BEING BRAVE AGAIN Blue Moon

[mick_wilson]

Thought id put it on see what reaction I get http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOGSEKGNgQs

i got the backing track today had a couple of practises.My embouchure was getting tired by the time I tried to record. Ive been playing 2 months :whistle: :whistle: :whistle:

 

[richard_perks]

Hey Mick go at it!! as you said , you just got the background, certainly a good try. Might I comment (please all you aficionados tear what I say apart). I feel you are closing your throat up by trying to look straight ahead and lifting your chin up. To me that would constrict the air column and not let you breath from the the diaphragm, which in turn reduces your tone and makes the sound thinner. Think of the air column coming from the diaphragm it needs an open throat then it goes by the read, vibrating it, and down the horn to come out the end. Think of that sound being on the other side of the room, mentally project it there and automatically your throat will open and want to extend that sound out there.
Well that was a lot of thinking :laugh: :laugh: and as I said all please tell me what is wrong with that.
Richard

 

[mick_wilson]

THANKS FOR THE COOMENT RICHARD.

im still a learner i make alot of mistakes due to thinking about all the different areas i need to be doing lol. thats probably why im looking straight ahead and not really relaxed. its comming tho when i look at how i was a month ago to where i am today i see lots of improvement. There is still plenty to learn and its by putting my sound clips here and getting feedback (hopefully) that helps. Ijust wish there were more people commenting even if they just put nice try etc but instead you get people that just look and say nothing. thank you for your comments . I am also without teacher at present havent had time to find one yet so im self taught too.

 

[phil_edwards]

Crikey Mick, after just a couple of months you're doing fine.

You simply need time, practice and experience to slowly nail each bit of technique, posture, set-up etc - but fundamentally it's a great effort.

Stick with it (those books are on their way BTW, enjoy them)

Phil

 

[Pauline]

Mick as a beginner myself I can't help you much on playing technique but I would like to say that I think you are doing brilliantly!! Much better than I could after two months.

It's hard being self-taught as there is no-one to give true feedback and encouragement but I would like to say keep going you're doing well!

Your keenest to learn is an inspiration.
🙂

 

[mick_wilson]

Thanks guys ive tried playing misty today yuck gonna get change partners Blue Moon spot on with a few scales and long tones before i try more . however misty wasnt that bad really i could do the first bit. My Granda played Sax but I was too young to get intersted in it. he was going to teach me once. I went to see him one day and he was selling it 🙁 . I have a recording of him playing Blue Moon and was thinking of getting on my pc and record us both playing together . I know my mum would love it. 🙂 SPOOKY THO.

 

[jools]

For just two months, that's an admirable rendering!. Did you read music well before? - how long did it take you to master the fingering? - Best thing to do is to 'hear' those tunes in your head, feel it, sing it, whistle it, then let your fingers do the 'talking'- make them copy how you 'hear' it

go mick 😉

 

[mick_wilson]

I havent read music before no jools. i have always played by ear to master the fingerings 2 hrs . im looking at misty at the moment and can play the first bit at a struggle. more to do with fingerings tho. :whistle: :whistle: my kids go mad at me cos when i am learning a tune i just play over and over again. when I finnish practice Iend up whistleing the tune :whistle: :whistle: naturally 🙂

 

[jools]

impressive.
There is a phenomenon that's going to happen to you, and you mustn't get dis-heartened. Every six months or so, there'll be a 'plateau' where it just feels like you aren't making any progress. That's the time to change direction and concentrate on something new (memorising all 12 scales, some altissimo notes, a complicated tune or etc) -something that you can make new advances on. The older stuff that had 'frozen' is still in there, but our minds need a little time to absorb it. Go back to it once in a while, and after about a year, you'll find it's right there under your fingers. For some frustrating reason, this learning thing is NOT a curve! 😡 it's a 'step-plateau-step-plateau' process (though as a phrase it doesn't quite trip off the tongue as easily. HA.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Hey great stuff mick - and very good progress. Extremely good for 2 moths

Listen to what Jools says, it's true.

 

[david_tannahill]

Mick, I applaud you for giving it a go. I have been learning for a bit longer and would be too scared. Keep it up....

 

[mick_wilson]

Thanks again Jools and yes Pete I will listen to Jools.I think im moving on so well due to me trying new things.all the time and looking at playing songs that I like. This helps a lot.

I also use a programn that is free to download called StarPlay. its a bit cheezy, however there is a chromatic tuner on there. and also it plays a tune you practice it and then play it. when you play the track as long as your microphone is on and you are listening through headphones star play tells you if you have the correct pitch and timing and obviously if you are playing the correct note. I have found this a very usefull tool to use and helps me develop as I can tell if im playing out of key.

I dont use starplay all the time just now and again. but it works for me. I have put this in the beginners section so im hoping someone else might use it too. heres the link again

http://www.starplaymusic.com/index.php

its helping me loads even tho it looks cheezy 8) 😱 😉

ho yeah David try to lose the too scared bit if you can. Its not easy to do but these guys are very helpfull and do not take the mickey on our progression .What you do get is excellent feedback and it builds your confidence. I have learnt alot from PETE , JOOLS, BOBBYG, LOSAAVEDRA and the rest of the gang thank you guys. its appreciated

 

[jools]

aw poo. It's PC only and not Mac. Oh well, sounds good tho.

 

[mick_wilson]

yeah sorry jools its pc only forgot to mention that doh 🙁 :erm: :S