How to Practice

Pegwill · Mar 31, 2015

I've been playing the alto for some while now, not very good, some days better than others and then I started looking at the tenor. As many of you know the force is quite irresistible and so eventually I took the plunge. I discovered that there is quite a difference between the two, just holding the tenor steady for one thing. Anyway I was wondering the best way to practice, I usually practice for about an hour a day so is it better to split my time and do 30mins with each or a full hour every other day.
Your thoughts would be appreciated
Regards to all

trimmy · Mar 31, 2015

I would suggest (if schedule allows) to practice 1/2hr on alto morning then 1/2hr tenor afternoon/evening or vice versa !

fibracell · Mar 31, 2015

Depends on how long you've been playing. If you haven't been playing long, I'd stay with just one set up for at least a year.

If you've been playing longer, then I would alternate the days, and really try to,extend the time up to 1.5 hours and then up to 2 hours a day - if you have the time.

There's so much to get through, long tones, overtones, scales, chords, tunes, reading, ear training etc. You can't get through much in 1/2 hour.

kevgermany · Mar 31, 2015

I tend to play the higher pitched sax for a while, then switch to lower pitch. Helps when embouchure gets tired. Alternating days or sessions is also a good move. I've found that working on Sop tone really helps the lower pitched saxes, more so than working on tone on the lower saxes - but that's me.

jbtsax · Mar 31, 2015

My advice as a teacher has always been to master the tone production skills on one instrument before venturing on to the next. That simply means that one can produce a well controlled sound throughout the entire range of the instrument at all dynamic levels. Once that is achieved, there is the maximum amount of "transfer" that takes place when picking up a new instrument and it is mastered more quickly and efficiently. Going back and forth between two "partly mastered" woodwinds generally produces much slower progress and can be counter productive in my experience.

Jeanette · Mar 31, 2015

jbtsax said:
My advice as a teacher has always been to master the tone production skills on one instrument before venturing on to the next. That simply means that one can produce a well controlled sound throughout the entire range of the instrument at all dynamic levels. Once that is achieved, there is the maximum amount of "transfer" that takes place when picking up a new instrument and it is mastered more quickly and efficiently. Going back and forth between two "partly mastered" woodwinds generally produces much slower progress and can be counter productive in my experience.

That was pretty much the advice I received from Hansons when I first thought of adding tenor to my sop. I stuck with sop and only got the alto because of health problems. Now pretty much only playing sop

Jx

BigMartin · Mar 31, 2015

If you do keep playing both, I'd recommend a week (at least of alto) alternating with a week of tenor. The first couple of days after the switch you'll be readjusting your technique, which will make other stuff harder to learn

jbtsax · Mar 31, 2015

I am aware that I can come across as somewhat pedantic since my orientation has always been toward serious study of the saxophone. Hence those folks whose goal is to just play the saxophone for fun and their own enjoyment should take my previous comments with a grain of salt.

(expect Targa to reply, "somewhat"??)

trimmy · Mar 31, 2015

Pinch

Colin the Bear · Mar 31, 2015

An hour a day will barely keep your lip in. Splitting that between two, at half an hour a day in my opinion will be pointless.

If you're not happy on alto by all means investigate switching to tenor. Many of us seem to be built for one or the other. My head and hands work in Eb. I find baritone easier than tenor. Oooh! now there's a thought. How about Baritone?

Targa · Mar 31, 2015

trimmy said:
Pinch

Now you're being somewhat pedantic.

Alc. · Apr 1, 2015

Get as large an inventory of various saxes as you can. Some days you will feel like a chirping with the birds in a meadow, other days you will follow the urge to grunt and swing from limb to limb, scaring the girls with your lustful and hairy-chested grunting. I practice until I feel like quitting, then add a half/hour as punishment. Then when I'm cleaning up the mess I feel better because I didn't quit when I first felt like it.

A short while back sax-elbow had me down and I practiced about 15 minutes per day. Then we began having 70+ degree weather and lots of sun. Naturally I grabbed up the pole-saw and began pruning the deadwood from the peach trees. Now all the restorative rest and treatments that had begun making my arm feel better are shot to hell; now my right arm hurts from wrist to shoulder. So I decided to practice regardless and change posture, attitude, embouchure, and reeds/mpcs and just keep playing. O.K., it hurts a little but I feel better about myself. (the great weather changed everything) Also I have changed when the sun is over the yard-arm. Happy-hour now coincides with practice time and is somewhat earlier. I do not recommend this system of practice to anyone under the age of ...yet to be determined.

Pegwill · Apr 5, 2015

Hi All
Many thanks for your replies and your constructive comments. As much as I would like to spend more time practicing, work gets in the way. I have decided to practice tenor every other day, trying to get the best of both worlds. One advantage I have already noticed is an improvement in my reading. Even though it might be the same tune, the difference in what notes to play seems to be a different challenge.
Thanks again
Regards