Beginner recording Recording Progress

[PiccoloPirate]

"Crossthreading",
a modern term for mistakes made,
on internet forums, due to various
reasons.

 

[PiccoloPirate]

Evaluation, might be a better word to use, than criticism.

To be blunt, posting "playing", used loosely, behind a band, is pretty much useless.
Playing scales, quarter at about 50 bpm, single tongue and legato, from Bb1 to F3 and back, if possible, will help with advice for their attack and intonation, as well as other developing skills.
Playing a whole note, at that tempo, crescendo and decrescendo is also useful.
Then a tune or two, no backing track, and memorized, can't hurt. 🎯

If not followed thru, after being asked, more than once, it's like baseball.
Next batter up please.

 

[PiccoloPirate]

"It wasn't the criticism per se, more the way it was put across."

Maybe it was how you took it, as opposed to it's intended humor.

 

[Pete Thomas]

And yes, some people cannot turn off their sensitivity.

There is nothing wrong in being sensitive I hope, as I consider myself to be somewhat sensitive.

If someone is especially sensitive to criticism, they need to evaluate whether an online forum is a place for them to participate.

So maybe I should stop participating? I don't think it's good to tar all forums with the same brush. People come to the Cafe often because of its reputation as a place where people are friendly, polite and yes, aware of sensitivities. We do not have to be like all forums.

This thread has gone way off topic so let's get back to it and some (hopefully) useful critique about the song that is the subject of this thread please.

 

[cappers]

To be blunt, posting "playing", used loosely, behind a band, is pretty much useless.
Playing scales, quarter at about 50 bpm, single tongue and legato, from Bb1 to F3 and back, if possible, will help with advice for their attack and intonation, as well as other developing skills.
Playing a whole note, at that tempo, crescendo and decrescendo is also useful.
Then a tune or two, no backing track, and memorized, can't hurt. 🎯

If not followed thru, after being asked, more than once, it's like baseball.
Next batter up please.

Again the comment: "playing", used loosely ...." can't you say something without making it a dig?

I assume you are referring to me since you have suggested a couple of times that I do the above for your evaluation. Thank you for the offer but I have a teacher who I believe is in a better position to check my development and give advice. No offence meant.

I post my 'playing' behind a band as an incentive to other beginners to consider trying it themselves. Not to show how good I am or for pats on the back. Constructive criticism is recieved gratefully, rude comments not.

Enough already! as my gran used to say.

Back to Round Midnight.......

 

[Pete Effamy]

I'm gonna wade in on this.

As a player that sits closer to beginner than accomplished, here are the positives:

You have a great ballad / subtone sound with a fantastic vibrato - when it's at its best. Usually in the middle of the stave notes. If you can recognise that sound / control from these notes you just need to copy that across the rest of the compass of the instrument.

Many people play for years and don't get a nice sound, or subtone or vibrato. That's the difficult thing. Getting it on the whole horn is a lot of hard work / listening but it's not as difficult as getting there in the first place. If you can do it once, you can do it again, and again.

Intonation will sort itself out as a by-product of practising long notes and keeping the embouchure open as you do in the middle of the horn - just work on supporting the upper octave more.

... we need some Db's to the C in the tune too which you played wrong twice - can't explain where it is - actually... is it leading into bar 6 ?

 

[Dr G]

There is nothing wrong in being sensitive I hope, as I consider myself to be somewhat sensitive.

That is exactly what I acknowledged. Please read the entire context.

As written in the book "Criticism in Your Life - How to Use it" - the author suggests the following. Don't make criticism personal and don't take it personally. And yes, some people cannot turn off their sensitivity.

So maybe I should stop participating? I don't think it's good to tar all forums with the same brush. People come to the Cafe often because of its reputation as a place where people are friendly, polite and yes, aware of sensitivities. We do not have to be like all forums.

I am not tarring "all forums with the same brush". This is what I said.

If someone is especially sensitive to criticism, they need to evaluate whether an online forum is a place for them to participate.

You seem to be underscoring and at the same time undermining my whole post.

"Shouldn't everyone be nice?" you ask. Some people will get upset regardless of intentions.

Like I said, we can try to be nice, but some people will find something upsetting nonetheless. I reported a triggering post and was dismissed. I am confident that you thought it was in the best interest of the forum and I accept that. I still don't like seeing it all the time but I recognize that it is among the cost of admission.

This thread has gone way off topic so let's get back to it and some (hopefully) useful critique about the song that is the subject of this thread please.

Thank you for the platform.

 

[Dr G]

@AlonW It is interesting that so many early players latch on to pitch bending as a form of expression. We hear the pros do it and think "Whoa, I can do that". We also hear pros play with time (lag/hang back) - Gene Ammons' "Canadian Sunset" comes to mind, and think "Hey, playing outside of time sounds cool, too". The caveat is that before you can effectively bend pitch or time, you have to learn how to control it, else it just sounds off. Where is the center of your pitch? Where is One? Same with improv.

I suggest you play your tune straight first - nail the center of pitch, play solid on the beat, play the head as it is written. Then start playing with expression in increments. Take it easy on the scooping and pitch bending. Always listen - listen as you play and listen again to your product. Critique yourself before you seek input from others, then see if your evaluation matches that of others.

I agree with others that you have a lot going on. Good for you. I hope that some of these comments can take you to the next level.

 

[AlonW]

Thanks for the comments everyone! I haven’t read through everything yet, but I’m aware of the intonation issues. This was my first time ever playing this so I was happy I could do it.

 

[Targa]

@AlonW, I don’t usually comment on member’s recordings as I don’t consider I have the ‘musical knowledge’ or hearing for anything other than I like it or don’t however in the light of the ‘discussion’ above.
I walked into the other room and the Lady of the house said she liked the the blues music I’d been listening to and what was it. I said a recording by one of the cafe members and she said she’d thought it was one of my cds I’d had on.
So make of that what you will.

 

[MikeMorrell]

Thanks for the comments everyone! I haven’t read through everything yet, but I’m aware of the intonation issues. This was my first time ever playing this so I was happy I could do it.

FWIW, I've edited my original feedback. Not because of other comments since mine. But just because (on a different day and with 2 more listens), I realized that my original feedback was biased: way too much based on the arrangement that I once played (had in my head and was following on sheet music). The edited version is 'more balanced'. Mainly in recognizing that there are many different arrangements and playing styles for playing any 'jazz/blues' classic.

Mike

 

[AlonW]

Here's my take of Stairway To The Stars. Thanks for listening and for feedback, if there is any.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Oa3vmyZJws

 

[JayeNM]

Dex did a tremendous version of this.

Nice choice, seldom played these days.

Cannot find anything 'wrong' with your effort, honestly..it's nice, smooth, sounds good.

 

[Colin the Bear]

Artie's theme song.

 

[AlonW]

I threw out my reed after this, it was getting soft.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaWT9_K4ZOc

 

[PiccoloPirate]

Try this, as it might help to hear what it's like to play in tune.
Then compare to yours.
Meant to be helpful. 🎯

Google Search

 

[AlonW]

Try this, as it might help to hear what it's like to play in tune.
Then compare to yours.
Meant to be helpful. 🎯

Google Search

I also thought this was a little wonky. I really should have used a fresh reed.

 

[PiccoloPirate]

Glad you confirmed that you knew it was off/wonky.
My post was based on, maybe he doesn't know.
Why post it at all, as opposed to another take, is the question. 🧐

For me, too soft a reed, will primarily limit volume, especially higher up, not cause bad tuning.

Try Lush Life. 😍

 

[MikeMorrell]

I threw out my reed after this, it was getting soft.

...

Hi @AlonW,

To my (amateur) ears, your recording didn't sound 'wonky' at all.

I really enjoyed listening to it (twice). I was really impressed by;
- your wonderful tone throughout
- your relaxed (lazy) and generally spot-on timing throughout; something that many of my Big Band members (with many more years of playing experience) still struggle with to get 'right'
- your fine control of 'vibrato'
- your 'musical expression': not only in controlled 'vibrato' but also in your 'embellishments', and on your one (perfectly in keeping with the tune) run into the higher octave

All in all, this is IMHO (as an amateur) a very accomplished and 'well controlled' performance. One to be very proud of!

And for me (with 30 years amateur playing experience) one to be very jealous of! I just wish that I had your 'sax-playing skills'! Then again, I truly admire your motivation, dedication and progress in playing sax. Much more than I ever had.

I'm really looking forward to your future posts!

Mike

PS. I didn't notice at all that you were playing with a 'tired' reed. So well done for 'adjusting' to this. FWIW, I've posted many times an (IMHO) useful article on 'reed adjustment'. Not by 'clipping' but by minute adjustments to position of reeds on the mpc. And/or occasionally minutely adjusting the position of the lig on the mpc. If you're interested, l'll post a link.

 

[Grumps]

I walked into the other room and the Lady of the house said she liked the the blues music I’d been listening to and what was it.

Your cat talks?