Introduction Old novice saying hello from East Sussex

[cappers]

My name is Jon, I’m soon to turn 71 and have decided to learn to play the saxophone. As the saying goes, there's no fool worse than an old fool!

I have no prior musical experience but I have always loved listening to music and think the sound of the sax is magical. I have music and tunes buzzing around in my head and hum to myself all the time (helps with the tinnitus!). I like to ‘noodle’ and often make up ditties and improv to tunes in my head or on the radio or turntable. So I thought I’d give it a try as I now have the time, patience, discipline and desire to play stuff for fun on an instrument that I love the sound of.

In early December I found locally a barely used YAS-25 with 4C mpc for £225. I took it to my prospective tutor, who also repairs and services woodwinds. With six new pads and some adjustments she is now playing fine.

Since 19th December I have ‘played’ my alto every day guided by the Abracadabra for Alto Sax book, O’Neill’s Jazz Method for Saxophone and readings here on this friendly and informative site, including TTS, plus some Youtube tutorials. Learning to sight read as my tutor strongly recommends that I do, but ultimately I would love to be able to play what’s in my head (don’t we all?!)

Had my first one-to-one lesson on Monday. Some minor corrections on embouchure (I have wonky front teeth!) tonguing and breathing but he was, to my surprise, quite impressed with what I could do. He said I have a good ‘ear’, rhythm and timing, and have grasped the rudiments of ‘reading the dots’. Homework - practice tonguing, stop ‘huffing’, repeat the first chapters of Abra and practice the C Major and A minor scales (which I can do mostly!).

A long long way to go but I'm loving it already.

 

[mizmar]

I reckon having a head full of music is the best place to start.

Good luck!

 

[cappers]

@mizmar

I reckon having a head full of music is the best place to start.

Good luck!

Many thanks.

Just a case of getting what's in my head to my fingers ;>) !

 

[Tenor Viol]

Hi, welcome. Sounds like a good start. Now find your local community band/group and join 🙂

 

[cappers]

Hi, welcome. Sounds like a good start. Now find your local community band/group and join 🙂

There was a local swing band but they seem to have packed up. My tutor has a small group, Maybe one day......!

 

[Jeanette]

Welcome to the café and to sax, you will love it. Check out our recording threads, you don't have to play the full tune 😀

Jx

 

[skeller047]

Welcome! Sounds like you are off to a good start. As you practice your C major and A minor scales (only 11 more to go!), also add the C major / A minor pentatonic scale. It’s a subset, 5 of the 7 notes, but so many tunes from folk music to cinema scores, and everything in between, use this scale for melodies that it might help you turn your head noodles into a delicious bowl of ramen, or perhaps some Fettucine al Cappers!

C-D-E-G-A. Same notes for A minor, just a different root. Add an Eb for a blues-ey sound.

I think you’re gonna like it here…

 

[cappers]

Welcome! Sounds like you are off to a good start. As you practice your C major and A minor scales (only 11 more to go!), also add the C major / A minor pentatonic scale. It’s a subset, 5 of the 7 notes, but so many tunes from folk music to cinema scores, and everything in between, use this scale for melodies that it might help you turn your head noodles into a delicious bowl of ramen, or perhaps some Fettucine al Cappers!

C-D-E-G-A. Same notes for A minor, just a different root. Add an Eb for a blues-ey sound.

I think you’re gonna like it here…

Thank you @skeller047 for the welcome and advice.

I didn't want to rush but I'm aware of the pentatonic scales, and the use of Eb for a bluesy kind of feel which I like. So A min is A-C-D-E/Eb-G.

Might seem stupid to the experienced/musically educated but it only just dawned on me that the notes on the stave can be seen graphically as a frequency over time plot. I have been mentally translating the dots into note letters A, B, C etc then thinking that equals L1+2, L1, L2. Now I am trying to see the note on the stave, its relative position to what precedes/follows it and think of it's fingering without translating.

Must get new glasses, as sometimes I cant see if the note is on or off the lines without peering!

"As you practice your C major and A minor scales (only 11 more to go!),"​

Haha, yes so much to do......thankfully I enjoy learning new things. Love the humour on this site 😎

 

[Tenor Viol]

There was a local swing band but they seem to have packed up. My tutor has a small group, Maybe one day......!

Community orchestras are a good way in as a beginner as they take all instruments and accept beginners.

 

[Tenor Viol]

Thank you @skeller047 for the welcome and advice.

I didn't want to rush but I'm aware of the pentatonic scales, and the use of Eb for a bluesy kind of feel which I like. So A min is A-C-D-E/Eb-G.

Might seem stupid to the experienced/musically educated but it only just dawned on me that the notes on the stave can be seen graphically as a frequency over time plot. I have been mentally translating the dots into note letters A, B, C etc then thinking that equals L1+2, L1, L2. Now I am trying to see the note on the stave, its relative position to what precedes/follows it and think of it's fingering without translating.

Must get new glasses, as sometimes I cant see if the note is on or off the lines without peering!

"As you practice your C major and A minor scales (only 11 more to go!),"​

Haha, yes so much to do......thankfully I enjoy learning new things. Love the humour on this site 😎

Depending on where your music stand is compared to normal reading, you either need a pair of reading glasses specifically for playing music, or you can do what I do which is have 'occupational lenses' - these have in effect like varifocals but with only two zones - an intermediate reading distance and normal reading. They have an enahced depth of field which means that things further away are also in focus. I originally got them after my cataract surgery as I no longer needed distance lenses but I needed them for screen work (I worked in IT) plus music.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Hello Cappers, welcome to the forum and your new saxophone journey.

 

[Ghr9204]

Welcome to the Café, Jon @cappers .

My name is Jon, I’m soon to turn 71 and have decided to learn to play the saxophone. As the saying goes, there's no fool worse than an old fool!

I'm soon to turn 71, so you are not alone. We have people here of all ages, and a share of those senior, from all walks of life. We also have a good sense of humour here.

In early December I found locally a barely used YAS-25 with 4C mpc for £225. I took it to my prospective tutor, who also repairs and services woodwinds. With six new pads and some adjustments she is now playing fine.

That's an excellent horn to learn on and keep and a good mouthpiece to start with.

Since 19th December I have ‘played’ my alto every day guided by the Abracadabra for Alto Sax book, O’Neill’s Jazz Method for Saxophone and readings here on this friendly and informative site, including TTS, plus some Youtube tutorials. Learning to sight read as my tutor strongly recommends that I do, but ultimately I would love to be able to play what’s in my head (don’t we all?!)

You're in the right place. We have pro's here who are humble and willing to help any asking for help. @Pete Thomas , the forum's owner and Admin is a long time play-for-pay professional has posted excellent help content to both inform and train the neophyte and the advanced players in their performance. Also, he has posted other aids to help those who want to give professional playing a try, with pointers and things to be aware of, watch out for.

There are songs of the month and ballad of the months with downloadable lead sheets and electronic backing track files, so one can practise these and if desired, post a recording for critique / review / "hey, I'm here!", etc.

One can also go back into their history, and also download a song of their choice, and post their recording / comments in those as well. They don't expire.

Had my first one-to-one lesson on Monday. Some minor corrections on embouchure (I have wonky front teeth!) tonguing and breathing but he was, to my surprise, quite impressed with what I could do. He said I have a good ‘ear’, rhythm and timing, and have grasped the rudiments of ‘reading the dots’. Homework - practice tonguing, stop ‘huffing’, repeat the first chapters of Abra and practice the C Major and A minor scales (which I can do mostly!). A long long way to go but I'm loving it already.

Sounds like you're on track and enjoying it immensely. Again, welcome to the forum!

 

[cappers]

Thank you @Pete Thomas @ghostler et al for the warm welcome to the Cafe.

This site was invaluable to me when searching for a sax considered a good buy for a beginner, and TTS has so many teaching resources it really helped me start on my journey. The friendly advice, guidance, encouragement and camaraderie here is wonderful.

I'm lucky to have found a very good teacher (and ww technician) not too far away from me. We hit it off immediately which helps and I'm really looking forward to my lessons and my potential development as a player.

Happy days!

 

[MikeMorrell]

Hi Jon, a warm welcome to the cafe from me too!
As others have already said, it sounds as if you're off to a really great start! The best possible IMHO. Especially getting your sax checked out, getting some great books and having a tutor. Wonderful to hear that you're enjoying it so much!

I'm now 70 and I enjoy playing sax as much as ever! I've taken part in 10-week series of 'jazz improvisation workshops'(held twice a year) for a couple of years. The oldest participant (Harry, on tenor sax) is now almost 90. He has a beautiful sax tone (much better than mine!) and he enjoys learning new improvisation skills each time. Yes, Harry (thankfully) still has amazing vitality and no disabilities. But for me, Harry is an inspiration that when it comes to enjoyment from playing music, 'age' in itself is irrelevant.

FWIW, my only 'starters book' (30 years ago) was John O’Neill’s "Jazz Method for Saxophone" too! In fact, I still have it and I'm flicking through my 30-year old version right now. I'm delighted that it's still selling! It gave me a good 'grounding' in playing sax and it helped me gradually build up my playing abilities. Even now, I still think it's very cleverly written. What I personally loved at the time was that (as a beginner), I learned to play simplified versions of "real" (and recognizable) jazz tunes. My feeling at the time was "Wow, I'm actually playing jazz!!".

Best wishes for your 'sax journey'!

MIke

 

[cappers]

Hi Jon, a warm welcome to the cafe from me too!
As others have already said, it sounds as if you're off to a really great start! The best possible IMHO. Especially getting your sax checked out, getting some great books and having a tutor. Wonderful to hear that you're enjoying it so much!

I'm now 70 and I enjoy playing sax as much as ever! I've taken part in 10-week series of 'jazz improvisation workshops'(held twice a year) for a couple of years. The oldest participant (Harry, on tenor sax) is now almost 90. He has a beautiful sax tone (much better than mine!) and he enjoys learning new improvisation skills each time. Yes, Harry (thankfully) still has amazing vitality and no disabilities. But for me, Harry is an inspiration that when it comes to enjoyment from playing music, 'age' in itself is irrelevant.

FWIW, my only 'starters book' (30 years ago) was John O’Neill’s "Jazz Method for Saxophone" too! In fact, I still have it and I'm flicking through my 30-year old version right now. I'm delighted that it's still selling! It gave me a good 'grounding' in playing sax and it helped me gradually build up my playing abilities. Even now, I still think it's very cleverly written. What I personally loved at the time was that (as a beginner), I learned to play simplified versions of "real" (and recognizable) jazz tunes. My feeling at the time was "Wow, I'm actually playing jazz!!".

Best wishes for your 'sax journey'!

MIke

@MikeMorrell Thank you for the kind welcome and support.

I guess that our age learning/playing the sax can have added benefits such as breathing well, posture, manual dexterity and memory skills. Learning to sight read too which isn't quite as difficult as I believed, quite logical really.

I like the O'Neill book; Abracadabra and Easy Sax are good but Jazz Method seems more 'adult' and the tunes are more to my liking. I will ask my tutor which he wants to work from and go with his advice but I feel JM might be the best.

Regards