I’ve picked up my horn again, after a long layoff.  I have the ambition to try to play it as if I were singing.  I’m wondering whether it is possible to play with little or no consciousness of what note I’m playing, or what key I’m playing in. 

That's pretty much how I play all my instruments...

Some shots of my thumb rest and ring. The ring is quite small so I would need to attach a key ring loop.

Clarinet players can glide seamlessly between adjacent notes, whereas sax players have to play all the notes in a run in very quick sequence. Is it not possible for saxophones to have open holes, with rings?  Also if I was a flute player I would rather have one with open holes. (I've tried flute countless times. Though its my favourite sounding woodwind instrument I cannot get to grips with the embouchure)

https://youtu.be/W0-inuOu1Io

The cheapest string-type strap is more than sufficient., like https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rico-Strap-Alto-Soprano-Saxophone/dp/B0019ZHDD2/ref=sr_1_24?crid=1I2R0KL6P345F&keywords=saxophone+neck+strap&qid=1642272371&s=musical-instruments&sprefix=saxophone+nec%2Cmi%2C229&sr=1-24

2 reasons I like this:
the string can be easily cut and shortened (make a knot then glue it)
the hook is thin material, and open (no snap)

Option: This is I have now: I make my own out of 3/4" wide sewing-shop elastic. Then make my own hook out of wire, like coat-hanger wire. I like the elastic effect just to take most, but not all the weight.

I'll have to check the size of the loop on my thumb rest, although I could attach a key ring loop to it.

Thanks

You mean a neck strap? A strap or sling sold for clarinets may have a leather tab to attach to a typical thumb rest, because a typical T rest does NOT have a ring. Yours HAS a ring for a strap hook (common on Chinese clarinets). It probably gets in the way of the tab. So, you want to buy a SAX strap - one with a simple hook, that will go through your ring. A cheap one with string is good, because you may have to shorten the string, and it's easy to do.

You can also make one easily - just copy a typical cheap sax strap. I use a strap now because I strained my R thumb.

Cheers Windy

I can't leave this instrument alone...
 
https://youtube.com/shorts/yFY_8BCZEJU?feature=share

I think the need to play long notes every day, and scales too - especially over the break - really, is the hardest thing about the clarinet. It's like there's this "work" you have to do every day before you get to the fun stuff. On a guitar, or a piano, you may get sore fingers if you don't play for a while, but at least you can still play. Neglect the basics on a clarinet and you lose the ability to play with any degree of nice sound. So somehow you have to accept ten or fifteen minutes work every day is just part of the territory. Once you've made that choice, then there's a word of pleasure to be had. The true secret is to find ways of making these drills not boring - I'll play very long notes (say 20 seconds or more) whilst working on a scale (thereby killing two birds with one stone) and really listen to the tone and the notes and do this for ten minutes. I'll play long notes throughout the range. Around the throat register. The chromatic scale with long notes (say 5 - 10 seconds). Blues scales - major and minor. Patterns. Loads of things to practice slowly and afterwards you're ready to have fun...

And that's the problem, I don't always have the option of practising every day, and sometimes, I just don't feel like it.