Three amazing masterclasses. A brilliant way to spend an afternoon amongst inspiring professionals.
At SaxoFest, guests were incredibly lucky to have three passionate speakers sharing their insights and talents of the saxophone.
‘Solo Over Dance Music’ with Liz Greenwood
Liz Greenwood brought brilliant energy to the Solo Over Dance Music Masterclass. She shared her musical background and her down-to-earth approach to music. She even revealed that she often performs with a £200 alto saxophone from Amazon, emphasising that it’s the mouthpiece that truly shapes the tone.
She walked us through her audio setup, how she phrases over dance tracks, and the key steps to start learning the ibiza style of saxophone improvisation. She made everything feel achievable.
Top tip: Play in a tiled bathroom to sound epic for an instant confidence boost.
‘Sing Through Your Sax’ with Snake Davis
Snake Davis brought a calm, yet intense energy, and showed us how to turn it into expressive, passionate playing.
He covered warm-ups and sound-building techniques — vibrato, bends, growls, flicks, dynamics and rolls — and stressed checking posture and recording yourself for honest feedback. He emphasised studying the singer’s phrasing as a guide for your own delivery.
Top tip: Sing the music internally to shape the sound you make externally.
‘Breathing & Posture’ with Alex Dowbor-Musnicki
Alex Dowbor-Musnicki (from Witney Sports Massage) showed us how to stand with proper alignment, using a variety of stretches to keep the shoulders, neck and back relaxed and neutral. We then worked through diaphragm-strengthening drills and breathing techniques designed to build breath control, useful for both everyday life, and more controlled, confident saxophone playing.
Top tip: Every time you play, spend a few minutes to warm up with stretches and breathing exercises.
SaxoFest also included a wide range of stalls, activities, and live music during the daytime. Read more here
Photography by Tyler Mobey
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