Saxophone beginners How to become "pro" player?

[trimmy]

Old saying....'learn to walk before you run'

I'm sure there are others that are more apt

Either way it's going to be a long journey but a very enjoyable journey 🙂

 

[kevgermany]

I love playing sax as no other instrument. To become great you have to love what you are doing. If there was one think in my life which I could become great in it would have to be the saxophone. So be it!
How could I become great when I soot for average? Maybe I'll be average and that will be my best what I can do, but I'll give it my best shot and go for the top😉

With this you show us you have the attitude. Add in perseverance. And remember - you don't have to be the best to make a living from it. But you do have to play what paying audiences want to hear. Think Kenny G/Candy Dulfer, not one of thousands f talented people who play for themselves, not the audience

 

[drien]

With this you show us you have the attitude. Add in perseverance. And remember - you don't have to be the best to make a living from it. But you do have to play what paying audiences want to hear. Think Kenny G/Candy Dulfer, not one of thousands f talented people who play for themselves, not the audience

As has been said you have to have business heart to make some decent money and if it means to sell a bit of your playing sould like Kenny then be it. you can have like split playing personality. Playing things to make living and then playing things you love and which define you. I might look little big headed but I call it maturity🙂 I have been through things in life and see things differently now. I have a had a few things which I could be good at but never took it seriously enough and ended up doing things for living which I don't like. allways tried to immagine what it is like doing something for living what you love. And felt how lucky people are who made it and made their hobby into work.
It took 30 years to find THE thing.Sax is the thing for me which could change my life from the ground. Love the challange!
Thanks all. I'll be posting some of my playing in the beginners forums etc as I need other people to push my playing forward as hard as possible. Lovely forum and a lot of open minded people. I expected to get some beating for what I was saying here, but it is nice surprise to see people's understanding.

 

[MandyH]

A new saxophone is usually cheaper than a divorce.
And cheaper than a wedding, for what concerns my personal lifestyle.

Note to self: marry a pianist

My wedding was way cheaper than my divorce - about 12 times so - the wedding cost approx the same as a new YTS62!

As for the OP.... Sometimes I think that I'd like to teach saxophone, but I don't yet have the confidence to try. I am planning to take a performance diploma within the next 2 years. I already have a teaching certificate. But I have never done a job that I've enjoyed.
I love playing sax. I would play all day if I could. I just need to work on my confidence, and variety of knowledge.
Maybe in a couple of years I could bite the bullet!

 

[Merryfisher]

Hi all,
I am interested in what are your stories about becoming a "pro" and making living with sax playing/teaching. I guess most of you started playing when young and naturally evolved into the professional players/teachers. Are there any people who decided to change a career later on in life and made it happen?
Cheers.

check this out and have another think

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/feb/02/classicalmusicandopera3

 

[photoman]

check this out and have another think

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/feb/02/classicalmusicandopera3

Happy New Year!

 

[Colin the Bear]

£25K for playing second violin. Plus fiddle of course. I should co co

 

[aldevis]

check this out and have another think

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/feb/02/classicalmusicandopera3

That only applies to classical music players and it was back in 2006, before the financial gloom.
Jazz people would never leave a 25k playing job.

On the other hand, classical music is mostly paid with taxpayers' money, jazz with punters' beers.