Air Management Visualization

Biography

Walter Martin is the founder and president of the North Carolina Saxophone Ensemble (NCSE). He is an advanced amateur baritone saxophonist who plays with the Duke University Wind Symphony as well as in the NCSE. In the past he has been active in local community concert and jazz bands. He enjoys researching technical aspects of the saxophone. During the day he provides web server support for the University of North Carolina Health Care System.

More information

This research project started in response to an extended discussion as to what the phrase “Use your warm, fast air.” actually meant when playing the saxophone. In an effort to answer this question I measured my lung volume and took measurements of how long I could play various notes at different volumes. This data was treated statistically and from this treatment a set of visualizations of air volume were developed along with the calculation of the velocity of the air as it moves through the mouthpiece/reed aperture. The presentation is visual and graphical requiring no mathematical skills beyond simple arithmetic. The author has done this presentation for the saxophone studios at Duquesne University, Maryland University, Vance-Granville Community College, University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill and Greensboro), and at the University of Georgia.