I just picked up the sax a few days ago and needless to say, I`m having tonnes of problems! I`m 21 and I play quite a few instruments so my main issue is technqiue not theory. Does anyone remember these teething problems?

a. I can`t control the volume of my playing, everything ends up being really loud!

b. When I play a low G and press the octave key, I don`t get a high G. Instead the tone goes wrong and off-key. Am I doing anything wrong?

Also, how much physical effort does it take to create and maintain the embrouchre [spelling, please?]

GO TO http://www.saxshed.com/ HAS ALL THE SELF HELP TOOLS YOU CAN USE. LOUDNESS IS SIMPLY OVERBLOWING. YOU MAY NEED A SOFTER REED TO START WITH UNTIL YOU GET YOUR EMBOUCHURE CORRECT. WILL TAKE SEVERAL MONTHS OF DEDICATED PRACTICE TO GET ON RIGHT TRACK. THE SQUEAL YOU ARE GETTING SOUNDS LIKE STRICTLY EMBOUCHURE PROBLEMS AND AIR VOLUME. START WITH THE LOWER REGISTER AND GET A SEMBLANCE OF DECENT SOUND. IF YOU HAVE A TUNER PLAY WITH IT AND WATCH THE METER WHILE YOU PLAY AND EXPERIMENT WITH YOUR EMBOUCHURE AND YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN TONE AND PITCH IT CAN MAKE. OTHER THAN THAT PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE.