This is the second blog post in a projected series reviewing The Legacy of Elise Hall: Contemporary Perspectives on Gender and the Saxophone, edited by Kurt Bertels and Adrianne Honnold, published by Leuven University Press, 2024. This post focuses on the first chapter by Andrew J. Allen titled: “Incomparable Virtuoso” A Reevaluation of the Performance Abilities of Elise Boyer Hall. William H. Street’s 1983 Doctoral Dissertation, Elise Boyer Hall, America’s First Female Concert Saxophonist: Her Life as a Performing Artist, Pioneer of Concert Repertory for Saxophone and Patroness of the Arts wi ..read more

“But Mrs Hall does not care and blows imperturbably into her copper pipe, like a man.” (page 42) Mrs Hall is Elise Hall, and it’s been 100 years since the death of this early twentieth century saxophonist. Her name is back in the Zeitgeist, and this, “…old bat who dresses like an umbrella.” (attributed to Claude Debussy on page 160) has gotten a well-deserved reassessment by a group of saxophonist-scholars. Edited by Kurt Bertels and Adrianne Honnold, The Legacy of Elise Hall: Contemporary Perspectives on Gender and the Saxophone has been published by Leuven University Press. The material in t ..read more

Pain, pain, go away, DON’T come again another day. All of us just want to play! Moaning Student: “My back. My legs. My arms. My NECK, for Pete’s sake. It all hurts. It all aches. I just can’t do this. I just can’t go on—” “—râlâlâ!” Teacher Interjects. “Remember the Quote of the Month? ‘Complaints erase good fortune. Never complain!’” Student throws the Evil Eye. Teacher Relents: “Look, I get it. The more you play, the more you feel it. The strain of supporting your five pound sax-baby adds up.” Student Proposes: “Maybe I need the Vandoren Harness System.” Pensive Teacher: “Hmm, the one that r ..read more

YAPPA BABA: Those were the Ukrainian words, hand-drawn in large letters on the front of the card. Translation: OLD WOMAN. Me, an old lady? It was my birthday, you see, and I was turning the grand old age of…23. In the moment, I laughed. On further reflection I realized—it’s true! Old souls…wise beyond their years and a delight to teach. Old souls…drawn to the study of complex things to better understand their complex selves. Old souls…calm and serene, exhibiting a certain steadiness that allows for deep expression; an expression of timelessness. Diamonds in the Rough With students who are old ..read more

Good evening ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to tonight’s match. In one corner, weighing 120 pounds, meet the master of the light touch and melodies that whisper your name, please welcome Smoooooooth Jazz! And in the opposite corner, weighing 240 pounds, with the burden of tradition firmly clamped to his shoulders and the clout of legitimacy in his left hook, say hello to Every Other Type of Jazz! Who will win this impossible battle? Keep reading as I attempt to settle the match by reviewing Death by Saxophone (2022) a new murder-mystery by Debbie Burke. I remember it well. My eyes and ears ..read more

And now…drum roll please…some tips from my GREATEST STUDENTS! I’m talking la crème de la crème, a small pool of high achievers who consistently amazed me with their exceptional abilities. Their skills were so good, so consistently solid, I was left slightly in awe. Now, none of these students were practice maniacs. Far from it. They were all well-rounded and enthusiastic about life. They wanted to be good at playing the saxophone, but lots of other things as well. Sound like you? You’re in luck! Don’t say no and pass the buck— Extra curricular activities are underrated. Try something new and g ..read more

Generally speaking, I agree with Leonardo da Vinci that, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” But sometimes a note just needs a little something-something, that je ne said quoi to highlight its function in the musical line. Love it or loathe it, vibrato is often the tool for the job. Interested Student: “What is vibrato?” Teacher Points Down: “A slight lowering of the pitch at even intervals.” Sharp Student: “Playing out-of-tune?” Teacher Lets Air Escape From Lips: “Weeeeel, yes. No. Yes. Gosh, you are both fast and smart.” Blushing and Secretly Pleased Student: “I try.” Teacher Makes ..read more

Ned Flanders: “Hi-Diddly-Ho-Ho-Homer! Was that Lisa practising last night? Golly gee whilikers, it sounded amazing!” Homer Simpson: “Saxamaphone— saxamaphone— that’s all I hear these days. And now Lisa wants to attend the NASA 2023 Biennial Conference.” NF: “Well, what’s wrong with that, neighbour? A little fellowship is good for the soul.” HS: “If that’s how you feel, then you, FLANDERS, can pay the membership fee, the travel expenses and for those baritone sax reeds. Do I look like I’m made of money?” NF: “No. You look like you’re made of doughnuts.” HS: “Oh, smart, that’s so smarty-smart-sm ..read more

Lusting for new tips that make playing the saxophone easier? I am. I always am! Whose teaching day isn’t improved with a couple of new tricks to test out on your students? Basic Concepts and Strategies for the Developing Saxophonist by Frank Bongiorno, published in 2022, is available in both paperback (in the $30 USD range) and e-book (in the $10 USD range). Toujours Cherchant Playing the saxophone is one thing. Playing the saxophone well is quite another. And explaining how to play it is another yet! Frank Bongiorno is here to help you on all three fronts. Many saxophonists, and especially th ..read more

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