I am working on getting a fuller rich sound on the high register on soprano. It seems to me that this will likely require an unique approach to develop when compared to alto and tenor.
Suggestions? Specific long tone exercises?
Is there a fingering chart for altissimo that is specific to Soprano?
I have found that when I practice altissimo on my alto and tenor, my higher register F, F# and E are fuller and richer. I am hoping that will be the same result with soprano.
David - The main issue that folks face, from my experience, is biting and squeezing too much in the upper register. The approach I've found that seems to help is focusing on the chamber in the mouth while maintaining a focused but not overly tight embouchure - especially in the corners of the mouth. Rounded and reasonably relaxed yet focused. The air tunnel, created through the oral cavity is where the pitch and sound are controlled. Just like with alto and tenor, except keep the tongue position higher with a fast, but not hard or squeezed, airstream. The links below take you to a series of long tone exercises I created. These are not specifically designed for soprano, but saxophone in general. Do them with your tuner and remember to adjust the pitch with the tongue heighth.
Try some of the alto sax altissimo fingerings on the fingering chart in the EXTRAS for Launching the Altissimo (Stage IV lessons). Let me know if they work for you.
Pg 1 - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EYwN8I4K4n8YErA9YeHj2SndZz4uySRv/view?usp=sharing
Pg 2 - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1R4YjWc98h9fObA7xJL0tZfP5UqwsuCFN/view?usp=sharing
Pg 3 - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1stEz2z76A80pMJmRHNDwWT40C5oR2XW7/view?usp=sharing
Pg 4 - https://drive.google.com/file/d/10ATEPmp23R4YVcE7jgK2kwgOVDOpuRZE/view?usp=sharing
This is very helpful. I also switched to a synthetic reed which offered some improvement as well.
Excellent! Good luck with the soprano!