What Direction

[sharon]

:? Well chaps, as some of you may know I've been playing alto about 15 months or so. Getting on well and practicing just about every day for at least an hour. I'm still self taught as a teacher isn't an option at the moment but don't lack motivation at all. I warm up with long tones, am learning scales and am in the process of learning different tunes from memory, about 1 a fortnight on average. Also working the O'neill book , currently on low notes (my nemesis- it's the air I know) and alternate Bb fingerings (as I prefer to use just the one).

Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions on where to go next. (and No, I'm not buying the tenor that I've been toying with ). I've been listening to a lot more sax playing in the last few months and really enjoy ballads and old standards.

I've also started "fiddling" with some of the songs I know off by heart and playing around with the tunes, just noodling really which I quite enjoy. Is there some sort of rule or technique to doing this and are there any decent books that would give me information on this.

Sorry such a long wishy washy post but don't really know what I should be aiming for at this stage. I'm basically happy playing for myself but feel there's something I should be doing to make more progress, but don't know what :S e.g I'd like to be able to pick up the sax and, say, play along to something on the radio but I don't know where to start. Although I have been trying to improve my ear by working out tunes myself and I'm much better than I was.

As always any ideas gratefully received 🙂

Sharon

 

[TomMapfumo]

Hi Sharon!

I suppose it all depends on what image you have of a way forward and what position you would like to arrive at. After I had been playing for a year I wanted some sense of achievement and decided upon Jazz Grades,
which required me to play 3 tunes in an exam, with CD backing. It was great once I had got the hang of playing along to learn about improvising (albeit for approx 8 bars of music, and learn proper tunes - by Jan Garbarek, Duke Ellington, John Coltrane and others. It made me feel part of the wide world of music, and an improvement on "She'll be coming round the mountain.....". My wish, then, was to become an Intermediate player and aim at Grade 5 - I should be there next March, which will feel great. The knowledge that I carry a number of tunes in my head, which I can improvise and mess about with, is very rewarding! I personally couldn't have done this without a teacher, and going to regular gigs in my locality, which has provided genuine interest and enthusiasm, and given me greater insight into the whole world of music.

So for me it was allowing an image to emerge of what I wanted to do, how I wanted to develop, and to what sort of level. Being able to play along with my daughter on the piano, and work out what key is appropriate etc. has been very rewarding, and playing a pentatonic scale on flugel to a Lily Allen song has been a special moment! 8)

Good luck in your search.
Tom

 

[suethesax]

Hi Sharon you sound as though you are having a great time with the sax. You say you like the ballads and standards but would like to play along with them. There's nothing to stop you apart from yourself. Just play along and you will 'hear' which notes fit over the tune. If they sound wrong they probably are! Don't get too hung about finding the key to start with. Do you have band in a box?( or something similar?) I think you can get a trial copy and it has loads of standards and ballads (as well as just about everything else). It is great to play along with and there a different styles so you can really play around.

You say a teacher is out at the moment but have you considered a local band? You sound ready to try. There really is no substitute for learning like playing with others and the better they are the more you will improve. Other players are really keen to help - really. I love nothing better than getting a newbie to nurture along.

All the best and keep noodling 🙂
Sue

 

[Mikec]

I also think "Band-in-a-Box" might give you a large step forward, though playing with real musicians has to be best of all. It's very easy with BIAB to play things in different keys and at different tempos. This improves your aural skills as well as your technique. Its timing, of course, is always perfect, but it's much more rewarding than playing to a metronome.
"Fiddling" with tunes you know is good. Keep it up and fiddle more! There are dozens of books on harmony which will help you to know "what to play", but as many others have said, your ears will know what's right, with practise. I personally like the Jamey Aebersold playalong books; they're fun and make up a course if you buy enough of them.

 

[nick_cook]

[color:green]Hi Sharon, looks like we're at the same point in the O'Neill book. I have great trouble going from low E to C in one of the exercises, but I'm ok going from the D to C.

I've read that alternate fingering for the Bb, but haven't tried it yet. One of the tunes in my ABRSM Jazz has Bbs in it, and looking at an ordinary fingering chart, I used that. But I was using 2 fingers, one on the B and one on the biz key. Haven't dared try it with the same finger!!!


I've got my Grade 1 Jazz exam next month - I'm really looking forward to it (well, the tunes and scales - the aural and quick studies are a bit daunting!!!)[/color]

 

[justin_chune]

"How To Play Saxophone" by John Robert Brown is a slim little volume that contains a chapter on how to use the various Bbs. It's all about the key you are in and the phrase you are playing. Familiarise yourself with all of the Bbs and as you gain experience it will become obvious which one to choose. Being able to use any of the available Bbs makes playing the sax easier.

I agree with Sue. Joining a band will do wonders for your playing, and you will get lots of free advice as well as meeting other musicians. Keep having fun.

 

[sharon]

Well thanks you lot for some thoughtful advice.

Tom, you're right about learning proper tunes, and that's my main aim at the moment and trying to improvise around them. It's doing this which has made me think about improvising generally and what I should be learning to do it effectively. By the way you live just down the road from me, where do you go to see live sax music?

I have been playing over some different things but I think some of my problem might be timing! As to joining a band :erm: I just don't know. I really don't see myself as being good enough to contribute (that's really not false modesty) and also I just can't commit the time and it wouldn't be fair to not go regularly.

I'm quite interested in the band in a box type thing and will look into that. I really need something that I can fit in as and when I'm able.

I may seriously consider getting a teacher shortly even if it was for say 2 sessions a month. I'm finishing up my French night class in June and I don't think I'll go back to the 4th year as I can do extra language study at home. I could use that time for something else. I think it may be time as I've taught myself to play and taught myself to read music from scratch, but probably could do with some professional direction.

Whether that's doing grades or not, don't know but might look into Jazz grades, Nick do you know the difference between ordinary grades and Jazz grades?

When I first started all I wanted to do was be able to play a musical instrument, but now I find that I want to play it well - or as well as I'm able. I don't think I've got any "natural" talent but I get so much enjoyment from playing, probably more than I did to start so I don't lack enthusiasm. Given the choice I'd play the thing all day 😛.

Beware all you newbie lurkers because it really sucks you in

Anyway much to think on and thanks again for your thoughts.

Sharon

 

[TomMapfumo]

Hi Sharon!

1. Local Jazz venue is Swansea Jazzland, on Wednesday nights in St. James Crescent - look up on google. Its a very friendly place and has lots of good sax people amongst others. In the next 2 months there are performances by 3 alto sax players - Simon Allen, Gilad Atzmon(brilliant!) and Richard Cottle, amongst others. It also has a monthly sitters in night where learners are able to perform with the house trio (piano, bass, drums). Do investigate, its fun and very informal!
2. Jazz Grades are more about Jazz (all eras and styles), rather than the usual grades which involve more classical tunes and appropriate scales etc - modes, blues scales, pentatonic scales and others. I have all the Alto Sax Jazz Grades (ABRSM) material apart from Grade 1
and they are available online, or in the local music shop in Sketty. The Tunes (each grade has a choice of 15 tunes, and come with a CD which has the tune with a sax player, and then the same tune with just the backing - means you can learn through listening as well as reading music. Each tune involves some improvisation (usually from 8 bars
upwards according to grades) You can do exams in Fforestfach in Swansea. I would be happy to lend you any material to look at if you'd like. At least it means you can get the feel of playing with a band, and have a quick gig of 5-10 minutes without having to make time consuming arrangements and suchlike. Tunes generally last from 1.5 - 2 minutes a time.
There are other Jazz Grades for Sax (either London College of Music or Trinity College London) but I do like the ABRSM grades - seem more authentic tunes on the whole, (Herbie Hancock, Jan Garbarek, Cannonball Adderley, Horace Silver, and thats just Grade 2.)
3. There is a teacher in Killay who teaches sax - you may know this already - who teaches both classical and jazz. She can be found at www.musicteachers.co.uk Twice a month would be a good option IMHO and its good to have some outside stimulation.

Anyway, let me know if I can be of any practical help.
Kind regards
Tom

 

[sharon]

Tom you're a star. I think I know that teacher as my daughter's friend goes there for clarinet lessons. I'll have a think and do a bit of research online and see what to do. Thanks for the offer of help, much appreciated.

Oh by the way this jazz club, whereabouts in St. James Cresc. My daughter goes to Guides in St. James church - is it near there. Also is it a bit .. hmm well you know "serious" and full of old men with facial hair 😛 You know what I mean

 

[TomMapfumo]

Hi Sharon!

The Jazz Club has an older age group, mainly couples rather than serious old men in beards (like myself! albeit at 49), and others - mainly younger - appear at various gigs according to who is playing. Gilad Atzmon will attract a lot of younger sax fans, including myself. Drinks are cheap - it is held at the St. James Social Club - at under ?2 per pint!

Give it a go.
Cheers
Tom

 

[Kinda]

Hi Sharon

I can understand your dilema as I'm at the same crossroads. I agree with the posters who asked you where you want to get to as this will determine what you do to get there.

For me I spent years following "Tune a Day" and various other tutor books and then I put the sax down for 1 years only to return last month and thought I need more direction.

Fortunately I've found a music school where they have a jazz band, sax quartet and then a beginners band and after all this I have a music lesson.

For me when you play live its a totally different experience, the pressure of it means all your weaknesses come out and then you have to address them.

The bands etc keep me motivated and help spur me on. My favourite so far is the sax quartet which can make a lovely sound.

I wouldn't be put off by not feeling up to playing with others, just find a band that has people of your own ability (and higher) in it and you will slot in nicely and be "dragged" along.

I'm trying to aim for being able to play in a band in public, and to be able to improvise and play some tunes by memory.

Take care