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Playing the saxophone What are the most common problems. Either for yourself or students if you teach?
I know what mine are (or were) what about yours?
Originally I think it was tuning but I probably wasn’t aware - which is another problem in itself.
Another one was finding my playing was inconsistent so it was difficult sometimes to pin down issues.
Originally I think it was tuning but I probably wasn’t aware - which is another problem in itself.
Another one was finding my playing was inconsistent so it was difficult sometimes to pin down issues.
choose up to 4 common problems you have experienced, either you or your students?
8 votes total
17 Replies
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187 views
Tech/maintenance Lacquer polish
I have been using Meguiars Cleaner/Wax for what seems like decades. I first learned of it from guitar builders that used it for final touches on boutique guitars with nitro finishes. I have not yet tried the next-gen ceramic-based automotive products. What do you use on your concours cars and fine guitars? @PigSquealer @Phil
15 Replies
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227 views
TV/film/books Do you read books?
Do you read books in any form, hardcover, paperback, on an e-book reader, online, on a tablet or phone?
I just ordered a hardcover book to try to get back into reading, because I read one novel in the past year. I also have saxophone and music books, but I didn't read any of them all the way through in any given time. An author friend gives me books, none of which I have gotten far into. It's a little like giving a musician music. It doesn't always work out.
- Fiction, non-fiction, saxophone or music only, cheap detective novels, sci-fi, romance, western, mystery, self-help, cooking?
- Novels, anthologies, essay collections, tech manuals (like books about Photoshop and such)?
I just ordered a hardcover book to try to get back into reading, because I read one novel in the past year. I also have saxophone and music books, but I didn't read any of them all the way through in any given time. An author friend gives me books, none of which I have gotten far into. It's a little like giving a musician music. It doesn't always work out.
Do you read books?
37 votes total
128 Replies
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6566 views
Miscellaneous Motorbikes
Señor Pig,
Would like to know more about this bike/side car.
More pics?
Thanks.
Might make a side car for the kids and grandkids, for the '79 XT500, if they buy a ranch/farm in the Rockies.
Off road only.
Would like to know more about this bike/side car.
More pics?
Thanks.
Might make a side car for the kids and grandkids, for the '79 XT500, if they buy a ranch/farm in the Rockies.
Off road only.
40 Replies
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1163 views
R & B, Blues, Soul Recommended Blues Listening
My teacher has suggested trying to improvise over a blues progression.
For various reasons I've barely touched my saxes since, I'm after some listening recommendations to give me a little bit of inspiration.
So what should I be listening to?
For various reasons I've barely touched my saxes since, I'm after some listening recommendations to give me a little bit of inspiration.
So what should I be listening to?
3 Replies
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30 views
Saxophones Pork Tales: Saxophone Repair DIY Adventures.
Tales from a pig that likes to stick his nose into everything.
Paint that S. How difficult could it be ?
1) Search the net.
2) Find the color.
3) Order color.
4) Study task on University of YouTube, aka; For destruction by DYI presented by pro tech.
Do the cleaning & prep.
Paint and cleanup / detail the edges with hard cotton swabs. Sounds easy……
Yeah tha guy Matt makes it look easy.
Anyone remember your first experience cooking bacon crispy while still in the frying pan !
Paint that S. How difficult could it be ?
1) Search the net.
2) Find the color.
3) Order color.
4) Study task on University of YouTube, aka; For destruction by DYI presented by pro tech.
Do the cleaning & prep.
Paint and cleanup / detail the edges with hard cotton swabs. Sounds easy……
Yeah tha guy Matt makes it look easy.
Anyone remember your first experience cooking bacon crispy while still in the frying pan !
1087 Replies
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62629 views
Saxophones Playing at Old people’s home
Evening,
I have been asked to play at a local old people’s home for a coffee morning for a hour. It’s for ages 65 up. The question is how many songs should I aim for and how long ie a hour straight of 2 , 25 minute sets with a short break.
I will be playing old Jazz ballads.
Thank you Paul
I have been asked to play at a local old people’s home for a coffee morning for a hour. It’s for ages 65 up. The question is how many songs should I aim for and how long ie a hour straight of 2 , 25 minute sets with a short break.
I will be playing old Jazz ballads.
Thank you Paul
68 Replies
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5274 views
The dates have been announced for the 2027 International Saxophone Symposium hosted by the Navy Band at George Mason University: January 8-9.
Plan your trip now if you're coming from afar.
Plan your trip now if you're coming from afar.
55 Replies
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1676 views
Cafe Moderator
Commercial
Playing the saxophone What does professional musician mean?
I think this is the basis for an interesting discussion/debate.
My take is that a professional is someone who makes a living from playing. No other work. So in that case a couple of bucks or free meal is not it.
And of course there is semi-pro
90 Replies
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1448 views
Tech/maintenance Renovation
Found this Weltklang baritone locally. But why oh why do this to an instrument?
Black and gold paint everywhere.
Any ideas on how to remove it? Paint stripper? Water jet? Buffing (!)? Wire wool?
Second and possibly the major issue is the holes ( see images). At first I was thinking decoration, but I was wondering if maybe it’s from a stand ?
Of course all the pads are gold sprayed, two posts are detached and many keys don’t fit due to the dents. I’m in for quite a ride on this one.
Thanks for all your ideas!
Black and gold paint everywhere.
Any ideas on how to remove it? Paint stripper? Water jet? Buffing (!)? Wire wool?
Second and possibly the major issue is the holes ( see images). At first I was thinking decoration, but I was wondering if maybe it’s from a stand ?
Of course all the pads are gold sprayed, two posts are detached and many keys don’t fit due to the dents. I’m in for quite a ride on this one.
Thanks for all your ideas!
63 Replies
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4287 views
Miscellaneous watches
Before I subscribe a forum about watches, where I will realize that only expensive pieces made in 1962-63 are worth wearing,
is anyone knowledgeable about automatic watches and straps?
is anyone knowledgeable about automatic watches and straps?
880 Replies
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29063 views
I bought this tenor saxophone a little over a year ago from my professor. I just recently picked it back up for a gig with friends. Out of curiosity, I wanted to do a little research into the sax to see if it was any good since I haven't played it much. I had never heard of this brand until my professor told me about it.
The brand is E.K. Blessing. However, I can not find a model number on it, at least not one that matches any of Blessing's model numbers. There are two numbers on the bottom back of the sax. I am attaching pictures.
I was hoping you all could work your magic on this one for me. Since I have so far found nothing. I have posted this on a few Sax subreddits, but they aren't doing me any good. I figured a saxophone-focused forum could help a bit more.
The brand is E.K. Blessing. However, I can not find a model number on it, at least not one that matches any of Blessing's model numbers. There are two numbers on the bottom back of the sax. I am attaching pictures.
I was hoping you all could work your magic on this one for me. Since I have so far found nothing. I have posted this on a few Sax subreddits, but they aren't doing me any good. I figured a saxophone-focused forum could help a bit more.
30 Replies
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773 views
Misc instruments What other instrument could you just not...
... get along with?
Lots of folks double or dabble; but have you ever fancied adding an instrument but just could not come to terms with it (or them)?
Myself, I fancy a blues harp/mouth organ. I just don't get it. Luckily, trying costs little in that case.
«this thread brought to you by the Department of Idle curiosity »
Lots of folks double or dabble; but have you ever fancied adding an instrument but just could not come to terms with it (or them)?
Myself, I fancy a blues harp/mouth organ. I just don't get it. Luckily, trying costs little in that case.
«this thread brought to you by the Department of Idle curiosity »
63 Replies
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1605 views
Cafe Moderator
Café Supporter
Miscellaneous Daily Check In
Good morning,
We thought it might be good to have a thread where you can just come and say hi, tell us what you are doing today, have a moan, share an idea that you wouldn't necessarily start a thread for ( we can always create a new thread from posts here if it became a substantial discussion).
It doesn't have to be sax related🙂
Basically an easy way to connect on a daily basis.
So to kick us off, I am writing this whilst prepping a casserole for the slo cooker as I am playing sax today with café sax and need a quick easy tea when I get home.
I am still suffering with a cough which will impact my playing today and I am worried as we are playing our first care home gig next Sunday!!
Have a lovely Sunday
Jx
We thought it might be good to have a thread where you can just come and say hi, tell us what you are doing today, have a moan, share an idea that you wouldn't necessarily start a thread for ( we can always create a new thread from posts here if it became a substantial discussion).
It doesn't have to be sax related🙂
Basically an easy way to connect on a daily basis.
So to kick us off, I am writing this whilst prepping a casserole for the slo cooker as I am playing sax today with café sax and need a quick easy tea when I get home.
I am still suffering with a cough which will impact my playing today and I am worried as we are playing our first care home gig next Sunday!!
Have a lovely Sunday
Jx
2871 Replies
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88258 views
Tech/maintenance A general thread on DIY repair
Hi folks. I accidentally posted these musings in @PigSquealer 's blog - sorry about that - and it was suggested that maybe there might be room here for an advice thread on DIY repair. I get it that 'a little knowledge is a dangerous thing', and that plenty of folks make a fair living fixing instruments that people like me break. It may even be that they will make an even fairer living sorting out the mistakes that a 'dabbler' can get themselves into. Nevertheless, with the proviso that (I would like to think) anyone trying out anyone else's well-meant advice takes full responsibility for their own instrument (and fingers, and lungs) and their own more-or-less ham-fisted execution of any such advice - I have always learnt by doing, and am OK with the idea that 'the man who never made a mistake never made anything'. So with all that said, this is what I dumped into that blog:
I'm new here, and have read this thread (blog) with interest. I have other mechanical interests (motorbikes, museum work on vintage steam / gas / diesel engines etc), and I have a reasonably-equipped workshop (little lathe and miller, oxy-propane gear etc) - but I've never got very far working on instruments. Would you (OP) be open to making the odd contribution to a newbie DIY thread? I know a lot of people would shy off that with a 'don't do that, you'll wreck it' feeling, which I understand - but, for instance, how do you get enough heat into a body tube to solder a pillar back on (and using...electrical solder (v.soft), plumber's solder (less soft), lead-free modern stuff (less-soft again) or ...? ) without neighbouring pillars falling off, solder running everywhere, etc etc?
Perhaps that's a big question, but it's my first one. And (because I'm greedy) here's another different one for fun: has anyone used a 2-part epoxy putty like 'Milliput' to repair a chewed-up beak on a mouthpiece? I have messed up front teeth (for reasons other than music 🙂 ) and I don't like the feel of those chewy protector patches - I seem to eat mouthpieces over time.
I don't have a means to take photos at the moment, as both my kids (the smart phone owners) are now away at university. So this will be a bit text-heavy from my end until I work out how to use an old digi camera someone gave me a while back, and find which cheapo usb-to-something-or-other-card-adaptor it requires to upload pictures.
Folks who find willful Luddites frustrating might want to give all this a wide berth.
I'm new here, and have read this thread (blog) with interest. I have other mechanical interests (motorbikes, museum work on vintage steam / gas / diesel engines etc), and I have a reasonably-equipped workshop (little lathe and miller, oxy-propane gear etc) - but I've never got very far working on instruments. Would you (OP) be open to making the odd contribution to a newbie DIY thread? I know a lot of people would shy off that with a 'don't do that, you'll wreck it' feeling, which I understand - but, for instance, how do you get enough heat into a body tube to solder a pillar back on (and using...electrical solder (v.soft), plumber's solder (less soft), lead-free modern stuff (less-soft again) or ...? ) without neighbouring pillars falling off, solder running everywhere, etc etc?
Perhaps that's a big question, but it's my first one. And (because I'm greedy) here's another different one for fun: has anyone used a 2-part epoxy putty like 'Milliput' to repair a chewed-up beak on a mouthpiece? I have messed up front teeth (for reasons other than music 🙂 ) and I don't like the feel of those chewy protector patches - I seem to eat mouthpieces over time.
I don't have a means to take photos at the moment, as both my kids (the smart phone owners) are now away at university. So this will be a bit text-heavy from my end until I work out how to use an old digi camera someone gave me a while back, and find which cheapo usb-to-something-or-other-card-adaptor it requires to upload pictures.
Folks who find willful Luddites frustrating might want to give all this a wide berth.
163 Replies
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9675 views
Cafe Moderator
Commercial
7 Replies
·
297 views
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