practice session!

[breathless]

I have to say that ive just had a killer practice session (for me anyway, having only picked a sax up 5 months ago).

very few mistakes and all came together very well.

I even went as far to swap over to give my recently purchased Yanagisawa metal m/piece and for the first time no squeaks and didnt loose control of it at all, would even go as far to say it sounded better than my Yanagisawa N06 Ive been playing.

feeling really pleased with myself right now so thought id shout it out!

thanks for listening!

rgds Lee.

 

[Pyrografix]

:welldone Keep up the good work!:welldone

 

[trimmy]

It's nice when a session comes together, for me it doesn't happen that often

 

[Jeanette]

Nice one Lee

I had a really good evening on Wed with my tutor, normally my playing is rubbish with him but it all went really well for once, a great feeling.

Jx

 

[breathless]

Thanks all, it seems that I'm starting to have more successful sessions than unsuccessful if that makes sense?
Wasn't that long ago that I was lucky to have a good session, the tides turned and most sessions are OK with the occasional bad one but today just felt really really good.
You know when it happens, but today was a scorcher and I ended up playing twice as long as I normally do.

I was about to call it a day and I thought to myself I'll give the metal piece a go, now I'm all warmed up and feeling good.

The last time I tried it I was using the Yamaha 4c as my regular piece and it went horribly wrong on the metal piece, simply had no control of it but today I made it sing and I played until I could feel my mouth getting tired and the tone starting to warble!

Neither have it been able to get control of the metal piece before but I've never played a practice session for so long.

Loved it! If only every day could be like that!

Trimmy, I know what you mean.
Jeanette, I have some sort of mental block when I go to my tutor for a lesson, just can't seem to get it together, I develop a quiver in my lip that I don't get at home, I misread notes, it all gos wrong most times. Think it all comes down to relaxing.

Rgds Lee.

 

[TomMapfumo]

Just spotted the thread!

Congratulations, Lee, on seeing that your progress is becoming measureable and you must be achieving a sufficient lack of self consciousness to relax more fully. A good embouchure is very much about relaxing, or at least being able to relax sufficiently such that you can adapt to the needs of your reed, ligature and mouthpiece to produce a good sound consistently.


Good news!
Tom

 

[breathless]

Just spotted the thread!

Congratulations, Lee, on seeing that your progress is becoming measureable and you must be achieving a sufficient lack of self consciousness to relax more fully. A good embouchure is very much about relaxing, or at least being able to relax sufficiently such that you can adapt to the needs of your reed, ligature and mouthpiece to produce a good sound consistently.

Good point you make there Tom, I have noticed my umberchure has improved and last week on one practise session I became aware I'd relaxed so much I was barely aware the piece was in my mouth! And I might go as far to so my tone was a little better (well I thought so).
I've also noticed I tighten up and my tone deteriorates often at my weekly lesson possibly due to be a little pressured to show what I've learnt and that I've been practising.

I also given thought that due to working shift patterns and having two young children that go to bed early I've wondered if I've been placing myself under pressure to perform thus causing a bit of stress which causes me to tighten up and tone then deteriorates.

Rgds Lee.

 

[kevgermany]

We put ourselves under a lot of pressure to play thee darned things... And get better. Kids are an issue (as I know). But keep going. You'll probably find they love hearing you practice.

 

[breathless]

We put ourselves under a lot of pressure to play thee darned things... And get better. Kids are an issue (as I know). But keep going. You'll probably find they love hearing you practice.

Kev- I'm sorry to say my son is far from impressed although my daughter doesn't mind as long as I let her blow a note here and there! (and at the age of 4, she does very well).

On a serious note, it's fast become a significant part of my life, I plan my day everyday based around when I'm going to fit in my practice and in 5-6 months I can definitely see a huge difference of which I'm pleased.

Rgds
Lee.

 

[jrintaha]

Kev- I'm sorry to say my son is far from impressed although my daughter doesn't mind as long as I let her blow a note here and there! (and at the age of 4, she does very well).

On a serious note, it's fast become a significant part of my life, I plan my day everyday based around when I'm going to fit in my practice and in 5-6 months I can definitely see a huge difference of which I'm pleased.

Rgds
Lee.

Heh, I feel for you. I've got kids aged 2½ and 1 years old, and finding the time to play usually requires putting a bit of extra work into the rest of the day. If I do have no urgent matters to attend to, it usually means the 1-year-old is having a nap or it's past bedtime for them... and it's kind of a no-go to play at that time too.

My wife just started at her new job this week, and I'm looking after the kids at home for another two weeks, after which they go to a small nursery (just 2 workers, 8 kids), and I'll be back to work as well. Maybe I have to call in sick some day! (With the kids home a sick day was hardly a resting day...)

It is strange how important the sax has become. I've hardly played any of the other instruments I have (guitar, bass, synth, accordion, concertina etc.) after getting the sax. I've completely reworked the way I write music (I'm composing something almost all of the time) to incorporate the sax into everything. When I walk to the grocery store or cycle to work, there's just the one thing on my mind, the tenor on its stand next to the computer and music stand. Now that I notice it, it's actually taken the spot next to my computer I had previously reserved to my favorite guitar for so many years.

Funny how things go.

Cheers,
Jori