new first timer

thanks to every one who has reply ,i think i have had some good ideas from you guys ,top tip john.
well just got back from first lesson wow 1/2 an hour goes quick i'm struggling to get a consistant note so came home to an empty house and thought why not so i have been going up and down the notes(scales?) just to get used to the finger movements i supose it's practice practice practice next lesson thursday roll on thursday i'm hopping i might have made a bit of improvement so i can show teacher ha ha ha
 
If you keep up with the practice, you'll get on quickly. But you don't always realise how much progress you're making. Always worth taking a look back at pieces you used to struggle with, really brings the progress home.

Another useful trick is to just blow the mouthpiece/reed. Sounds horrid, but it really brings home how much your embouchure changes at first. And helps you to get it under control.
 
Welcome from Kent
I to am a beginner and experienced all that you mention, but the time I moved forward was when I got myself a tutor and started learning how play correctly. The next step was playing along with others, that was the ground breaking time for me.
It then made sense of all the "timing" and the feel for the music.
Still got a very long way to go, but its enjoyable.
 
1954pip said:
thanks to every one who has reply ,i think i have had some good ideas from you guys ,top tip john.
well just got back from first lesson wow 1/2 an hour goes quick i'm struggling to get a consistant note so came home to an empty house and thought why not so i have been going up and down the notes(scales?) just to get used to the finger movements i supose it's practice practice practice next lesson thursday roll on thursday i'm hopping i might have made a bit of improvement so i can show teacher ha ha ha
Click to expand...

Thats a good way to go, any practice is good practice just enjoy what you do,you'll be surprised how quickly things move on...john
 
Hello Pip and Welcome to the cafe. Not long to the next lesson now. Good luck with it.

Jim.
 
Hi Pip welcome to the Forum. As things progress, you'll enjoy it, both playing and taking part in this extravaganza of info.

johnboy.
 
many thanks to all i think it is worth getting tutor i was trying to move in the book i am learning from when went back the next lesson he told yes you are doing ok but your playing bflat wrong i was gutted and it put me backabout a week but now i got under control so i can see the mistake you can make without a tutor.
in the book i am learning from i am on page 23 so i am moving along still having a struggle to learn music and play sax at the same, but i am starting to get it but i have along way to go yet.
 
The way we are all going is probably the most enjoying but dificult. And this is the best part of it!!! Because it is challenging you at every step you make to learn new things!!! I really LOVE sax playing!!!!!!!!!!
Chin up PIP!!!
 
hi you lot are so welcoming it restores your thaith in human kind .
well i have been playing every day for at least an hour if not two i thought was not doing very well ,i made a big mistake and recorded me playing when i played it back i was gutted i sounded c**p well i picked myself up and started again i am starting to under stand there's a lot more to it than just blowing down a pipe.
when i play still having trouble getting some notes, trying to get round the octave key a the mo,i must say my teacher is great never tells me of he just says i think it needs some practice. (SAY LIKE BRUCIE) KEEEP BLOWING.
 
Pip, keep the recording. Put it away for a few months. Then record yourself again and compare the two.... You'll be amazed at how much progress you've made.

You'll probably have noticed that a lot of the early tunes/exercises involved notes just over/just below the octave break.... It's for a reason, but you'll soon get it really smooth, but it's a big jump at first.
 
hi kevgermany that what i've done hope there is a big diference, my wife keeps telling me i am getting better, i surpose i am moving forward but sometimes get frustrated at the speed i am moving .
but i have plenty of time left to learn i think this is a long term thing.
 
PIP, WE'RE ALL HERE FOR YOU!!!

John.

Gosh I must have had a lot of wine last night.
 
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Recording yourself is really useful. But try not to think in terms of "am I crap or not?" but "whats the crappest thing about my playing" and it should give you a clue about what to work on. And yes, keep the recordings. You'll be surprised how much improvement there is.
 
1954pip said:
hi kevgermany that what i've done hope there is a big diference, my wife keeps telling me i am getting better, i surpose i am moving forward but sometimes get frustrated at the speed i am moving .
but i have plenty of time left to learn i think this is a long term thing.
Click to expand...

One thing you may find useful is the following exercise. Just play the mouthpiece and neck together - take them off the sax. Then concentrate on producing the nicest sound that you can. Do this for 4/5 minutes, and adjust your embouchure to see what effect this has on the sound. By doing this you will just be producing a tone, not a recogniseable note as such. Get the tone as nice as you can make it. Do this each time before you practice, and it should gradually have a marked effect on the quality of the sound you produce, and takes the focus off pressing keys, playing in tune, making notes last the right length and all the things that can take our attention.

Do try this and give some feedback after a couple of weeks.
Kind regards
Tom
 
1954pip said:
my wife keeps telling me i am getting better, i surpose i am moving forward but sometimes get frustrated at the speed i am moving .
Click to expand...

If your wife thinks you're improving, then you are. Often as learners we're too close to it to realse what's happening. But it's the small milestones as well - working on a tricky rhythm, getting a clean high or low note consistently...

And the long term is why it's so good, you can learn for your whole life!
 
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