Access to innovative technologies at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Libraries is helping students turn creative ideas into real-world tools, including a 3D-printed saxophone assembly board designed by graduate student Alex Singleton. 

Singleton, a graduate student in saxophone performance, collaborated with UT Libraries to design and 3D-print a custom tray that organizes saxophone screws during instrument disassembly. The tray provides a clear, step-by-step layout that helps students safely disassemble and reassemble their instruments while learning the mechanics behind how they function. 

The project demonstrates how student initiative, faculty mentorship, and campus-wide collaboration can intersect in meaningful ways. What began as a question about instrument mechanics has become a practical teaching tool and a model for how innovation can shape the future of music education. 

“As long as students are creative enough, the possibilities are really endless,” Singleton said.  

Read more about Alex Singleton’s work at tiny.utk.edu/Alex-Singleton