Beginners' Diary - Chris

[Linky Lee]

Keep at it Chris!

You might think half a screw falling it is something obvious, but my soprano stopped working once and it was really baffling me so I took it in to get it repaired. The repairer checked it over for leaks, found a few and sorted them out but still couldn't get it to play properly.

I'd gone off looking at tenors, and found a suitably nice one that fancied my wallet. 20 minutes later he called me over and showed me a rod that was poking out about 2 inches. Somehow we'd both missed it for ages it just blended in with everything else.
We quickly popped it back in and all was working fantastically.

 

[peter_fitton]

Chris98 wrote:
03/05/2008


Chris

Ah yes, finger flapping. What I've noticed is that as you start to improve and start trying to play more demanding pieces, the old bad habits like finger flapping tend to disappear - out of necessity, really.

I was quite a, er, flapper when I started playing but now, as I'm working on some of the more difficult pieces in the John O'Neill Jazz Method tenor book, it just isn't an option to flap about any more - the pieces would be unplayable. Certainly I wouldn't be able to move my fingers fast enough to play along to the CD anyway.

Similarly, I had quite a bad tendency to keep my RH fingers flat instead of arching/curving them round onto the touchpieces. Again, that has just naturally disappeared almost entirely.

Also, I NEVER used to play bis Bb, but then I had to in order to make a particular piece easier to play. Now I play it nearly all the time and find it very easy. Still play side Bb sometimes but hardly ever use long Bb anymore, which I used to rely on exclusively.

Anyway, a great post as ever, Chris. And I'd echo what Bob said: tenor is a more relaxing blow than alto, at least in my (limited) experience.

Cheers

Peter

 

[Chris98]

Linky wrote:
Keep at it Chris!

You might think half a screw falling it is something obvious, but my soprano stopped working once and it was really baffling me so I took it in to get it repaired. The repairer checked it over for leaks, found a few and sorted them out but still couldn't get it to play properly.

I'd gone off looking at tenors, and found a suitably nice one that fancied my wallet. 20 minutes later he called me over and showed me a rod that was poking out about 2 inches. Somehow we'd both missed it for ages it just blended in with everything else.
We quickly popped it back in and all was working fantastically.

Hi Linky,



All the best,

Chris

 

[Chris98]

Peter Fitton wrote:

Ah yes, finger flapping. What I've noticed is that as you start to improve and start trying to play more demanding pieces, the old bad habits like finger flapping tend to disappear - out of necessity, really.

I was quite a, er, flapper when I started playing but now, as I'm working on some of the more difficult pieces in the John O'Neill Jazz Method tenor book, it just isn't an option to flap about any more - the pieces would be unplayable. Certainly I wouldn't be able to move my fingers fast enough to play along to the CD anyway.

Similarly, I had quite a bad tendency to keep my RH fingers flat instead of arching/curving them round onto the touchpieces. Again, that has just naturally disappeared almost entirely.

Also, I NEVER used to play bis Bb, but then I had to in order to make a particular piece easier to play. Now I play it nearly all the time and find it very easy. Still play side Bb sometimes but hardly ever use long Bb anymore, which I used to rely on exclusively.

Anyway, a great post as ever, Chris. And I'd echo what Bob said: tenor is a more relaxing blow than alto, at least in my (limited) experience.

Cheers

Peter

Hi Peter,


All the best,

Chris

 

[frankb]

Well, it's been fifty-three weeks since I acquired my tenor, so a bit of a retrospective might be in order from me too!

I've progressed from my initial explosive foghorn-like farting noises (some of them with the saxophone!) to what I feel is a reasonable repertoire for a one-year player. My favourites are still Harlem Nocturne and In The Heat of the Night (dig it out Chris, if you like the former you'll like the latter too!), but Black Coffee and Basin Street Blues are in the short list as well.

My sight reading has come on (from a standing start) and I can now usually puzzle stuff out without hearing it first, which helps a lot. Playing by ear has also come on and to the point where if I hear an easy sax riff on the telly I can grab a horn and copy it, usually with half-decent results.

GAS-wise, well an alto joined my tenor in January and the tenor's now wearing a JodyJazz HR* 5. I also have a stack of music books which are (I confess!) terribly underused! (A pair of exceptions are "Blues For Saxophone" and "Classic Jazz For Saxophone" each featuring over 60 fairly easy arrangements of mostly very good tunes - bought as a pair and one of my better purchases!)

Cadging-wise, I currently have a Yamaha flute on loan from my nephew (useful things, nephews!) on which I'm making slow (but fun) progress. I also have a JodyJazz HR* 5M on loan from the owner of this thread (very much obliged, Chris!) which has utterly transformed my alto! It was always a bit thin and weedy on the 4C, but now it's much fuller, fatter and more interesting! Niiiiiiiiiice!

Has it been worth doing so far? Hell yes! I'm still having enormous fun. Any problems? Well yes, a couple.

I've been a bit too self-indulgent of late and have moved from practising to noodling, and it shows! 🙁 I've now started a regimen of long-tones, scales and a more methodical progression through my repertoire. Hopefully it should sort me out a bit.

The other problem is physical. I've lost about a stone and a half over the last three months (intentionally) and seem to have developed a problem with the alto's strap (a BG item that came with it). After half an hour's playing I keep getting a pins-and-needles jolt down to the little finger of my left hand. I think the strap must be nudging a nerve which isn't as over-padded as it once was, or something. It isn't weight as the tenor doesn't seem to give the same problem (same type of strap).

Every silver lining has its cloud, eh? Still it's an excuse to shop for sax accessories again...! 😉

Cheers for keeping the diary up over the last year Chris. It's always an interesting and entertaining read, and it's been great watching you progress. Also thanks to the population of the Breakfast Room for the help, support and companionship, and (of course) huge thanks to Pete for setting it up and maintaining it.

All the best,

Frank

 

[Chris98]

FrankB wrote:
Well, it's been fifty-three weeks since I acquired my tenor, so a bit of a retrospective might be in order from me too!

I've progressed from my initial explosive foghorn-like farting noises (some of them with the saxophone!) to what I feel is a reasonable repertoire for a one-year player. My favourites are still Harlem Nocturne and In The Heat of the Night (dig it out Chris, if you like the former you'll like the latter too!), but Black Coffee and Basin Street Blues are in the short list as well.

My sight reading has come on (from a standing start) and I can now usually puzzle stuff out without hearing it first, which helps a lot. Playing by ear has also come on and to the point where if I hear an easy sax riff on the telly I can grab a horn and copy it, usually with half-decent results.

GAS-wise, well an alto joined my tenor in January and the tenor's now wearing a JodyJazz HR* 5. I also have a stack of music books which are (I confess!) terribly underused! (A pair of exceptions are "Blues For Saxophone" and "Classic Jazz For Saxophone" each featuring over 60 fairly easy arrangements of mostly very good tunes - bought as a pair and one of my better purchases!)

Cadging-wise, I currently have a Yamaha flute on loan from my nephew (useful things, nephews!) on which I'm making slow (but fun) progress. I also have a JodyJazz HR* 5M on loan from the owner of this thread (very much obliged, Chris!) which has utterly transformed my alto! It was always a bit thin and weedy on the 4C, but now it's much fuller, fatter and more interesting! Niiiiiiiiiice!

Has it been worth doing so far? Hell yes! I'm still having enormous fun. Any problems? Well yes, a couple.

I've been a bit too self-indulgent of late and have moved from practising to noodling, and it shows! 🙁 I've now started a regimen of long-tones, scales and a more methodical progression through my repertoire. Hopefully it should sort me out a bit.

The other problem is physical. I've lost about a stone and a half over the last three months (intentionally) and seem to have developed a problem with the alto's strap (a BG item that came with it). After half an hour's playing I keep getting a pins-and-needles jolt down to the little finger of my left hand. I think the strap must be nudging a nerve which isn't as over-padded as it once was, or something. It isn't weight as the tenor doesn't seem to give the same problem (same type of strap).

Every silver lining has its cloud, eh? Still it's an excuse to shop for sax accessories again...! 😉

Cheers for keeping the diary up over the last year Chris. It's always an interesting and entertaining read, and it's been great watching you progress. Also thanks to the population of the Breakfast Room for the help, support and companionship, and (of course) huge thanks to Pete for setting it up and maintaining it.

All the best,

Frank

Hi Frank,





All the best,

Chris

 

[nick_cook]

[color:green]Hi Chris,

I'm still here and have thoroughly enjoyed my first year with the sax!!!

I've entered for the Grade 1 Jazz exam next month and have been going through my tunes with my teacher and trying to do all the other tests that need to be practised before the exam!!! I think I might have to rely on the tunes and scales to pass though!!! The sight reading and aural tests seem quite hard to me at the moment.

I've got GAS issues too. Like Frank, I've got loads of books that don't get used enough and a few mouthpieces to experiment with. I'm going to leave all that until after the exam though - don't want to muck up the set-up that is working for me at the moment.

I've been thinking about a tenor too - but I think a divorce would be on the cards if I turned up home with one!!!

Love the diary Chris, so keep it up.

Cheers,

Nick [/color]

 

[Chris98]

Hi Nick,


So, you too have been tempted towards the soothing tones of the tenor! Is it an affliction we are all going to suffer from!


All the best,

Chris

 

[Bobby G]

Chris, I had exactly the same experience with Javas - when I first tried them I really didn't like them, but a chance encounter with one at the bottom of my case and wow! I was really impressed! Maybe it's something to do with developing as a player, but in direct comparison to other reeds it still has the nice edge or brightness that I like, plus a depth of tone, but it's the top end that works best, it's the fullest-sounding reed for upper register playing that I have used recently. Also, like you, I find them easy to control and the tone is very even across the whole range.

Good to hear you're having a new lease of life with the sax and still enjoying it, and your posts are as interesting as ever.

 

[Chris98]

29th May 2008








All the best,

Chris

 

[sharon]

Chris that was an interesting read. I'm thinking about having mine overhauled as I've had it since last February. I've a feeling that it needs it because the odd problem is creeping up but so slowly as not to notice. It's making odd noises where it never used to like the upper G# will drop an octave whilst I'm playing. I did think it was me but now I wonder.

There is a chap quite near to me who does brass/woodwind and after reading your story I think I'll definately get it sorted.

By the way, nice to see you're keeping the diary up.

Sharon

 

[nick_cook]

[color:green]Hi Chris, Yes - I echo Sharon's thoughts. I've had my Hanson for a year now, and apparently the 5 year guarantee with free servicing for 5 years is transferrable, so I'm thinking of getting that done. Got to wait to get my Grade 1 exam out of the way first though!!!

It'll be interesting to see what difference it makes!![/color]

 

[Chris98]

sharon wrote:
Chris that was an interesting read. I'm thinking about having mine overhauled as I've had it since last February. I've a feeling that it needs it because the odd problem is creeping up but so slowly as not to notice. It's making odd noises where it never used to like the upper G# will drop an octave whilst I'm playing. I did think it was me but now I wonder.

There is a chap quite near to me who does brass/woodwind and after reading your story I think I'll definately get it sorted.

By the way, nice to see you're keeping the diary up.

Sharon

Hi Sharon,


All the best,

Chris

 

[Chris98]

Nick Cook wrote:
[color:green]Hi Chris, Yes - I echo Sharon's thoughts. I've had my Hanson for a year now, and apparently the 5 year guarantee with free servicing for 5 years is transferrable, so I'm thinking of getting that done. Got to wait to get my Grade 1 exam out of the way first though!!!

It'll be interesting to see what difference it makes!![/color]

Hi Nick,


Not long now till your Grade one, do you have to do some improvisation for that grade?

Best of luck with your Grade 1

Chris

 

[nick_cook]

[color:green]Hi Chris, yes, there is improvisation in this grade!! Each tune has about 8 bars of improvisation, and the sight reading test is two bars of sight reading, then 2 bars of improvisation.

For the tunes, I've almost memorised the improvisation bit, which my teacher says isn't a good thing, but I quite like what I'm doing, so I probably won't change it much!!

When I get myself sorted out - I might try and record one of the tunes (Mack the Knife) and put it on YouTube!!!

Got the date of my exam this week - Friday the 13th - good job I'm not superstitious!!!!

PS. Got my car serviced this week too, and needed 4 new tyres. It does seem to drive so much better!!!

[/color]

 

[mark_whiteley]

Just to say I've really enjoyed reading your diary Chris (how about an update ?). I've been at it for about 18 months, mostly on tenor, and what an amazing love/hate relationship I've had with it all. Learning to read music at the same time as learning to play is very difficult (although there are tutors around here, Merseyside, who teach sax without any kind of reading).

I've opted not to do the Jazz Grade exams although I do use some grade 2 & 3 material. My weaknesses are tonal quality above the octave bridge, and memorising scales. All of the hard work & times when we get de-moralised can be compensated by just a few minutes of excitement , like last week when I joined in on a jam night at the pub, to do Green Onions in F Major concert. I found myself doing the blues scale of G no problem and making a reasonable contribution along with an excellent flute player. It only lasted 3 minutes but it made 18 months of learning worthwhile.

Great diary - keep it going!

 

[peedee]

[No message]

 

[peter_fitton]

Mark Whiteley wrote:

All of the hard work & times when we get de-moralised can be compensated by just a few minutes of excitement

I think that's absolutely spot on, Mark. Those instances where you really feel that you've made a breakthrough and that things are starting to come together really make it all worthwhile 🙂

At those times you just feel like you could play for hours and you can't bear to put the sax down.

Peter

 

[Chris98]

3rd July 2008







All the best,

Chris

 

[shropshire_lad]

Hi Chris, great diary -- it's has really helped me when I've been struggling to see that I'm not alone, and that you can get through the occasional/frequent plateaus.

Good luck with the clarinet -- I'm tempted myself but a little daunted by a look at the fingering chart. I've heard it is easier to make the transition the other way. Please tell us how you get on.

all the best, Dave