SAX BITES

Today's episode unpacks what you should look for when buying a saxophone for an advanced player. Based on Emma's 15 years of experience as a saxophone teacher, the advice in today's episode will make sure you get yourself a great horn for learning on and avoid some of the common pitfalls out there in the market! This is Part 3 in a three part series on purchasing a new saxophone. Have a question f...

Today's episode unpacks what you should look for when buying a saxophone for an intermediate player. Based on Emma's 15 years of experience as a saxophone teacher, the advice in today's episode will make sure you get yourself a great horn for learning on and avoid some of the common pitfalls out there in the market! This is Part 2 in a three part series on purchasing a new saxophone. Have a questi...

Today's episode unpacks what you should look for when buying a saxophone for a beginner player. Based on Emma's 15 years of experience as a saxophone teacher, the advice in today's episode will make sure you get yourself a great horn for learning on and avoid some of the common pitfalls out there in the market! Have a question for the Sax Bites Podcast? Submit it via Instagram (@emmaldm1), TikTok...

Today's episode explains the optimal right hand position we should be aiming for when playing the saxophone and why Emma has taken the thumb rests off her saxophones (?!?!) Have a question for the Sax Bites Podcast? Submit it via Instagram (@emmaldm1), TikTok (@emmaldm1) or email the team at hello@emmadimarco.com   Want something for free? Visit Emma's online store ( www.emmadimarco.com/store ) to...

Today's episode is diving into listener questions we have received in order to solve your real-world saxophone problems. Have a question for the Sax Bites Podcast? Submit it via Instagram (@emmaldm1), TikTok (@emmaldm1) or email the team at hello@emmadimarco.com   Want something for free? Visit Emma's online store ( www.emmadimarco.com/store ) to download a free long tones worksheet to take your s...

Squeaking a saxophone is an annoying problem and something that frustrates a lot of students along their musical journey. But, the fact is, it's totally normal and it happens to everyone! Squeaking tends to get worse the more we focus on it or worry about it... so how on earth do we fix it? Today's episode breaks down why you might be squeaking when playing the saxophone and how exactly you're goi...

Your neck strap is with you through thick and thin as a saxophone player. Lord knows I've been using the same neck strap for the past decade! Finding the right neck strap is not only a consideration of comfort but it's an important part of staying fit and healthy as a musician. Listen along to today's episode to help you choose the right neck strap for each of the different saxophones.    Have a q...

Your embouchure is crucial to your sound. And the corners of your mouth? Well that's the most important spot for improving your tone. Have a listen to today's episode to get more ideas on how to manage the corners of your mouth when playing the saxophone and what to look out for when you're practising.    Have a question for the Sax Bites Podcast? Submit it via Instagram (@emmaldm1), TikTok (@emma...

Dynamics are such an important part of our expressive techniques as musicians and it's crucial that we constantly refine our skills here. But, who (honestly) can say that they practise dynamics regularly? Or who has even practised dynamics at all?? (And no, practising them IN your pieces doesn't count). Today's ep is going to give you some great ideas for improving your dynamics on the saxophone. ...

Today's episode continues talking about articulation and this time it's all about STACCATO. Pretty much all students know that staccato notes need to be played short... but how short is short enough? And how do we make that happen on the saxophone? Tune in to find out   Have a question for the Sax Bites Podcast? Submit it via Instagram (@emmaldm1), TikTok (@emmaldm1) or email the team at hello@emm...

Tonguing is such an important part of playing a wind instrument and, in today's episode, we're going to talk about the exact movement of the tongue touching the reed. This episode is great for those students looking to refine their articulation on the saxophone.   Have a question for the Sax Bites Podcast? Submit it via Instagram (@emmaldm1), TikTok (@emmaldm1) or email the team at hello@emmadimar...

Is it a tuning problem? Or is your timbre just incapable of blending with other players? Today we're going to find out!   Have a question for Emma? Submit it via Instagram (@emmaldm1), TikTok (@emmaldm1) or email the team at hello@emmadimarco.com Want something for free? Visit Emma's online store ( www.emmadimarco.com/store ) to download a free long tones worksheet to take your saxophone practice...

Today we look a the simple way you can diagnose problems in your playing while practising at home, between your lessons.  Have a question for Emma? Submit it via Instagram (@emmaldm1), TikTok (@emmaldm1) or email the team at hello@emmadimarco.com Want something for free? Visit Emma's online store ( https://www.emmadimarco.com/store ) to download a free long tones worksheet to take your saxophone p...

Ok, so people have searched some CRAZY things about the saxophone and Emma's here to answer them. This episode is a fun one so we may just have to do a Part Two!   Have a question for Emma? Submit it via Instagram (@emmaldm1), TikTok (@emmaldm1) or email the team at hello@emmadimarco.com Want something for free? Visit Emma's online store ( www.emmadimarco.com/store ) to download a free long tones...

Articulation is so important and Emma's got some quick tips to improve your tonguing. Get these basics right so you're ready to dive in to more complicated articulation concepts on our next episodes!   Have a question for Emma? Submit it via Instagram (@emmaldm1), TikTok (@emmaldm1) or email the team at hello@emmadimarco.com Want something for free? Visit Emma's online store ( www.emmadimarco.com/...

It's time to decide, once and for, which is the best note on the saxophone? (Ok, there's a little more to today's episode but we'll leave it as a surprise for when you actually listen)   Have a question for Emma? Submit it via Instagram (@emmaldm1), TikTok (@emmaldm1) or email the team at hello@emmadimarco.com Want something for free? Visit Emma's online store ( www.emmadimarco.com/edmmstore ) to...

It's time to get your fingers moving FAST on the saxophone. It's easily one of the most common issues that comes up with students who just want to absolute shred on their horn. Today's episode gives you some easy to implement advice on how to play fast and move those fingers smoothly and effortlessly.   Have a question for Emma? Submit it via Instagram (@emmaldm1),  TikTok (@emmaldm1) or email the...

Welcome back to SAX BITES for 2023! TUNING TIPS: Part Two The second episode with some quick tips for improving your intonation all focussed on building your ear 'on the go'. Don't forget that, with tuning, one of Emma's favourite resources is The Tuning CD by Dr Richard A. Schwartz (check it out on YouTube Music here: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mdK0G04Q6NhoVBLjzsAteBoFhJmteNq...

TUNING TIPS: Part One The first in a series of episodes that will narrow in on how to improve saxophone intonation. Today's episode is starting with tips for young players and those that are teachers of young players. It also references one of Emma's favourite resources: The Tuning CD by Dr Richard A. Schwartz (check it out on YouTube Music here: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mdK...

After the last episode, #09 INTRO TO SCALES, today we will unpack some of the most useful ways to incorporate scales into your practice routine. Don't just run the fingers up and down, add a whole lot more! All discussed in today's Sax Bites, the five minute saxophone lesson podcast. Have a question for Emma? Submit it via Instagram (@emmaldm1), TikTok (@emmaldm1) or email the team at hello@emmadi...

It's time to talk about SCALES. One of the most important technical strategies and also one of the most hated. Today's episode will give you a fresh perspective on practising scales which is about more than just running your fingers up and down the instrument.  Have a question for Emma? Submit it via Instagram (@emmaldm1), TikTok (@emmaldm1) or email the team at hello@emmadimarco.com Want somethin...

Breathing and Saxophone Playing, an iconic duo. In today's episode of Sax Bites, Emma unpacks how you can figure out where on Earth you're going to breathe when playing repertoire. If you're constantly feeling out of breath or just want to sound more mature and controlled when playing, give today's five minute saxophone lesson a listen. Have a question for Emma? Submit it via Instagram (@emmaldm1)...

Musicality... Expressiveness... X factor... How do you describe the masterful way that great players shape each phrase they play? In today's episode, Emma describes a quick and easy way to think about phrasing which works just as well with very young students as it does with more advanced ones. It's the number one way Emma has been able to take her students' playing from 'wow' to 'OMG WOW'!    Hav...

You play the saxophone, you better remember to BREATHE! When you play an instrument, the air is your sound and the way you manage your breathing can make far more impact on your playing than you realise. Listen in to today’s episode to get Emma’s quick tips on improving your breathing and amping up your breath support. Have a question for Emma? Submit it via Instagram (@emmaldm1), TikTok (@emmaldm...

Tell me, how many times have you ever heard your saxophone teacher talk about your teeth? What about your jaw? Ever been told that you are ‘biting’ the mouthpiece? Today’s bite-sized saxophone lesson is the final in our Sax Basics series and it covers a super important topic: Teeth Placement. Listen in to get simple, actionable, and life-changing advice on your saxophone playing. Part 5 of the Sax...