News

2014 Kenny G 'G-Series - IV" Soprano Sax Special

2014 Kenny G 'G-Series IV' Lacquered Body with Lacquered Keys Soprano Saxophone TSP

Exclusive Purchase from Manufacturer

Features:

Original Designed Kenny G Logo
Selmer Style – Low B, B-Flat and C-Sharp Key Design
Modern Palm Key Design
Hand Engraved
Wood Case
Excellent Intonation & Response Throughout the Entire Range of Instrument
Range: Low B-Flat to High G

New Feature: Lyre Holder Slot!!!

Accessories include:

Case

Cork Grease

Mouthpiece, Mouthpiece Cap, and Ligature

Check it out!!

Thanks for Reading!!

Happy Holidays!!

The Staff at KDI Music, LLC

Full article →

ReedGeek® “Universal” Reed Tool

New Product Added!!!!!

The Most Simple and Effective Tool of its Kind

 The ReedGeek® “Universal” Reed Tool was designed to help all woodwind players (both students and professionals), adjust single and double reeds to achieve better reed performance more simply and accurately than any other reed tool on the market today. It has quickly become an industry leader and is used by the world’s top woodwind professionals.

Although simplistic in appearance, the ReedGeek® “Universal” Tool’s machining is anything but… Utilizing state of the art technology, the ReedGeek is cut from virgin raw sheet comprised of the highest-grade proprietary “true” U.S. alloys. It is then heat-treated and machined to tolerances closer than any reed tool available… An 18 step machining process from start to finish!  Finally, all ‘Geeks are hand honed and polished by ReedGeek’s founder to enable the most precise and least invasive cut for the reed.

 Experience the benefits of a truly flat reed

 The ReedGeek® “Universal” Reed Tool enhances reed performance by rapidly and accurately flattening reed tables. Other methods for flattening reed tables, are less effective, take longer and produce less consistent results. Within 10 minutes of training, players will notice a dramatic improvement in efficiency (ease of sound production), sonic quality and responsiveness in their reeds. Users of the tool will find more “good” reeds in a box and the reeds will perform longer and more consistently over their lifetime. In effect, the tool more than pays for itself soon after purchase!

The two main reasons for poorly performing reeds are:

  1. Reed warp
  2. Imbalances at the tip and side-rails (see instruction page)

Most commercial reeds will have or develop lateral warp of the reed table either from the factory or when the reed comes in contact with moisture. In this defective state, the reed will not seal correctly along the critical area of the mouthpiece. This area extends along the mouthpiece’s side rails to just below where the mouthpiece window and table meet. When the ReedGeek is properly used in daily reed maintenance and reed preparation, the reed and mouthpiece will perform much more cohesively as a unit.  This unit will have the reed positioned snugly against the mouthpieces’ table, side and tip rails creating a temporary vacuum. It is this vacuum and subsequent release (pop) that maximizes the vibration and response of both the reed and mouthpiece, contributing to improved tone quality, articulation, and control.

Full article →

December 16, 2016

A Before & After Black Friday Deal

A Very Limited Time:

Valid During Nov. 23, 2016 to Nov 28, 2016

$200.00 off of 2014 Kenny G 'G-Series IV' Lacquered Body with Lacquered Keys Soprano Saxophone-TSP - Only 3 available

Use Code: S5TD66DJCS9T

Full article →

Special Buys & Deals - Kenny G Soprano Saxophones

Special Buys from the Manufacturer on Older Model Kenny G Saxophones. Soprano Saxophones Mainly.. They are Brand New and Get them while we still have them. 5 Year Warranty still applies. Check it out at www.kdimusic.com!!!

Thanks for Reading

By the Staff at KDI Music, LLC

Full article →

All About the Sax!!

The saxophone is one of the most interested and versatile musical instruments in use today. It was designed to fill a niche between woodwind and brass instruments, and it has since found uses in many different musical applications from military bands to symphony orchestras. It is one of the most easily recognizable instruments by both sight and by its sound, and its unique characteristics have made it a favorite instrument with musicians all over the world. Most people know about the alto sax and the tenor saxophone, but many people may not know that there are actually nine types of saxophones.

The Saxophone Family

The saxophone family consists of nine different instruments, although only four are commonly played. The following sections describe the most common saxophones from the soprano sax to the baritone sax.

Soprano Saxophones

The Soprano Saxophone consists of the smallest members of the saxophone family. There are three main versions of the soprano saxophone, and they are mainly of straight designs as opposed to the common image of curved saxophones. The soprano is one of the hardest types of saxophones to learn how to play properly, so it is not recommended for beginners. It is used most commonly in Jazz applications due to its higher pitch.

Alto Saxophones

The Alto Saxophone is larger than the soprano and is considered a medium-sized saxophone. It is the most commonly played type of saxophone because of its size and ease of use. It is the easiest of all the saxophones to learn how to play. It has a small mouthpiece, which limits the amount of intonation the musician can apply to the sound, making it more consistent. It is mainly designed with the classic saxophone curve at the bottom of the instrument, but they can be designed as straight or having only a slight curve. Altos are used is classical music compositions but can also be applied to jazz and contemporary music as well.

Tenor Saxophones

The Tenor Saxophone is slightly larger than the alto and is still considered medium-sized. It, along with the alto saxophone are the most common type of saxophone due to their size and ease of use. The mouthpiece on the tenor saxophone is larger than that on the alto, making it more suitable for more skilled musicians who can take advantage of the additional intonation characteristics of its size. The tenor saxophone is almost always a classic curved design and it is known as the most versatile of all the saxophone family. It is used extensively in jazz, but is also popular in rock and classical applications as well.

Baritone Saxophones

The Baritone Saxophone or just known as the "Bari" is the largest of the regular family of saxophones. Its size and weight make it the least commonly used of the regular saxophones. It is difficult for musicians to produce proper intonations through it, so it is not a good beginner saxophone. It does have a deep and rich tone which still makes it popular for many different music genres.

 

Thanks for Reading!!!

KDI Music, LLC

 All images are used by permission from the respective photographers.

Full article →

Kenny G Hard Rubber Soprano Saxophone Mouthpiece

The Kenny G Hard Rubber Soprano Saxophone Mouthpiece is very unique. The inside chamber is patterned after the mouthpiece Kenny G plays . The use of the Hard Rubber makes it easier to play with  a great sound. Kenny G and Rheuben Allen spent a lot of time in researching and testing to come up with the best material for a great sounding mouthpiece. The KG Soprano Mouthpiece offers similar characteristics of the mouthpiece Kenny G uses. With the addition of the Rovner Ligature, it gives the mouthpiece a rich, balanced tone color, and great response though out the Saxophone.

Coming Very Soon the Website.. Be one of the first.. Send us an email at 4inquiries.kdimusic@gmail.com for further details.....

Full article →

Improving your Saxophone Playing by Tuning Properly

Tuning Properly

When most saxophonists tune up they use a middle G or F-Sharp. The main problem with this is that the middle G or F-Sharp is traditionally very sharp notes... usually 30 cent plus if the embouchure is not adjusted. The young saxophonist will generally not know where these notes are just by playing them alone. When the student pulls the mouthpiece out far enough to make the unaltered F-Sharp or G play in tune then the lower register of the instrument sill most certainly be flat.


How to fix this problem:

There are two simple things that can be done. One have the saxophonist play the G or F-Sharp in the lower register. These notes are normally much closer to being in tune and will allow the young saxophonist to learn where to play the middle D, D-Sharp, E, F, F-Sharp and G on the alto. To play any of these notes in tune the embouchure must be slightly altered.

The second option is to have the alto saxophonist play a first finger B natural, hold it for a while and then play the middle G or F-Sharp. This will allow the saxophonist to make the necessary adjustments to the embouchure when they hear the interval from the first finger B to the middle note.

Ask any saxophonist of any level of playing to play a middle F-Sharp out of the air as their first note and it will likely not be as in tune as if they played the first finger B before playing the F-Sharp.

*It is important to remember that the saxophone is generally an out of tune instrument. It is by the nature of the design that the instrument is always a challenge to play in tune. When you change a reed... when the room is to hot or cold.... a pad leaks... All of these things change the intonation of the instrument.

*The best way to play any instrument in tune is of course to...... hear it in tune! Practice with your tuner... now they do not need to get crazy with the tuner and bring it with them everywhere... When I see a guy get a tuner out before anyone has played I am pretty sure he cannot trust his ears.... use the tuner at home or just to get the first note where you need it.... then put it away.....

You must first hear in tune to play in tune.....

Thanks for Reading, and please stop by www.kdimusic.com for all the best in Musical Instruments.

Our Motto: “A Passion for the Perfect Sound!”

Full article →

Beginning Musical Students

Should I buy or should I rent? This is a question for many parents, when their child wants to start playing a musical instrument. These days you can own a flute, clarinet or saxophone for what you would pay if you rented one. A thing to remember is that if a student starts out with an instrument that does not play well out the case; they are not going to enjoy learning how to play. No instrument is a bargain if it does not play correctly. Therefore, if you decide to buy instead of rent,  check with us or a reputable dealer.

We at KDI Music understand this as a parent and a music teacher. It is very frustrating to us as teachers, when a student comes in with an instrument that is not playable. We bring in Demo instruments to let the Child try it out, and explain to the Parents, if you are renting and the instrument is not playing well take it back to the rental store.

Send us an e-mail at 4inquiries.kdimusic@gmail.com, we will be glad to help you, even if you do not purchase from us.
Visit our web store at: https://kdimusic.com/ - we have the Kenny G "E-Series" and the Rheuben Allen Series Saxophone Line

As the music teacher I use the the Kenny G "E-Series-IV"  and the Rheuben Allen Series 5 Saxophones to teach with and to show parents we have great beginning horns at a great price.

 

Thank you for reading!!

KDI Music, LLC

Full article →

July 25, 2016

The Saxophone and Emergency Repair

The Saxophone and Emergency Repair


What does anybody really need to know about the saxophone and emergency repair?

The answer is not so much. I see a lot of repairmen offering emergency repair kits... complicated things to work with and a lot of advice on the technical way to do the repair.

All repairs of the saxophone that can be made fast by the Band Director or knowledgeable Player at a concert, football game or rehearsal are simple. Most things on the saxophone can be fixed with a few things: Rubber Bands of many different sizes and strengths... buy a bag at the 99-cent store for a buck, Saran Wrap, thin double sided tape and or dental tape, a small screwdriver to tighten a pivot screw or rod and a spring hook incase a spring comes off. A small amount of pads might be good. However unless every saxophonist in your band is playing the same brand and model of saxophone the number of pads necessary could prove to be too large to carry everywhere.. It may be too hard and expensive to keep in stock. So I will talk about using the things you have at hand.

The word emergency itself tells you it only needs to work for a short while. To get you through that football game... then you can take it to the repairman...

So if a spring breaks: You can use one of the rubber bands and fine a way for it to connect to the instrument and lift the key up or hold it down. Choose a rubber band that is about the same tension as the keys on the instrument after it is hooked up.

If a pad is torn: And it will not seat cover it with Saran Wrap and use a rubber band to hold it on.... it might look funny, feel

different to the student when the key is pressed but it will work.

If a pad falls out: Put it back in with the thin double sided tape. Then Wrap it with Saran Wrap and Rubber Band to make sure it stays in the pad cup. Put the Saran Wrap over the face of the pad, pull it to the top of the pad cup, twist it and use the rubber band to hold it in place.

Eric Marienthal one of the great modern saxophonist pretty much always has Saran Wrap on his palm key pads. After seeing Eric’s saxophone I often thought that I would put Saran Wrap on my palm keys and maybe I would play better... I tried it... it just didn’t work for me like I wanted...

If a pad sticks: Put some baby power on it and work it up and down a few times...

Lose a pad:
If your saxophone player looses the pad then fold some paper in the pad cup until it looks about the same thickness as the other pads around it and wrap a few or a lot of layers of Saran Wrap around the pad cup, rubber band it and it will work for a while.

Lose a neck cork: Wrap the neck with Dental Tape until the mouthpiece fits and put the mouthpiece on... it will last for a while. The Dental Tape will also work for a Clarinet mouthpiece or any Tenon.

Remember emergency is just for a short while not a permanent fix. Saran Wrap and Rubber Bands can work on saxophones, flutes, clarinets, brass water keys and just about anything that can be fixed in an emergency. It will likely last through the gig.

Tool List:

Saran Wrap
Rubber Bands

Small amount of baby power..

Thin Double Sided Tape
Dental Tape

Small Screwdriver

Spring Hook (Optional)

These tools will all fit in a very small bag and be easy to keep with you....

If the problem cannot be corrected with these few things... then it is not an emergency repair. It is a shop repair, and must be taken to your local woodwinds repair shop.

These solutions may or may not work for everyone, but it is a solution offered by Rheuben Allen – formerly of the Sax Shop in Los Angeles.

Full article →

Black Diamond Alto Saxophone

The Black Diamond Professional Alto Saxophone - Designed by Rheuben Allen - Repairman to the Hollywood Studio & Touring Woodwind Players.

This saxophone is a great example of his ingenuity.

The saxophone has rich, dark, and smooth tone. There were only two in existence that were made from the prototype. We have the prototype in our office. This saxophone is taken by our staff to gigs, practice, and try outs to music teachers. It runs a close second to the fabulous RAAS6L - 14K Alto Sax.

The first one was bought by a collector who doesn't play (go figure)!

Black Diamond
Professional Alto Saxophone
Model No. HSASBD

Limited Edition Model
Features:
The Heavy Freedom/Power Neck Brace
Easy to operate High & Trill F# Keys
Easy to reach Front F or Altissimo Key
Black Nickel Plated Body, Neck  & Keys
Leather Contour Case
Rheuben Allen® Mouthpiece Manufactured in the USA

Not only are the Black Diamond Saxophones are Beautiful
They Play Outstanding

visit the website: www.kdimusic.com

 

Full article →