Hello, I’m Caitlin and I’m a 15 year old saxophonist, pianist and clarinettist. I am in Year 10 at Conservatorium High School in Sydney, Australia. I have played piano for 11 years, clarinet for 4 and saxophone for 6 months. Though I’m relatively new to the saxophone, I love playing and in two weeks I will be sitting for my AMEB Grade 6 saxophone exam. After attending the only specialist music high school in NSW for nearly 4 years, and participating in many wonderful orchestral and choral opportunities here in Sydney, I’ve been thrilled to have the opportunity to do work experience here at Roland Australia. For the first time yesterday, I had the opportunity to play the Roland Aerophone GO. Through my short time with the instrument, I believe that this new Aerophone is an incredibly beneficial practice tool. It is a way to expand musical skill for beginner to intermediate level saxophone players. I’m going to list my thoughts for you here. Contributed by student and saxophonist Caitlin McNamara for the Roland Australia Blog

COMPOSITION AND NOTATION

As a student studying composition at school, I have found that using almost all notation software quite fiddly. It is never a straightforward experience. The Aerophone GO allows you to play music straight into any software that you wish to use (such as Sibelius or MuseScore). I can simply play the notes on the Aerophone GO and they are scribed into the program with MIDI. musescore Connecting your Aerophone GO to your favourite notation software is as simple as plugging it into your computer using the included USB cable. You then select AE-05 as the MIDI input device in the audio settings. From there you can use the GO to record MIDI data live into your software. There is also a transposition control on the instrument. This allows you to notate music without having to manually transpose to the specific key of that instrument. For example, if composing music with the Aerophone GO for flute, simply turn the transposition dial to C, or for Bb Clarinet to Bb. You can also use the sound dial to replicate the sound of the instrument you wish to compose for! This makes each part of your composition come to life with your playing, even if you don’t play that specific instrument.

SILENT PRACTICE

Aerophone go headphone I was also extremely pleased to learn that you can play the Aerophone GO with headphones. Not only does this mean that my neighbours will no longer be interrupted by my squeaking, but that when I go on any of my regular choir tours, I can practice in complete silence. The Aerophone GO is also lightweight and portable with a case for easy carrying. The icing on the cake, though, is the ability to connect Bluetooth headphones. With no cables in the way, you can really focus on your playing.

CONNECTING YOUR SMARTPHONE

The free Aerophone GO Plus app allows you to expand the features of the Aerophone GO with your smartphone. You can change the tempo of your music, or loop a section of a song so you can perfect your playing. The app also introduces over 50 new sounds more than on the instrument. There are various controls and fun and interactive ways to make practicing enjoyable, and playing easier. I found in particular that playing around with some of the more quirky sounds like synth and drums was a really fun new experience. The GO app comes ready with customizable fingering, bite sensor and breathe control settings for your Aerophone GO. This helps to match your personal playing style for the best possible sound. I think it could be really useful when working with your teacher in a lesson. As a result, you can make the most of your lesson time and recreate the same practice conditions at home.

POWERFUL TEACHING TOOL

The Aerophone GO Plus app is in every sense a powerful teaching tool. You can play along with your favourite music on your phone, assisting in aural musical development. The app also comes with song playback options, the ability to change tempo and key, as well as playback level adjustment. The built in metronome is also a nice touch. I can imagine being valuable during lessons, or practice time at home. For example, if you’re a beginner or intermediate level player learning a pop song tune (transposed into an easier key for the saxophone for simplicity), the key change tool in the app can simplify playing along with the music. Your teacher can also set up a specific tempo they want you to play along with at home. This would really assist in music learning. Aerophone GO App

AEROPHONE GO ENSEMBLE

The second smartphone app; Aerophone GO Ensemble is also free. It is perfect for connecting you with your friends. The app supports up to seven Aerophone GO players at once, each with independent, customizable sounds. This makes the Aerophone GO ideal for students and schools. The ensemble app is packed with tools to make music in the classroom and at school fun and uncomplicated. Sounds awesome right? A unique way to connect with you and your music passionate peers and friends.
I find this really valuable, as sometimes, you want to jam with your friends but not everyone has access to their instruments. For example, some afternoons I have to bring my school bag, clarinet, saxophone and at least half a dozen textbooks home with me on public transport. The Aerophone GO, being lightweight, portable and small enough to leave in my locker at school would be very convenient. I can also imagine it being useful for my jazz band. Sometimes both a clarinet and saxophone are needed to play! The combination of the Aerophone GO Ensemble app and the transposition control means that my friends and I can play music with any combination of instruments. Even if the instrument we need isn’t our personal instrument, we can change the specific key so that it’s familiar. Without the issue of transposing music on the go, rehearsals become far more fluent and organised.

WILL THE AEROPHONE IMPACT YOUR TECHNIQUE?

Aerophone GO The Aerophone GO is designed to be used in addition to your regular saxophone playing. It is equipped with the tools to adjust fingering, the bite sensor and the breath sensor. This way, you don’t have to adjust your existing technique to play. It also features traditional sax fingering and authentic breath control to ensure that playing your Aerophone causes no damage to your technique. Better, it allows you to practice more and for longer than you can with a traditional acoustic saxophone.

CONCLUSION

Although I don’t believe that the Aerophone GO can fully replace an acoustic saxophone, I think it’s a worthy investment for any beginner to intermediate player. Equipped with valuable tools that are both educational and enjoyable, the Aerophone GO is an awesome tool for any music lover looking to learn more. It will also help you to branch into the world of woodwind instruments. If you are higher than an intermediate level, however, I’d suggest looking into the Roland Aerophone AE-10. It offers some additional features and tools that a professional or semi-professional player will greatly appreciate.

Related Products

Aerophone GO Aerophone AE-10

FREE INDONESIAN SCENE / STYLE PACK DOWNLOADS 

Dangdut, Koplo, Pop Sunda, Melayu, and more for the GO:KEYS 5 and GO:KEYS 3 Music Creation Keyboards

Roland GO:KEYS 3 and GO:KEYS 5 portable keyboards in multiple colors

Included in the Indonesian Styles Download

As requested by many Roland GO:KEYS 5 and GO:KEYS 3 users, we have produced today’s popular Dangdut and Nusantara styles, these styles are suitable for use at events and ceremonies.

* When using Indonesian scene / style packs, make sure to update to the latest version of the system program.

Dangdut Klasik

Generally used to accompany general dangdut songs with 4/4 rhythm and 120-180 tempo.

Dangdut BAND

General Dangdut rhythm with modern western instruments.

Slow Dangdut

Used to accompany dangdut songs with a slow tempo.

Fast Dangdut

Used to accompany dangdut songs with a fast tempo of 200-240, for example Goyang Senggol and Reynold Pangabean’s song.

Dangdut 3-4

Dangdut rhythm with 3/4 time signature.

Dangdut Kroncong

A sub-genre of campursari which is a combination of dangdut and keroncong.

Koplo Basic

Sub-genre of Dangdut that developed in Java’s north coast, known for its distinctive rapid drum pattern.

Koplo Jaranan

This is a Koplo music rhythm with elements of ethnic blends from Jawa Timur and Jawa Tengah but played freely without the standard Slendro or Pelog scales.

Koplo Kempul

Koplo music with elements of the Kempul instrument.

Koplo Pargoy

Koplo music to accompany Pargoy dance, made famous on Tiktok.

Koplo Reggae

Koplo music mixed with Reggae music.

Pop Sunda Klasik

Sundanese music combines traditional instruments such as the kecapi (harp), flute, etc., with western instruments such as bass and drums.

Pop Sunda Modern

Sundanese music with traditional instruments with more western instrument sound elements.

Jaipong Rampak

Jaipong dance music with Rampak instrument nuances.

Gambang Kromong

Gambang Kromong (or written Gambang Komong) is a kind of orchestra that combines gamelan with Chinese musical instruments, such as Sukong, Tehyan and Kongahyan. The name Gambang Kromong is taken from the names of two percussion instruments, namely Gambang and Kromong. Gambang Kromong is Betawi music which is most evenly distributed in the Betawi cultural area, both in DKI Jakarta itself and in the surrounding area (greater Jakarta). In general, musical performances of Gambang Kromong are presented at folk festivals, weddings, Chinese New Year parties, welcoming guests, as well as at Tapekong events 

Tarling

Tarling originally appeared in 1931 in Indramayu, at that time a Dutch commissioner asked a local resident named Mang Sakim to repair a guitar. This opportunity was used by Mang Sakim and his son named Sugra to learn guitar tones and compare them with gamelan pentatonic tones. The beauty is even more complete when the strings of the guitar are accompanied by a luscious bamboo flute.

Pop Melayu

Pop music genre with the influence of Malay rhythms. It became popular in the 2000s through bands such as ST12 and Kangen Band.

Pop Minang

The development of this music originated from various Minang regions. Influenced by western music culture from colonial era and became popular in 1970-1980 by immigrants. Minang pop music contains poetry about love for the motherland, ethnicity, the struggle to live abroad, homesickness, etc. 

Zapin Melayu

Zapin is a dance music originating from the country of Yaman, which is popular among the Melayu community in Indonesia. Zapin is believed to have entered the archipelago under the influence of Persians and Arabs who acculturated the local Malay culture while spreading Islamic teachings from the Middle East around the fourteenth century. The accompanying music is composed of two main instruments, the Gambus string instrument and three Marwas/Marawis percussion instruments.

Kroncong Klasik

Traditional music with Portuguese influences using instruments such as bass, guitar, violin, ukulele and flute. Its distinctive rhythm can be heard in the bassline and guitar strumming.

 

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(c) If this SOFTWARE contains multiple templates of media (such as floppy disks and CD-ROM) and these media contain the same software, you may use only the one form of media that is appropriate for your computer. You shall not use the remaining form(s) of media on another computer.

(d) You may not use the Software from multiple locations of a multi-user or networked system at any time.

4. NO WARRANTY
Roland makes no warranty, either expressed or implied, with respect to any of the software, including, without limitation, any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

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Roland can not reply to inquiries regarding this system software updater. Please read the instructions completely, and please note that you should use the SOFTWARE AT YOUR OWN RISK.

In no event shall Roland be liable to end-users for any damages whatsoever, including but not limited to financial damages for any loss of profits or information arising from the use of, or inability to use this product. The foregoing provision is effective even if Roland has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Even if the SOFTWARE has any material, verifiable, and reproducible program errors, Roland shall have no liability to modify such errors.

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Roland reserves the right to terminate this License Agreement if you fail to comply with any of the terms of this License Agreement. Upon such termination, you shall immediately stop using the SOFTWARE.

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(a) Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without affecting, impairing or invalidating the remaining provisions hereof.

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In no event shall Roland Corporation be liable to end-users for any damages whatsoever, including but not limited to financial damages for any loss of profits or information arising from the use of, or inability to use this updater. The foregoing provision is effective even if Roland Corporation has been advised of the possibility of such damages.

This is a legal agreement between you (an individual or a corporation) and Roland Corporation (herein referred to as "Roland") regarding the usage of this software product (herein referred to as "SOFTWARE"). Please read carefully the terms of this License Agreement before installing or using the SOFTWARE. By installing, copying, or starting the use of the SOFTWARE, you hereby consent to the terms of this License Agreement.

1. GRANT OF LICENSE
Roland grants you the following non-exclusive rights to use the SOFTWARE in accordance with the terms of this License Agreement.

(a) You may only use the SOFTWARE on a specific single computer at one time. Use of the SOFTWARE shall include loading the SOFTWARE into temporary memory (i.e., RAM) or installing the SOFTWARE into storage media (i.e., hard disk) of the computer on which you will use the SOFTWARE.

(b) You may make one copy of the SOFTWARE for backup purposes only (on floppy disk, magneto optical disk, DAT or the similar media), but you are prohibited to make any other copy.

2. COPYRIGHT
The SOFTWARE and its copyrights are the property of Roland and are protected by all international copyright laws and treaties.

Therefore, you must treat the SOFTWARE like any other copyrighted material (i.e., a book or a CD). All rights that are not provided for herein are reserved by Roland.

3. OTHER RESTRICTIONS
(a) You shall not modify, change, reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the SOFTWARE and the copyright notice and copyrighted logo.

Unauthorized copying, uploading to another network, distributing, modifying and/or attaching this software to other media or any other sales item is expressly forbidden.

(b) You shall not loan, rent, lease, sublicense or transfer the SOFTWARE, either in whole or in part, to any third party. But you may permanently transfer the SOFTWARE and accompanying printed materials provided you retain no copies of the Software and recipient agrees to the terms of this License Agreement. If the SOFTWARE has been updated or upgraded, any transfer of the SOFTWARE must include the most recent update and all prior versions.

(c) If this SOFTWARE contains multiple templates of media (such as floppy disks and CD-ROM) and these media contain the same software, you may use only the one form of media that is appropriate for your computer. You shall not use the remaining form(s) of media on another computer.

(d) You may not use the Software from multiple locations of a multi-user or networked system at any time.

4. NO WARRANTY
Roland makes no warranty, either expressed or implied, with respect to any of the software, including, without limitation, any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

5. NO LIABILITY
Roland can not reply to inquiries regarding this system software updater. Please read the instructions completely, and please note that you should use the SOFTWARE AT YOUR OWN RISK.

In no event shall Roland be liable to end-users for any damages whatsoever, including but not limited to financial damages for any loss of profits or information arising from the use of, or inability to use this product. The foregoing provision is effective even if Roland has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Even if the SOFTWARE has any material, verifiable, and reproducible program errors, Roland shall have no liability to modify such errors.

6. TERMINATION OF THE LICENSE
Roland reserves the right to terminate this License Agreement if you fail to comply with any of the terms of this License Agreement. Upon such termination, you shall immediately stop using the SOFTWARE.

7. GENERAL
(a) Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without affecting, impairing or invalidating the remaining provisions hereof.

(b) This License Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of State of California without reference to the principles of conflicts of laws.

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THIS TD-50 CUSTOM PATCHES

Created by Roland V-Drums specialist Simon Ayton, these patches were designed using the internal factory sounds and many of the techniques covered in the TD-50 guide. Enjoy exploring the possibilities!