Late Bloomers Diary

tina · Jun 27, 2006

Have been playing for almost a month, and keeping a diary of my progress.
If anyone is interested in laughing and crying along with me, let me know and I will post in small bite size chunks!

Rogerb · Jun 28, 2006

Please do, tina.
I have only been learning since the beginning of the year, so will empathise!

tina · Jun 29, 2006

Ok, here's a little background so you know where I'm coming from..

Played recorder in school, so could sight read from low C to F with no problem. Anything above that looked like Japanese, and I think I'm still struggling with a mental block.
Could play by ear a little bit, 'Wooden Heart' took a bit of a hammering as I recall.

Was brought up listening to Duke Ellington, Bill Haley and Crew Cuts, and have quite a wide range of musical tastes. Some would say downright weird.

Always wanted to play sax, and my husband bought me a soprano for my 40th birthday (2 years ago). Unfortunately it wasn't what I wanted, and I only managed to get it to make squawking parrot noises. I hid it in the wardrobe for 2 years, feeling extremely guilty.

He borrowed a friends guitar (to learn on), and hearing him plinking away got me interested in music making again. I discovered I still had an ear for it. A neighbour loaned me her alto, and I bought my own the very next day.

My new baby is a cheap and tacky bulk standard basic alto, but I love every purple laquered inch of her...now just have to learn to play, oh and perhaps sell the sop to claw back some of money I spent.

Anyway, next time I will bring you up to date on my first noises.
Have fun

Bobby G · Jun 29, 2006

Hi Tina. Have you found a teacher, or are you going to go it alone?

Bob (relatively new starter)

bigtasty · Jun 29, 2006

Congrats for taking it back on. I am in my 40's also and have been battling my friends laughter for almost 2 years. I started this as a personal challenge and now play better than I thought I would ever be able to. (and that isn't very good!) I still enjoy the hour or so I put aside every day to pick up the horn. If only I could follow the good advice of the more experienced players on the forums that have unknowingly become my teachers and concentrate on the scales and exercises that will ultimately lead to my being a better player rather than breaking out the song books...

Keep us posted on your progress and remember, you need to spend more time on the horn than the forum!

ken · Jun 30, 2006

At 00:15:25 AM 30/06/06, Bob Green wrote:
Hi Tina. Have you found a teacher, or are you going to go it alone?

Wait for it Bob :w00t:

, asking that is like starting a book at the end or telling someone the end of a film... I wanna progress through Tina's story as she tells it... in the right order. 😉

tina · Jul 3, 2006

Week 1

Couldn't wait to get started, so while hubby was out fishing, I tried to put my new toy together. By the time he came back I was playing my own unique version of 'When the Saints go marching in' and he actually recognised it. Don't feel so guilty now.

At the moment as money is tight (hence cheap sax from ebay) I am self teaching from a book. The first one I was given was 'Team Woodwind', and although excellent for my children, there is only so many times I can hear 'Au Claire de la Lune' without screaming.

I was also given Pete's DVD, but my player on the PC has broken, and getting my boys away from the TV so I can play sax is impossible, so for the moment I am fumbling through a progressive beginner book. Looks more geared for adults, with some 12 Bar Blues solo's quite early on. Should keep my interest for at least a month!

First notes fairly similar to recorder in fingering, picked up G, A, B, C, F and Bb quite easily. Not even thinking about tone etc at the mo, just want to play!

Learning about timings, slurs and staccato. It's like being back in school. Practice minimum half hour before kids bedtime every day, or until my lips start buzzing, whichever comes first. Bedroom window firmly closed so I don't upset the neighbours too soon, am sure there's time for that later.

Stay tuned, more to come

tina · Jul 6, 2006

Week 2

Have had bit of coaching from my 10 year old son. He studied clarinet for a year, so has been giving tips on embouchure. Sound slowly becoming a bit smoother.

Practice every day for about an hour now. Starting with breathing exercises and scales, though don't know names of them yet!

Then new notes and melodies:
this week E and D, not too much trouble. Then middle register D and the octave key. Mmmm, that one needs bit of work but getting there.
First look at high? A and G, still looks like Japanese but cheated a bit by writing above the note in pencil. Could sight read them by end of week. Lots of squeaky parrot noises to start with, and G keeps dropping into middle register. Son says I sound like a donkey 🙂 Have christened my sax 'Eeyore' with affection.

Have also persuaded my son to pick up the soprano and practice with me. I can see the neighbours cringing but they were warned!

Gradually getting easier and another new note F#
Playing an exercise '12 bar blues' switching between F, F#, B and Bb. Nearly caught up with CD but nowhere near as smooth. Practice, practice, practice!

For the last ten minutes we just pick up a music book and see what we can play - 'Strangers in the Night' is about it but its more than I could do last week!

Thanks for your support! Need lots of it

tengu01 · Jul 11, 2006

Having read your diary, I am now feeling slightly sheepish about my excuses about not having enough time.

Keep it up Tina. Good on you.

oliver_bentley · Jul 11, 2006

there a good learner book called "Learn as you play saxophone" , its a Boosey & Hawkes publication. Its a more adult book, quite classical, but all the method is in there - will take you up to intermediate standard.

Good luck, hope all goes well

tina · Jul 12, 2006

Week 3

Enjoying playing various 12 bar blues pieces, although timing and changes not great. But I am a perfectionist so perhaps to my husband listening downstairs it doesn't sound too bad!

New Note : Low C. 8| I think 'Eeyore the Honking Donkey' is back. But at least with each new step I try, the ones I've already learned seem so much easier! Perhaps that's the key!?

Practising scales of C Major and G Major; new tune 'Lavenders Blue' in both keys

New tune : 'Swing Low Sweet Chariot' Tried it out on Mum, first time I ever played it AND first time I played to her. "Very nice dear, but I think I would prefer the Eric Clapton version at my funeral"

Bought metronome - theory being that it will become subconcious. Just annoying hearing it ticking away, it just doesn't stay in time with me... or is that supposed to be the other way round? Think I will pass it on to my son next birthday!!

Anyway, out of time for now, happy blowing

suethesax · Jul 26, 2006

Hey Tina

I was 40 when I persuaded husband (John) to buy me an alto. Hadn't a clue how to read music, blow or anything. Found me a teacher who had been a pro all his life and was early 80's. He taught me the basics of theory and playing, then found an old(er) jazzer (67) who drilled into me scales, majors, minors, blues, pentatonic blah blah until I couldn't sleep unless I'd recited them to myself(sad or what?). Moved to Yorkshire and have an great teacher now and am in my 6th year of playing. I love it and the husband got fed up never seeing me so he took it up last year (he was 50 in May) and has done so well he has just passed grade 4 theory (merit and grade 2 tenor (also merit).

Keep it up and let us know how week 4 was.

Sue

Rogerb · Jul 26, 2006

Oliver Bentley wrote:
there a good learner book called "Learn as you play saxophone" , its a Boosey & Hawkes publication. Its a more adult book, quite classical, but all the method is in there - will take you up to intermediate standard.

Good luck, hope all goes well

"Classical", Oliver ???

It's very catholic, I'd say, and an excellent tutor, which my teacher and I are using.

Among the last few tunes are:
Capricorn Cocktail, Jazzetto and These Foolish Things 8|

tina · Jul 26, 2006

Thanks for encouragement and ideas everybody, really appreciate it and will try to get copy of Olivers book

Week 4.

Think I need bit more advice on embouchure, or maybe just practice. Gets a bit loose towards end of session, and I end up spitting everywhere!

New note; Bb in middle register. It was just there and I played it without thinking. Probably the b sign that gave it away.

New note; Eb with & without octave key. Can't get the hang of using RH 2 fingers for the E, and then 4 for the Eb!. Luckily a flute teacher friend suggested calling it D# "just play D and sharpen it". Makes more sense, now all I've got to do is to remember to convert it, make my finger move, breathe etc...

First look at C Blues scale and examples in melody. I like it - cant do it - but definately like it.

Picked up music book and tried few tunes just for fun. A couple you might even recognise!

Just going over old ground for rest of week, as picked up a cold and can't breathe. Great for improving use of diaphragm though!

Lisa · Aug 17, 2006

Hi Tina,

I'm amazed at the speed of your progress, well done. :w00t:

I'm 24 and started playing my Alto (lovingly named Bryan - after Bryan Ferry because my parents thought a boat was coming in everytime I started to blow my first few notes!) six weeks ago. (That's Bryan on the left.)

I've had 4 lessons with a professional teacher who is great. Each time Wednesday tea time comes around I'm positively bouncing off the walls with excitement about my lesson! I also played recorder at school but hated it and never picked up the music reading. I've really started from scratch but I'm loving every minute and although I've been practicing for 30 mins each night and taking lessons I'm nowhere near as advanced as you seem to be. :?

I'm using Boosey Woodwind Method 1, which seems popular with our forum buddies. It's great and includes CDs to play along with - worth a look.

I'm looking forward to your next installment and will try to contribute for as long as I can keep up and understand what you're on about!

Lisa

tina · Aug 18, 2006

Week 5

Missed playing at the weekend, had 'life' things to do - parties, BBQ's, that sort of thing. Went to best friend/neighbours christening party, and they actually like hearing me play. They didn't say whether it was the musicality, or comedy aspect that kept them entertained!

Back to hour a day routine.
Starting another new book 'Tune a Day' series, to run alongside others when I get bored!
Brushing up again on basics of reading music. They introduce new notes in a different order, so must pace myself or will miss something.

Question? which Bb fingering works best for you, or does it depend on what you are playing?

rico · Aug 20, 2006

i like to use the Bb side fingering but thats just my opineuon by the way what sax do you have(what make and model?)

oliver_bentley · Aug 20, 2006

The front Bb is often easiest most of the time. The Side Bb I only use to move chromatically from B to Bb (or A to Bb to B, or Bb to B...you get the idea). So if you were to play the F major scale I'd use the from Bb fingering, but if you were to play a chromatic scale I'd use the side fingering. For now though use what ever feels best for you, in time you'll sort out which you prefer.

Bobby G · Aug 20, 2006

I think Oli's got it about right there. After a while you almost don't think about it, a bit like driving a car, in that you know what you are doing but not thinking about every individual move. I have to admit to cheating occasionally going from Bb to B by rolling my index finger back slightly off the bis key (I think that's what it's called), but it's fairly smooth and sounds ok so I reckon I can get away with it. I am self-taught, though, a teacher might frown on this.

It seems to me, with 2.5 years 'experience', that you can stop thinking in terms of individual notes or scales, it's more like you know what pattern or shapes you are going to make with your fingers, so you end up not consciously thinking about fingering. You can almost 'see' it in your mind as, or slightly before, you actually play the pattern or phrase.

Anyway, keep on with the diary, it's all good stuff.

Cheers, Bob