Saxophone All-State Resources

Andante in A Major

Work to make your transitions from Middle C# to D as smooth as
possible! Be sure you are supporting from the bottom of your lungs and engaging your core muscles.
Explore Alternate Fingerings! Alternate C# (Left Hand Ring Finger + Octave Key) can help smooth the transition across the break. The Eb palm key (or D palm key on tenor/bari) is a good option for the grace notes in m4. Alternate F# will work nicely in m6, as well as for the trill in m7.
Don’t clip the dotted eighth note in measure 8 – it’s going to feel long at this tempo!
Practice with a metronome – just because it is a lyrical etude does not mean we can ignore rhythm!

Practice slowly and with a metronome! Start by using an eighth note pulse, not the dotted quarter.
Work on the transition between measure 16 and 17. It is easy to play the two sections at very different tempos if you aren’t careful!
Learn measures 16-20 without trills or grace notes to start! Only add them in when you are confident you are playing accurate rhythms.
Be musical! There aren’t a lot of dynamics or other markings in this etude. Shape within the give dynamics, and always think about where the phrase is moving.

Record yourself frequently while you practice! It is always beneficial to know what you actually sound like.
If possible, have someone else be the ‘producer’ during your recording so you can focus on performing. Make sure you get a full take early on before you are too tired.
Try to set up the microphone about 5 feet away, at a 45-degree angle from where you are playing (not right in front of you). Aim the microphone at the G# key on your horn.