My first lesson

[Stevie]

Update from SW France.

I had my first lesson last Thursday. It went quite well considering the language barrier, but my wife came with me to act as translater, but only for the first two lessons.
Anyway, his background is a music teacher at the local university (sax and guitar), doesn't speak much English, but I think we will get through it OK.
He got me to play some bits of the tunes I already know (Strangers in the night) and then made some suggestions regarding mouth piece, breathing, and relaxing the shoulders. I also did a lot of squeeking, which is not normal for me. Must have been nerves.
He said I should be using Vandoren reeds (just after sending away for some Rico Royals #2 - not yet arrived). So now I have a box of 5 Vandorens #2.5. Quite a bit different form the ordinary Rico #2 I was playing, they seemed a bit like railway sleepers, but after a while I'm getting quite use to them. They cost me 20 Euro's (Blue box, not sure which kind).
He also got me to ditch "A tune a day" and now I have "Play the Saxophone" by Serge Bergstrom (I think), which is written in French and English. It mostly comprises of exercises and not tunes, which seems to be working to get my fingers moving more. I feel that I am making progress at last

Next lesson is this Thursday. As a point of interest he is charging 50 Euros for 4 half hour lessons per month. Not bad.

 

[Col9]

Hello, Dont envy you on the language front its all hard enough as it is.

Squeaking is a "nervy" problem I also have. It used to get so bad that nothing came out sometimes, just a wheeze.

I was told the complete opposite about reeds I had Vandoren 2.5 that I thought was OK, but I was told to use Rico 2's as they are easier to control. Teachers eh! 😛 (although mine is an alto)

Col.

 

[nick_cook]

Well done Steve - I've found my lessons to be indispensable. Although I never seem to play as well in my lesson as I do when practising. I always get praise though, and plenty of tips to help.

My current problems are the high notes with the octave key(I've been given exercises to help that) and playing too loud!!!! Nearly every week she says "is that as quiet as you can get"!!! I've to try all my exercises and tunes normally until I get them, and then try to do them much quieter!!! We'll see next week how I've got on!!!!

 

[Stevie]

Nick.

Funny you should mention the high notes. I was trying the exercise from my new book last night, and they are proving difficult to play, I have to blow quite hard and therefore loudly. Also, I feel a bit kack-handed with those keys. Hopefully I'll sought it out with the teacher.

 

[bobbyz]

Hey guys, I was having trouble getting out those nasty high Ebs and Fs when I was practicing on songs. My teacher told me that its all about tongue placement in your mouth and embochure. you want to keep the tongue high in the back of your mouth, that's what helps you get out those high notes because it channels the air at a faster speed to get them out. You can try practicing overtones with these where you place your hands in postion of low C and attempt to play a middle C. If your embochure is correctly placed, you should be able to hit middle C and then later on high G and high C. You have to practice these all the time.

 

[Rogerb]

Hi Stevie

20? for 5 Vandoren Blue Box sax reeds is very steep!

I get my reeds by post from http://www.reeds-direct.co.uk/ .... very good prices and service..... you could get a box of 10 ....ooops, see below*....delivered for less than 20? 🙂

(2.5 Vans also sound, to me, very hard for starting on 😱 )

But the lessons are reasonably priced, IMO...I pay 20? for a nominal half-hour, which is usually nearer an hour, with chat, etc!

*Just realised how much dearer tenor reeds are 😱 That price *was* for a box of 5!!!
GBP 10.35 + P&P, which, IIRC, is GBP2 to mainland Europe... sorry, but they are probably still *a bit* cheaper.

 

[Stevie]

Thanks for all of the input.

I'm having my 4th lesson tonight. Progress so far has been encouraging albeit only doing exercises form the book. But when I practise at home my wife says I am improving. Plus I'm a little more confident.

I'm getting use to the reads (2.5) now but I cannot tell the difference between the Rico Royal and the Vandorren, however if that is what my teacher wants me to do, what can I say.

The language issue is not really a problem as we seem to be able to get by.

I'll check that reed site out as I gettin close to needing some more, but there is a value in the convenience of a local supplier.

My wife bought me new ligature as a present this weekend, a B and G standard. That is my first upgrade (apart from the neck strap), and I think it sounds like an improvement.

 

[Rogerb]

Not havvin' a go at yours, Steve, but it puzzles me a bit when a teacher more or less insists on the use of a particular reed..... IMO, reeds are a very 'personal' item and we all seem to have our own 'favourites'.

I like Rico Jazz Selects, and, to a lesser extent ZZs, but am currently having some fun trying-out Fibracell Premiers..... it's nice to be able to pick the sax off the stand and just blow...no reed-wetting required 🙂

I'd like to experiment with others, but the price of a box of 10 is a bit off-putting!

 

[Stevie]

Roger,

Thanks for the comments and I know that you are no having a go. At my early stage of sax career I am leaning on what my teacher tells me and I respect his judgement. I note that he plays a plastic reed. However, after some time I may venture out and search for a different reed when I have aquired a bit more skill. The problem will be though in aquiring the reeds once I start to venture on the road of exploration!
Reading thru' the other threads though I notice there was one from an even newer learner who was debating mouthpieces and ligs. All I can say is that just after 2 days of playing my BG lig I find that it suits the Yam 4c very well, even with the little experience I have.

As for the All Blacks - C'mon Les Blues (after England) for the World Cup.