Made a few small purchases from www.wwbw.com and www.amazon.com, in hopes that a friend coming back from USA can help bring back. Here's a few of the items.
Current Yamaha standard neck strap doesn't have any padding, so when it hangs behind my neck for a while it can get a bit strenuous. I think the Neotech brand is quite popular (it says Made In USA). And I wanted a non-intrusive looking strap so I've opted for this design that uses a simple string pull mechanism. There are other options of thicker strap and hook type.
I tried the standard Vandoren (blue box) and this Java (green box) version, and they both sounded almost the same (probably because I'm still beginner level). So I thought I'd try this instead, getting a box of 10 since it is a good bargain.
Vandoren reeds are made in France, and are aluminium foil sealed to maintain its "freshness". The strength #2.5 is normally beginner to intermediate level. The higher the number, the stiffer the reed, thus the stronger your embouchure needs to grip the mouthpiece. Normally after few years of playing and developing your embouchure, you'll increase the reed strength.
(101 Saxophone Tips - Book & CD)
These 2 books are published by Hal Leonard. Have not had a chance to see its contents fully, so will just have to wait till it arrives. The reviews and 'Sneak Peek' (from Amazon.com) looks quite interesting. They come with a CD. It is normally better to buy books with a CD to hear the difference and have a better understanding of the methods taught. Unless you're fine without it, you'll need to spend a bit more on these.
