Saxophoneसैक्सोफ़ोन

The saxophone is a wind instrument that Adolphe Sax, a Belgian-born maker working in Paris, patented in 1846. His patent covered a family of originally eight instruments with a consistent design and fingering. Sax intended it for orchestras and military bands; it never became a regular orchestral member but kept a lasting role in military and civil bands, jazz and light music, and some operas and chamber works.

Start the Carnatic saxophone with KalaSudha online or in a workshop, at Foundation level. Foundation builds a stable embouchure and a steady tone on the alto before any Carnatic work. We teach children as well as adults, so ask us about a starting age and about an instrument size for a younger learner.

Saxophonists coming back after a long break start again where they left off. Our courses are set out in levels, and your teacher first hears where you stand.

Yes: Kadri Gopalnath (1949 to 2019) played Carnatic music on the alto saxophone, which he modified for the purpose. He first learned the nadaswaram from his father, turned to the saxophone after hearing the Mysore Palace band, and trained in Carnatic music with N. Gopalakrishna Iyer and T. V. Gopalakrishnan. In 1994 he became the first Carnatic musician invited to the BBC Proms.

Vandoren, the reed and mouthpiece maker, pairs a more open saxophone mouthpiece with a softer reed and a more closed one with a harder reed, at the same facing. It adds that a longer facing calls for a stronger reed. Vandoren also advises a softer reed for dry rooms and a harder one for humid conditions or outdoor playing.

You can buy a saxophone set up for Carnatic music from KalaSudha, by quote or made to order, and we deliver worldwide. Carnatic playing uses a standard alto; the set-up comes down to a moderately open mouthpiece and a medium reed for bending notes. For international shipping, we pack every instrument; ask us about cases and insurance too.

We service and repair any saxophone, wherever you bought it, in any country, and supply spare parts. For help after the sale, use the chat on any page or email [email protected]. Ask us also about gift vouchers, class sets for schools or a flight case for travel.

Vandoren advises breaking in new saxophone reeds for a few minutes daily and rotating several rather than relying on one. It advises moistening them with water rather than saliva, not leaving them long in water, and keeping them flat in protectors. Vandoren also advises cleaning an ebonite mouthpiece with mild soap and a soft toothbrush, never in hot water or a dishwasher, and never heating it above 60°C.

Kadri Gopalnath is the best-known Carnatic saxophonist. He first learned the nadaswaram from his father, took up the saxophone after hearing the Mysore Palace band, and built the embouchure technique that carries gamaka on it. In 1994 he became the first Carnatic musician at the BBC Proms, and his students carry the tradition on.

Yes: ask KalaSudha to book a Carnatic saxophone player for your concert, event or recording. Our page to book Indian classical musicians takes your request. You can hear our artists first in KalaSudha's recordings and concert videos.

A saxophone player bends each note with lip and jaw pressure on the reed, tightening or relaxing the embouchure mid-note for kampita and jaru, with no extra keys. The bend reaches about a semitone below each note.

Players slur gamaka-heavy phrases legato and use single tonguing to separate notes. Kadri Gopalnath built this technique on the E-flat alto, whose middle register sits close to the human voice.