August 26, 2020 I Coronavirus
Key Leaves Partners with Saxophonist Emma McPhilemy for Lock The Sax Down Challenge
Emma McPhilemy
Woodwind accessory manufacturer Key Leaves has teamed with saxophonist Emma McPhilemy on the Lock The Sax Down Challenge, a social media challenge that invites sax players around the world to play new music and share recordings via the hashtag #lockthesaxdown during the COVID-19 pandemic.
McPhilemy and fellow saxophonist and composer Jenni Watson started the challenge to help musicians struggling with the effects of cancelled gigs and quarantine isolation.
Each week, McPhilemy and Watson upload a one-minute video clip of a new piece of saxophone music featuring a demo performance by McPhilemy. Musicians can then choose any of the pieces to download free with sheet music with a backing track. So far, they’ve shared eight pieces ranging in difficulty and style to keep sax players challenged. For example, the highly technical piece “Conformity” has drawn responses from many college-level sax students and professors.
All who share a video are entered for a chance to win prizes. On September 6, a new winner will be randomly selected by McPhilemy and Watson to receive a Key Leaves Premium Kit that includes the full range of Key Leaves products for saxophone: Key Leaves sax key props, Spit Sponge, GapCap and a custom-fit Vent Vine. This Key Leaves prize pack goes hand in hand with Watson’s latest composition titled, “Leaves.”
“I am thrilled Key Leaves can support Lock The Sax Down,” said Rulon Brown, Key Leaves founder. “Emma and Jenni are rallying so many musicians affected by the COVID lockdowns. Canceled gigs, canceled lessons and no in-person collaboration or performance take a toll on the creative soul. Lock The Sax Down has inspired more play, practice and share so players grow their virtual community and audience.”
