Saxophone beginners Realistic goals for late bloomers

[ch_boogie]

Smithy

As Col9 said we play in a Community Band and it's just great!!! Before we started I was feeling like I think you are at the moment. I wasn't fussed about doing grades as long as I knew I was progressing, which I know I am. I have no time limit I just know I want to play in a big band.

If you can find a local community music group or band or even some like minded sax players that you can meet up with occasionally it might help to give you some direction.

 

[Smiffy]

helenA wrote:
It is at Snakedavis.com

under saxology in tabs at the top, then late learners student copy

enjoy!

Thanks Helen found it, will have a read later

Something that was on his site, Low breath

I was told this last year, breath by the nose and I forgot about it , it works but you have to remember, and you will find out, to take a breath for yourself and that air needs it be in the lungs

 

[Smiffy]

Ch'Boogie wrote:
Smithy

As Col9 said we play in a Community Band and it's just great!!! Before we started I was feeling like I think you are at the moment. I wasn't fussed about doing grades as long as I knew I was progressing, which I know I am. I have no time limit I just know I want to play in a big band.

If you can find a local community music group or band or even some like minded sax players that you can meet up with occasionally it might help to give you some direction.

Ch'Boogie Thanks for the reply and advice

 

[pete_canter]

Hi Smiffy - don't know how old you are but you look very young to me. I bought my first sax aged 33 (no music education previously) and now at 56 do 100+ paid jazz gigs a year and teach and compose so you just never know what you can achieve. As someone said, a thousand mile journey starts with the first step. The journey is a blast so enjoy it and don't limit your expectations. Pete

 

[Smiffy]

Pete Canter wrote:
Hi Smiffy - don't know how old you are but you look very young to me. I bought my first sax aged 33 (no music education previously) and now at 56 do 100+ paid jazz gigs a year and teach and compose so you just never know what you can achieve. As someone said, a thousand mile journey starts with the first step. The journey is a blast so enjoy it and don't limit your expectations. Pete

you look very young to me.

You are my friend for life

I'm 48 🙁 the last time I played an instrument was at school aged 15

The French horn, the school had a big band, was doing ok but then we moved and .........

Really good how you have got on, very well done

 

[Moz]

Listening to your clip (Google reports it as an 'attack site' from a malicious software point of view), I don't think you need worry about embouchure tips or indeed any tips on tone at all. Sounds damned good to me. In tune, tight, pleasant to listen to. Like it, let's hear more.

Moz

Smiffy wrote:
Being one of them

I took up playing just over a year a go without much thought as to the complexities of playing different styles and no clear aim as to where I wanted to end up

I feel like I am surrounded by a ocean of information that I won't be able to drink and may well drown

I have no delusions of being a pro, or going for degrees I have no more that a average of 5 hours a week to practice, can't afford a teacher every week and just the volume of work needed puts an end to that

I do have a sort of 5 year plan, to be able to play a few solos and play some big band stuff to a fair/good standard

At the moment I concentrate on fingering, tones, timing, scales and arpeggios ( just the major, minor and chromatic standard) and try to learn tunes I like that I can copy

As time goes by this may well open up, so not shutting the door completely BUT as I said before, I'm just not going to learn everything, there is just too much

Is being realistic about what I hope achieve, failure ? if I only concentrate on a limited number of things

My head just spins when I read " Your Embouhure should be like this (lip over ) and not change" then " that's wrong Do this ( lip out) "

While It may sound like I know what I want, I don't

So any advice would be most welcome

 

[Smiffy]

Moz wrote:
Listening to your clip (Google reports it as an 'attack site' from a malicious software point of view), I don't think you need worry about embouchure tips or indeed any tips on tone at all. Sounds damned good to me. In tune, tight, pleasant to listen to. Like it, let's hear more.

Moz

Smiffy wrote:
Being one of them

I took up playing just over a year a go without much thought as to the complexities of playing different styles and no clear aim as to where I wanted to end up

I feel like I am surrounded by a ocean of information that I won't be able to drink and may well drown

I have no delusions of being a pro, or going for degrees I have no more that a average of 5 hours a week to practice, can't afford a teacher every week and just the volume of work needed puts an end to that

I do have a sort of 5 year plan, to be able to play a few solos and play some big band stuff to a fair/good standard

At the moment I concentrate on fingering, tones, timing, scales and arpeggios ( just the major, minor and chromatic standard) and try to learn tunes I like that I can copy

As time goes by this may well open up, so not shutting the door completely BUT as I said before, I'm just not going to learn everything, there is just too much

Is being realistic about what I hope achieve, failure ? if I only concentrate on a limited number of things

My head just spins when I read " Your Embouhure should be like this (lip over ) and not change" then " that's wrong Do this ( lip out) "

While It may sound like I know what I want, I don't

So any advice would be most welcome

Google reports it as an 'attack site'

really ? , I'have not had that

I am looking around now for something else to beat the life out of, well hopefully not totally 😉 not really got any good sax solo's in my books, just learning pieces

Have sent a couple of e-mails off to find a group/ band to join

Will post anything I hear back

 

[Smiffy]

Up-date on the Community Hall

It closes at 6 pm weekdays and Weekends is booked for Methodist meeting


Not very community friendly in the week then 🙁

 

[TomMapfumo]

Hi Smiffy!

If you are able to come to Swansea anytime I would be happy to lend you my musicroom. Both sets of neighbours are Sax friendly and I often play them a tune if they have invited friends around to their back gardens. Currently I am blasting out an improvised tenor sax on "Cantaloupe Island", making it into a Quintet with the CD accompaniment from Herbie and the guys. I am sure that we could duet "Summertime" and receive appropriate plaudits.

Kind regards
Tom

PS. Sorry if I know little about Jupiter saxes and am unable to recommend them based on sny experience. However I am more aware of the quality of their Brass instruments at this moment in time!

 

[Smiffy]

Hi Tom, That is a very kind offer and would love to take you up on it one day

The Jupiter, While I am no expert others have said mine is a goodun

and it's only me that is to blame if it sounds bad, that's my excuses knocked on the head

Just been watching Pete on You-tube, I want the Sax he is playing looks right easy to play, all them there notes just fall out easy peasy


😛

 

[Smiffy]

A little up-date on this

Not really had any replies to e-mails I sent out, I'm guessing it's the holidays

I have been asked to jam with a small group of people just doing it for fun next week, Drums, guitar, keyboard, clarinet players

 

[Taz]

Hey Smiffy, jam sessions are a great place to start. I'd only had my alto 3 months (first ever sax at 40) when I felt like playing at a jam. I asked the guys who ran it if they minded if I just played quietly in the corner just for my own benefit. I didn't even want a mic. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and found that I could even contribute to the evening. I played there for a few weeks un-mic'd. One evening I was playing a solo (to myself) with my eyes shut, really getting into the moment. I suddenly realised that I could hear myself really clearly. When I opened my eyes I realised, to my horror, that the vocalist had shoved his mic down the bell of my sax The guys in the jam said it sounded great and I ended up joining their band. That was three and a half years ago. I moved onto a tenor and have played with two different bands. I don't have time or the finances for grades and I think I would really struggle with the formality of them. I struggle with learning technical stuff. I struggle to remember what the keys on the sax are called. I suppose the advice I'm trying to give in my very inexperienced and clumsy way is just have fun. Wherever your journey takes you, enjoy the ride 8)

 

[Smiffy]

Thanks for the post Pete, I keep saying to the guy who wants me to join them

I'm rubbish, I know nothing... .....But he won't have it and says SO ARE WE just come along (I know he is lying)

So nervously I will be

 

[Taz]

That's what the guys "Kindly" said to me so I told them that I was there to experience the atmosphere of a jam and that I was playing for my benefit not theirs. I loved every second of it.
I go to jam sessions whenever I can now. It's like a drug. When you think you've played something well and the audience applaud it, it give you such a thrill.
Good luck if you decide to go. I don't think you'll regret it for one second! 😉

 

[Smiffy]

Pete yeah I'm going, first step is always the hardest but I need to get out to learn off others

Thanks again for you in-put

 

[Taz]

A word of advice for a loud jam don't stand near the speakers! If you have been to this jam before , you may already know what the volume levels are like. There is nothing worse than not being able to hear yourself play. Just ask Geoff (Semiquaver) or PaulyT or Bobby G they all went to a jam that was driven be supposed "Rock Gods" :laugh: :laugh: NOT luckily Paulyt hosted another session where we all made up for it. (Shameless link.) There are about six videos in total but it should give you an idea of what to expect.
Let us know how you get on.

 

[Smiffy]

Pete, You are scaring me 😱 :cry: 😛


Good stuff there mate

I'm guessing it's just going to be a, Getting to know you and what's stuff is being played, at first

I will let you know how it goes

 

[Col]

Hi Smiffy,

I started at 34 (15 years ago) and besides having great fun jamming in pubs and playing gigs with a number of bands, got myself the perfect (3rd) wife and a couple of beautiful kids - all from playing the sax

My wife used to sing with a band, and we did a gig together, if I hadn't started playing I'd be a lonely, miserable wreck :cry:

Just goes to prove - everyone loves a sax player 8)

 

[Smiffy]

Hello Col. 3rd wife! 😱 brave man or was she the brave one taking you on 😉

Friday week it is, best get practising some jazz chords I'v been told

*jazz jazz I know nothing about jazz, gulp * 🙂

 

[Greywolf]

Started playing at 49. Eventually bought myself the best sax could afford Yani 991 and started playing/practising seriously about 5 years ago. (I'm now 56). I live in Morecambe and there are a lot of opportunities for playing here.

I play as often as I can with whoever I can. I'm not good but I'm getting better. I won't live long enough to be as good as I want to be (to play like Lester Young) but the journey is where it's at!