into an unnatural underbite. this is because in order to tighten the chin muscles, i'd press them against the lower jaw and in doin so, teh lower jaw protrudes out creating the unnatural underbite which in any case, underbites are detrimental. Ppl with severe underbite problems have also been discouraged to pick up the sax... holey shit man.. this is because by the time ur upper teeth get close to the top rail for a good grip, the lower jaw already is way too far in which loses the control of the reed and thus promotes squeaks. very bad.. cos once ur embouchure is gettin firmer, like me, it's fuckin hard to change. now i know wat they mean when they go thru a change of embouchure.. it's the hardest thing of all.

anyway, i've resorted to drastic measures. this time i force myself into an overbite. with upper teeth far in and then i'd pull the lower jaw back which kinda feels weird after 1 month of doin the same thing over and over again. can't wait for the lebayle so dat i cna go back to a comfortable practice routine..

Those Darn Pimples

I've yet discovered another potentially destructive threat to a saxophonist - Pimples. Yes pimples. Not because they make you look horrible on stage no. More so because they can stop you in your tracks. Wat i mean is dat, if u have one dat strategically found it's way below your nose, on you chin and wat not, it can stop you from forming the embouchure because of the pain. i have one now just above my upper lip and it's trying to wage a war there. i'm gonna take drastic measures.. dip it in car battery water.. no of cos not.. i'm just gonna have to zap the zit out with some facial care product..