Great progression 🤓👍 Keep going! I began to learn the sax 3 months ago. The joy is real! 🎷🎷🎷 Hello from Germany 🍀

You're doing a great job, I think its useful for learners to hear the perspective of another learner, as us long term players may forget what it was like to be a beginner so long ago!

sound deflector is was game changer for me, it does wonders. thanks for mentioning it. I had no idea Vodka was good for reeds, will give it a try.

Awesome list Ricardo, this is exactly what I think every newbie should have too, particularly the fingering charts. Thanks 4 the ideas. Never heard of deflector but looks convincingly good

Sounds like you are getting some good subtone on the tenor playing "Black Coffee", well done!

Hey! Nice video. I've never tried a deflector, when im back up and running I will give it a go  ☺

Holy spirit, I bought a deflector yesterday! Why nobody talks about it? Thanks for this review.

I’ve been playing a long time now. I use a sound deflector and I wish I’d bought it years ago because it would have saved me a lot of money on mouthpieces!

I don‘t use Vodka, I use „Klosterfrau Melissengeist“.

I don't use sound deflector, but you can stand front of wall. Vodka is super tip, I use it long time. Also jazzlab. I watched your videos only today, you do super progress. My next tip for you: do not mix the gear, stay by one for very long time. Specially do not change alto and tenor saxophones. If you feel (like me now) that you need next one (eg for traveling), remain in tune. So tenor and soprano, alto and baritone. Not tenor and alto, tenor and baritone, soprano and alto...

Vodka works but your reeds will be completely logged with it. After years of experimentation, I highly recommend getting a waterproof phone case, putting in a small clean towel, pour in some original listerine (gold, no sugar, no flavoring, store brand works great)  and let your reed cases sit on top of the towel in the closed case. It creates a humid environment that keeps reeds ready to play and also sterile. Empty any excess liquid, squeeze out the towel, and re-add new Listerine every two weeks.  The waterproof phone case will prevent any excess liquid from leaking out into your saxophone case or equipment bag.

Deflector vs just playing facing a wall?

2 things you really should have mentioned and that is a swab, and you need to run it through every time you play. The second is a tuner. I strongly suggest you start focusing on getting in tune early on, and try to get notes other than you tuning note in tune, if possible, with the end goal of every note being in tune. This is obviously long term. Even I still work on it, and I've been playing for 33 years. When I started, tuning wasn't even a focus and I really wish it was.

The sound deflector really doesn’t give you an accurate picture of your sound. I turn the neck around and play long tones, I listen my sound through headphones with different mic technique and I’ve done some time with the deflector. I do like to use deflection sometimes when I’m in a big horn section and don’t have IEMs-it helps me pick out my sound over the mix. Playing in a Manhasset or anything wood or playing into a wall will give a better sound profile.