GMEA 2026-2027 CB Lyrical Etude practice tips

I recommend the Emmanuel Pahud recording conducted by Gustavo Dudamel for listening to.

Mouthpiece Buzzing + First Sounds

This video covers posture, buzzing on the mouthpiece, and making your first sounds. Almost all the information in this video can apply to any brass instrument.

SFHS Wind Ensemble/Wind Symphony audition excerpt

Tips for using the practice tools on Sapphire Sounds

A little intro to the practice tools on our website! (This video was remade due to lack of visual clarity in the original)

How to Oil Your Valves

In this video, we learn how to oil the valves of a trumpet. Part of our playlist on Trumpet Maintenance and Essentials. Oiling your valves is extremely important as it helps your trumpet match your efficiency and performance during concerts and auditions.

Cleaning and maintenance

Tips on both daily maintenance and yearly maintenance on your flute.

How to PERFECT your Scales

This video goes over basic tips for how to make people jealous of your scales and get an advantage over your competitiors during auditions. Comment your questions!

12 Major Scales on Alto Sax

Scales: All 12 major scales played at ~320 BPM Altissimo: 1 Full extra octaves on the scales of concert B, C, Bb, and A. May sound slightly distorted due to mic discrepancies at high pitches (saxophone was tuned before recording). Chromatic: 16ths at 120 with 10 extra notes above the high F according to GMEA.

Notes On The Saxophone Pt.2

The notes of E,F,Fsharp,Gsharp,Asharp,Csharp,Dsharp, and their respective flats were all disscused as well as in different octaves. Palm key notes D,Eflat,E, and F, and Fsharp were shown. Lower register with auxiliary keys of low C, B, Csharp, and Bflat were also shown. The Essential Elements Alto Sax book by Hal Leonard’s fingering chart was used.

Saxophone Care and Maintenance

This video goes over crucial and absolutely essential parts to taking care of your saxophone to ensure consistent performance. The oil I mentioned is pad oil for woodwinds. Open to questions!

Analyzing Sheet + Sight Reading Basics

This video goes over how to analyze reading sheet music as well as a short demo using Diversion by Bernhard Heiden. Also covered how to sight read during auditions and class!

First 5 notes on Concert Flute + Mary had a little lamb.

If you forget the finger patterns for your flute, please refer to resources such as the NFA flute fingering chart or the back of your Essential Elements book for flute. NFA flute fingering chart: https://www.nfaonline.org/docs/default-source/membership-benefits/basic-flute-fingering-chart---for-dummies.pdf?sfvrsn=531ffe60_2

Making a Tone on the Concert Flute

How to make a tone on your concert flute.

Holding and Assembling the concert flute

How to hold and assemble the concert flute.

Reading Music Notes and Sheet Music

Taught note names and key signatures via the circle of fifths. Also demoed how to read and analyze music using happy birthday.

Music Notes and Dynamics

This video is applicable to all instruments and voice and goes over note values, basic music markings as well as dynamics.

Saxophone Embouchure and First 5 Notes

Advanced embouchure guidance + mouthpiece help + 5 Saxophone fingerings (D,C,B,A,G). Book- Essentials Elements by Hal Lenard

GMEA Concert band (9th-10th grade) Lyrical Etude

Aside from All-State auditions, this etude was also approved by the University of Georgia and allowed me to perform on campus at the annual UGA Janfest event.

Basic Parts and Assembly of the Trumpet

Video provides details on how to assemble and hold the trumpet, as well as some basic maintenance tools.

GMEA All-State Lyrical Etude Concert Band Etude

This recording was approved by the University Of Georgia and enabled me to become 2nd chair in the 2026 JanFest Honor Wind Symphony.

Chromatic Scale

Chromatic scale played at 120 bpm 16th notes. 10 Extra Altissmo notes above the high F

Parts and Assembly of the Saxophone

Video includes details about basic saxophone gear and saxophone anatomy.