Beginner recording First notes

Bernie · May 20, 2015

I recorded the first notes I played after I unpacked and assembled the Conn alto someone has kindly loaned me. https://soundcloud.com/saxynet/first-notes

A couple of days later I recorded a tune: https://soundcloud.com/saxynet/too-soon-to-go-solo

It's several years since I last played a sax, I'm determined to learn to play properly this time, I thought it might be interesting to keep a record of my progress, so this is the starting point.

Jeanette · May 20, 2015

Great idea to keep a record of your progress 🙂

Jx

Rob Pealing · May 21, 2015

Well done, is that a known tune or improvised?

When practice has not gone well, I have a listen to something I did several months ago and it helps me realize I am improving. Come to think of it, I have not recorded any thing for a six weeks or so.
I guess I will have to have another crack at Moonlight in Vermont & see if it is better than the last one.

Bernie · May 21, 2015

The tune is "Too Young To Go Steady", and if you haven't heard it played properly before you have a treat in store: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISURm00atOo

Rob Pealing · May 21, 2015

Bernie said:
The tune is "Too Young To Go Steady", and if you haven't heard it played properly before you have a treat in store: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISURm00atOo

Thanks, I have a disc of ballads by John Coltraine but seem to have missed out on that one. I will have to see if I can find the dots, I suspect it is not an easy tune for beginners, lots of high notes where it is difficult to get and keep good tone.

Bernie · May 21, 2015

Yes, but the high notes aren't so challenging if you do what I did and play it on an alto!

Rob Pealing · May 21, 2015

I have an alto but I was not so much thinking about hitting the notes but getting that nice full bodied character to them, like Coltrane gets.

Bernie · May 21, 2015

Ah yes. My brother, who is my sternest critic but also I think a good judge, says that my tone is quite "thin" on that recording. Something else to work on!

Rob Pealing · May 21, 2015

In my post "Noodling Midnight" jbtsax gave me an exercise to help.
Indeed it would help us both if he put his teaching hat on and had a listen to you.