My own saxophone

Although on the saxophone case appears the name 'Moretti', this is not the manufacturer's name but rather the name of a famous (though not to me) saxophonist called Dan Moretti. I looked for some indication of what the model would be, and although I couldn't find anything, I did see that there was very fine engraving on the bell - something that looks like a flower, or maybe notes going out into the aether. I'm not going to attempt to photograph this as I doubt that the quality of the photo will approach the quality of the engraving.

After telephoning the shop from which the sax was bought, I ascertained that the model is in fact a "Moretti 1001", but an attempt to google this elicited the following information: There is no known historical or mainstream saxophone model named the "Moretti 1001." It is highly likely that this name refers to one of a few online budget brands: "Moretti" is occasionally used as a brand name for generic, entry-level instruments imported and sold on online marketplaces. These budget instruments frequently feature arbitrary four-digit model numbers (like 1001). In fact, the sax looks remarkably like this, a saxophone available from Ali Express. Something similar is available from Temu, although there it is described as a "Professional Alto Saxophone in E". It's not a professional model and I doubt very much that it is "in E" - that should be Eb (although elsewhere it is referred to as Eb). The price varies between 750-1000 NIS, which is more in line for the budget that I mentioned previously¹.

Putting the saxophone together was easier than with my loaner; I didn't have the usual problems with the ligature nor with pushing the mouthpiece onto the neck. When I came to remove the cap from the body of the saxophone in order to attach the neck, I felt like a magician who pulls something from his mouth: instead of a simple cap, there was a multi-coloured brush that came out and out and out. Once the saxophone was ready, I found that I could immediately play notes - only then did I remember that I had forgotten to wet the reed a little. It seems that the combination of the 1.5 mm reed and a new instrument makes it much easier to play.

The page on Ali Express extols the virtues of this saxophone:

• Professional-grade alto saxophone in Eb The 1100SG alto saxophone is crafted in Eb-flat tuning, ideal for musicians seeking authentic jazz and classical tones with precise pitch accuracy and rich resonance.
• Nickel silver plated brass body featuring a durable nickel silver plated brass body, this saxophone delivers excellent sound projection and long-lasting performance, combining strength with superior tonal quality.
• Gold key finish for elegant appearance The gold key design enhances both visual appeal and durability, offering a premium look that stands out on stage or in practice sessions.
• Bakelite mouthpiece for comfortable play equipped with a bakelite head material, this saxophone ensures a smooth, responsive feel and consistent airflow for improved control and comfort during extended playing.
• Includes protective case for safe transport. Comes with a cloth or leather case, providing reliable protection during travel and storage, keeping your instrument safe from damage.

What the above does not say is that there are extra keys on the saxophone. For example, there is definitely an extra "high F#" key and there may be more. I don't understand why there is an F# key but not D and E keys - or maybe there are. With my loaner sax, I had trouble playing a high C - it would often come out flat. On the Moretti, it comes out perfectly in tune.

But all that glitters is not gold: at my saxophone lesson, the teacher discovered that the octave key doesn't work. This means calling the music shop and either asking for a repair or a replacement.

My teacher is concerned, naturally, with technique whereas I am more interested in playing melodies. The exercises that he wants to play are probably worthwhile but to me that sound more like random sets of notes - although most of the time the notes are stepwise, e.g. A - G - A - F and so on. What did I learn in the last lesson:

• It seems as if the teacher wants me to play each note with a separate breath (and so with a separate attack) whereas I tend to play phrases with one breath.
• Apart from having the teeth of the upper jaw pressed tight against the mouthpiece, the lower lip should be pressed tight as well against the bottom of the mouthpiece, something that I wasn't doing. Loose pressure causes notes to sound flat.
• The six playing fingers (three on the left hand, three on the right hand) should be always on their corresponding keys, even when those notes aren't being played. This is very much the opposite of guitar playing. I suggested attaching the fingers with rubber bands to the keys.
• The fingers should be on the middle on each key, not towards the beginning and not overshooting.
• Apply only light pressure on a pressed down key, again the opposite of guitar playing.

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