Playing the saxophone Learn to play by ear or by reading music

[jbtsax]

There's a mathematical name for progress that decreases as it nears it's destination. It can be frustrating to see progress slow after the initial leaps and bounds. All we can do is keep at it.

In school music festivals in the US there are five rankings:

I - Superior
II - Excellent
III - Good
IV - Fair
V - Poor

When teaching a group of students to prepare a piece for festival, it takes a lot more time and effort to go from a II to a I than it does to go from a V to a II. It may sound counter intuitive, but as the group begins to play better and better there is a lot more detail that needs to be worked on. Another way to say it, as the group gets better, individual problems, even small one stand out more.

 

[jbtsax]

An important concept in my personal crackpot musical philosophy is that, since we are always at a certain level as players, we should enjoy what we are doing now and not spend our entire musical lives feeling dissatisfied that we are not at a higher level.

When I say this I find people generally interpret it as complacency, arrogance, smugness, self-satisfaction etc, but that really isn't what I mean.

Enjoying one's current level of playing and aspiring to become a better player are not mutually exclusive. I've been doing that now for 58 years. I'm even taking private lessons again after all these years.

 

[Alice]

I certainly want to be the best saxophonist that I can be, in whatever years I have left to enjoy.

 

[Bernie]

It's a noble idea but I suspect if you ask even the most advanced player there will be something they are not happy about with their playing🙂

Jx

Well if you ask almost anybody they will tell you they are not really very good, that they still have a long way to go, etc etc etc, because that is what's expected of us, we're not supposed to show off. It may not always be what they are really thinking. We need to look beneath the surface sheen, we need to penetrate deep, deep into the darkest recesses of the tortured human psyche.

I'm not talking about being unhappy with some aspects of your playing, I'm talking about a vague but pervasive feeling that you're not really making music properly at all, that there is some kind of altered state that you haven't yet achieved. I used to feel like this myself, although it wasn't something I was really consciously aware of, then I read something that made me realise I was thinking that way, and then I just changed the way I thought about it, and I feel happy about my music now. I wasn't desperately unhappy before you understand, but it's much nicer to be happy, we spend a long time playing music and if you spend all that time feeling vaguely dissatisfied and uptight it's not good for you.

Now, when I click my fingers you will awaken, feeling refreshed, and go on with the remainder of your evening as if nothing strange had ever happened....

 

[Bernie]

Are we "always at a certain level as players"?

What I mean is, you're always at some level, so enjoy the level you're at. Maybe you've never been affected by the feeling that you are somehow not a "proper" musician while others around you are. I don't know how common it is.

 

[Taz]

we're not supposed to show off.

Whoops, nobody told me that bit!!!

 

[Bernie]

Ah no, you are supposed to show off when you're doing a performance, you're not supposed to show off by saying you think you're a good musician or anything like that.

What is going on with the iridescent rings and stuff in that photo Taz? That is all a bit disturbing. You (if it is you) have got some kind of glowing halo floating round your horn and the guitarist has got something glowing as well. I do hope this isn't the weird effect of some kind of frightful hallucinogen!

 

[jbtsax]

If chicks really dig what you are playing, that's all that really matters to us guys. Forget all that introspection crap.

 

[Bernie]

If chicks really dig what you are playing, that's all that really matters to us guys. Forget all that introspection crap.

No no no, chicks like the introspection crap, it makes you seem brooding and dangerous and they are drawn to you like moths to a flame in a dangerous dance that can only end in disaster.

 

[jbtsax]

No no no, chicks like the introspection crap, it makes you seem brooding and dangerous and they are drawn to you like moths to a flame in a dangerous dance that can only end in disaster.

What a great idea for a love song. No wait, someone has already written My Old Flame.

 

[ProfJames]

I went to a fireman's disco last week.......................I took an old flame..............

 

[gladsaxisme]

Well if you ask almost anybody they will tell you they are not really very good, that they still have a long way to go, etc etc etc, because that is what's expected of us, we're not supposed to show off. It may not always be what they are really thinking. We need to look beneath the surface sheen, we need to penetrate deep, deep into the darkest recesses of the tortured human psyche.

I'm not talking about being unhappy with some aspects of your playing, I'm talking about a vague but pervasive feeling that you're not really making music properly at all, that there is some kind of altered state that you haven't yet achieved. I used to feel like this myself, although it wasn't something I was really consciously aware of, then I read something that made me realise I was thinking that way, and then I just changed the way I thought about it, and I feel happy about my music now. I wasn't desperately unhappy before you understand, but it's much nicer to be happy, we spend a long time playing music and if you spend all that time feeling vaguely dissatisfied and uptight it's not good for you.

Now, when I click my fingers you will awaken, feeling refreshed, and go on with the remainder of your evening as if nothing strange had ever happened....

Why have I started barking and rolling over wanting my belly rubbed

 

[richardr]

Well if you ask almost anybody they will tell you they are not really very good, that they still have a long way to go, etc etc etc, because that is what's expected of us, we're not supposed to show off.

This is an interesting one: last night I members of a band whom I hadn't seen for some time asked me how my sax was coming on. I replied to the effect that I'm not much good yet but I'm getting better all the time. One of the guys responded, "everyone says that, I bet you're awesome".
Here, you won't find any musician in this country saying he's really good because that would be seen as boastful in a country where modesty and false modesty are expected. So, no-one believes it. That's a problem for people like me who are still learning to play to a useful standard. Why is it a problem to me? Because I absolutely hate people thinking I'm better than I am. Thinking as I type, is this the real reason for what may seem to be false modesty - anyone who says he's good is asking for comeuppance when someone better comes along?

 

[Jeanette]

I absolutely hate people thinking I'm better than I am.

Me too, problem is other people are not necessarily as critical of us as we are ourselves.

Jx

 

[gladsaxisme]

Me too, problem is other people are not necessarily as critical of us as we are ourselves.

Jx

I never have that problem it's obvious how bad I am

 

[richardr]

Me too, problem is other people are not necessarily as critical of us as we are ourselves.

This is true. From recent experience I'll explain a practical reason for my own self criticism and my need to manage the expectations of others: for years I've been watching local bands and going to jam sessions thinking, would I be good enough to play with them? Dare I try to join in? Up to a couple of months ago the answer has always been, no. The reasons are, in a performing band no-one wants to waste rehearsal time on bringing a sub-standard musician up to speed and, in jam sessions, a saxophone isn't like a guitar, the sort of thing you can play quietly in the background until you've got the hang of it. So, there's good reason to be self critical because I don't want to make an idiot of myself and, more importantly, I don't want to spoil it for everyone else. That's why, when invited to join in, I've always said, no, I'm not good enough.
This produces a Catch-22 situation: I'm not good enough to play with the band but the only way I'll ever be good enough to play with the band is to play with the band. I've been supremely fortunate in that one band has recognised my need to play along and is giving me that opportunity every week. I'm not good enough yet but I'm improving, something the band can see which is why it's worth putting-up with me. I'm not there yet but the point where I can play a proper "guest spot", where instead of playing as a supernumary, I can replace the single-reed man for a couple of numbers, is in sight.
This brings me to another point which may well be relevant to other "play by ear" types: I've been fortunate, but how is everyone else going to get the experience needed to make them good enough to take their places in a band? Most people of my age who play in jazz bands have been doing it from 'teens and 'twenties; they've grown up with their peers, probably none of them ace when they started but they've grown together. People like me have to play catch-up in a big way.
It's different for sheet music players - there are plenty of bands that have room and easy scores for inexperienced players. What we need is beginners' jazz and rock bands for people who want to ply by ear. I don't think this is something that can be organised in this forum because saxes alone don't make a band. We need other musicians with whom to play, a rhythm section as well as the other parts of the front line. Are there any websites for beginners' bands? Any other ideas? Or am I unique in having had this problem?

 

[richardr]

I never have that problem it's obvious how bad I am

I seem to recall from the Cafe meet-up in May last year that you're a dam' sight better than me!

 

[richardr]

No no no, chicks like the introspection crap

That's modern chicks. None of 'em has any time for an OAP.

 

[gladsaxisme]

I seem to recall from the Cafe meet-up in May last year that you're a dam' sight better than me!

That's very kind of you but I found it very difficult to keep up with the attempted impro going on and was very sure I was way off and probably much too loud as well,I think I was deafening Colin next to me.
And I still wouldn't dare to join in on a jam session

 

[richardr]

That's very kind of you but I found it very difficult to keep up with the attempted impro going on and was very sure I was way off and probably much too loud as well,I think I was deafening Colin next to me.
And I still wouldn't dare to join in on a jam session

I didn't improvise at all. I simply listened to what Colin the Bear was playing and copied it - by ear. I got lost on even the very simple set of dots that Aldevis provided for us.
Perhaps most of us admire the things we can't do rather than the things we can. Because my reading is lousy I admire the skill of those who can, maybe even of those who don;t rate themselves so highly. I play mainly by ear and until recently have regarded my playing as worthless tootling. Maybe as someone who is making a start on "ear" you may see merit in my playing - but go listen to Taz or Colin the Bear and that will cure you!