Saxophone beginners Learning when there's no teacher...

[jeepmammouth]

I don't know if its of any use but I am largely trying to teach myself and so I wrote a piece about what I am doing for Pete's blog area. I hope there's something in there that might help. I would love to know how you're tackling the problem.

Chris

Someone suggested Smartmusic and I did. This has made things a lot more fun and easier.

This is working fine for me as I commute 5 hrs/day. With SmartMusic I can play when I want so it's all working well.

I wish they more play along stuff but I suppose I can get those elsewere.

 

[tenorsaxman]

Smartmusic is great. At the moment I am practising the christmas numbers by Alfred and Little Drummer Boy in the solos section. I also like the 2 classical pieces in Essential Elements Book 1 - the extract from Dvorak's New World Symphony and Brahms Theme from Symphony No 1. Both of these have piano accompaniaments, so if you can find a pianist, it would let you do a real life 'performance'. Have you tried the Pink Panther Theme - it says its easy, but too tough for me at present. A goal to meet in the New Year. Good to chat with you.

Have you found an on line teacher who uses Smartmusic?

 

[DaveW]

Just read the blog Tenorsaxman and really enjoyed it, a couple of comments.

I too have TCSP and find it a very useful book and if you look in there Pink Panther is well in to the book (page 114 I think) so it's not THAT easy ;-)
I like the idea of using Audacity to check your timing, never thought of that. I did have some lessons and my timing, if I didn't know the tune, was very poor but you need that timing when playing with others.

That Smartmusic sound interesting, I will take a look.

For sheet music have a look at the Hal Leonard Real Book, 462 pages of dots! More experienced players may wish to comment this type of sheet music though.

 

[fishpond]

Ref:- Smartmusic.
Anybody know why the shipping is $38.95 ?(this is for a CD, and with/or without the microphone, it doesn't make any difference')
With the further possibility of being stung for c&e charges at this end.(U.K)

I have sent them an email asking why charges are so high, expect an answer maybe tomorrow(thursday).
Just seems odd that the shipping for one cd is more than the subscription.

 

[tenorsaxman]

Hello Bob

Shipping is silly. I bought Essential Elements 2000 for tenor sax for £6.95 from
http://www.musicroom.com/Search/gsearch.aspx?searchtext=essential+elements+tenor+sax. This comes with a cd and dvd which includes smartmusic and finale notepad. I like having the book as well as the software as there are annotations to some of the music, hints and tips and extra music pieces in the book. If you don't want to shell out for the book I've probably got a spare cd or dvd you could borrow to give it a try. I don't know for sure if you load this, you can then join for just the $30 annual sub, but it worked for me. If you want it send me a pm.

 

[tenorsaxman]

Hello Dave

I've just looked at p 114 of TCSP and Pink Panther is terrifying here. I was referring to the smartmusic version which is also tough for me, but on screen I can slow it down and chop the tune into manageable sections for practise. Well I think I can, but playing PP is definitely a project for 2010.
BTW in TCSP I'm still trying to play Strangers in the Night, decently, on page 49!

 

[jeepmammouth]

Ref:- Smartmusic.
Anybody know why the shipping is $38.95 ?(this is for a CD, and with/or without the microphone, it doesn't make any difference')
With the further possibility of being stung for c&e charges at this end.(U.K)

I use to work in Shipping and the two main factor that affect price are distance and carrier. Sometimes, a carrier can be very good localy but very bad long distance or worst, international.

Sometimes it's just that the carrier is greedy (UPS comes to mind... cross the border when them and you're in for it).

 

[fishpond]

Recieved a response from Smart Music
"Bob-

"The order you are attempting to place includes a free copy of the SmartMusic program on CD. You should be able to deselect that free CD and continue the order to avoid Shipping charges."

Doesn't explain why though!

 

[DaveW]

Recieved a response from Smart Music
"Bob-

"The order you are attempting to place includes a free copy of the SmartMusic program on CD. You should be able to deselect that free CD and continue the order to avoid Shipping charges."

Doesn't explain why though!

Does that mean you don't actually need the CD?

I must admit I hadn't gone through the full buying process initially, just saw the 'download' thing and assumed that's how the program was distributed.
When I saw about shipping at $38.95 the thought of subscribing went out the window.
If the program works with the CD then that's fine.

 

[fishpond]

Davew
"Does that mean you don't actually need the CD"
I asked them that question this afternoon. Sadly, I will not be back at that email addy until Friday.

 

[jeepmammouth]

Davew
"Does that mean you don't actually need the CD"
I asked them that question this afternoon. Sadly, I will not be back at that email addy until Friday.

You don't need the CD, you can download the software Online. That's what i did.

All you will find on the CD is the smartmusic software. I got it for the sake of having a hard copy and because I was getting a clip-on cheapo microphone from them anyway otherwise I wouldn't have bothered.

 

[fishpond]

Further reply from S M =

"Bob-

You should be able to download and install the program. No CD would be required to install our Make Music program".

I will attempt to do this over the w/end.🙂

 

[fishpond]

I have now downloaded without the disc.(& the shipping charges🙂)
Still finding my way around the program, but it seems to do what it says on the tin.
Impressed so far🙂

 

[Drphil]

Hi there,
my daughter has weekly lessons and is absolutely flying,I have a 30mins every 2-3 weeks though my original plan was to teach myself- I must say I do learn something new every time I go and it has been invaluable especially in the early stages.
It might be worth the long trip for a longer lesson -60mins? every 4 weeks.
I take my 10year old 45mins every 2 weeks for a bass guitar lesson and the teacher has people who travel your sort of distance regularly because he's good -He has long lesson 'slots' deliberately to make the journey worthwhile.
Might be worth it if there was someone you liked.

 

[fishpond]

Just an update on Smart Music really.
Many Thanks to Chris(tenorsaxman )for the info he sent me by pm.
IMHO
As a beginner, I would now be lost without S Music. Cost me £19 for the year, it has everything I need to keep me going without a teacher:welldone

 

[half diminished]

After just shy of 30 months on sax I'd suggest that some things are fine on your own and some somewhat more difficult to achieve solo.

The biggest gotchas IMO are avoiding bad habits and incorrect technique. You also need a good practice regime if you are to make proper progress with any speed.

From personal experience, a poor teacher, and I did used to have one, can also hold you back. What has slowed me down is not getting the technical side nailed early enough. On the other hand, a great teacher like I now have is worth a significant travel. I usually have one lesson every three weeks unless I am working on something tricky and need extra help.

So good luck!

 

[gladsaxisme]

Hi this is advice from someone who has emerged recently from the tunnel you seem worried to enter

DON'T BE it's fun all the way, you can do it on your own, just take your time and don't expect miracles from yourself.

If you find the book your using difficult try a different one they're not all the same.I binned my first one I found it awful.The one I liked was Abracadabra SAXOPHONE by Johnathon Rutland.

I hope you don't get any hassle about the noise your making that can be offputting, if you do, try to ignore it. Take your time and enjoy the journey.🙂......john

 

[Mamos]

I have been looking through a load of the videos on ehow

This woman is great but there are many other teachers on there http://www.ehow.com/video_4960814_chords-within-saxophone-scales-triad.html

It can be quite difficult to navigate the sute and find exactly what you are looking for but it is still good.

Search for specific thing like scales and patterns etc there is loads on there.

plus check out saxlessons.com. Alistair will give you one to one lessons wherever you are via skye

I apologise if these have been mentioned before, I haven't read the whole thread

mamos

 

[CaillouSax]

After just shy of 30 months on sax I'd suggest that some things are fine on your own and some somewhat more difficult to achieve solo.

The biggest gotchas IMO are avoiding bad habits and incorrect technique. You also need a good practice regime if you are to make proper progress with any speed.

From personal experience, a poor teacher, and I did used to have one, can also hold you back. What has slowed me down is not getting the technical side nailed early enough. On the other hand, a great teacher like I now have is worth a significant travel. I usually have one lesson every three weeks unless I am working on something tricky and need extra help.

So good luck!

I agree. I have a really good teacher and it's essential to avoid bad habits. Your progress will go faster (as your practice sessions are regular).

 

[Saxy Chrissie]

I have started off on a 'A Tune a Day'. That is what we used for all instruments at school. I have nearly finished book one and I also pick up piano music we have and try and play that. I was thinking about having a lesson every now and again. Are sax teachers open to that or do the prefer regular clients?

Does anyone have a suggestion for a beginners book which also has a accompaniment for guitar/ base guitar and maybe drums. We are trying to play as a family but the only think we can all do is 'Saints go marching in' Nice but we would like some variety.

Thanks

Chris