Sheet Music What's the best Fake Book for me?

[Bernie]

And on the day you decide you might like to try playing in a big band or concert band and they hand you a sax part, you're sunk. Why exclude yourself from this possibility?

Because the day will never come when I want to play in a big band or concert band.

 

[jbtsax]

I learned to play "by ear" growing up by listening to and playing along with recordings. Back then there weren't the resources that we have today. There was no internet, and the closest music store was a 2 1/2 hour drive. Among the songs I learned to play were Take Five, The Pink Panther, and Yakkety Sax. I also learned to read music by playing in my school bands and later in university bands.

This background and experience obviously has shaped my viewpoint on this topic just as other's backgrounds and experience has shaped theirs. To me the ability to read and to play "by ear" is the best of both worlds and opens up more opportunities for musical expression and enjoyment. I'm not suggesting that everyone should be like me, but simply sharing my experience.

 

[Bernie]

...the music circles I play in the audience aren't bothered what you look like or how you are dressed but only judge you on what comes out of the horn.

Yeah, but that's in the West Midlands isn't it.

Seriously @jazzdoh I think you are deceiving yourself here.

 

[jazzdoh]

Yeah, but that's in the West Midlands isn't it.

Seriously @jazzdoh I think you are deceiving yourself here.

No it isn't,I've played outside of the West Midlands its still the same and why would i be deceiving myself please explain @Bernie

 

[Bernie]

why would i be deceiving myself please explain @Bernie

Well, because you're a normal human being. You might find this an interesting read:

The Presentation of the Self in Everyday Life. Ervin Goffman.

(extract from Wikipedia summary):
The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life was the first book to treat face-to-face interaction as a subject of sociological study. Goffman treated it as a kind of report in which he frames out the theatrical performance that applies to face-to-face interactions.[3] He believed that when an individual comes in contact with other people, that individual will attempt to control or guide the impression that others might make of him by changing or fixing his or her setting, appearance and manner. At the same time, the person the individual is interacting with is trying to form and obtain information about the individual.[4]
Goffman also believed that all participants in social interactions are engaged in certain practices to avoid being embarrassed or embarrassing others. This led to Goffman's dramaturgical analysis. Goffman saw a connection between the kinds of acts that people put on in their daily life and theatrical performances.
In social interaction, as in theatrical performance, there is a front region where the “actors” (individuals) are on stage in front of the audiences. This is where the positive aspect of the idea of self and desired impressions are highlighted. There is also a back region or stage that can also be considered as a hidden or private place where individuals can be themselves and set aside their role or identity in society.[5]
The core of Goffman's analysis lies in this relationship between performance and life. Unlike other writers who have used this metaphor, Goffman seems to take all elements of acting into consideration: an actor performs on a setting which is constructed of a stage and a backstage; the props in both settings direct his action; he is being watched by an audience, but at the same time he is an audience for his viewers' play.

 

[kevgermany]

Let's not forget the C-melody.

Yes, but being pedantic, it's an octave below concert, so can't possibly work here.

 

[jazzdoh]

Well, because you're a normal human being. You might find this an interesting read:

The Presentation of the Self in Everyday Life. Ervin Goffman.

(extract from Wikipedia summary):
The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life was the first book to treat face-to-face interaction as a subject of sociological study. Goffman treated it as a kind of report in which he frames out the theatrical performance that applies to face-to-face interactions.[3] He believed that when an individual comes in contact with other people, that individual will attempt to control or guide the impression that others might make of him by changing or fixing his or her setting, appearance and manner. At the same time, the person the individual is interacting with is trying to form and obtain information about the individual.[4]
Goffman also believed that all participants in social interactions are engaged in certain practices to avoid being embarrassed or embarrassing others. This led to Goffman's dramaturgical analysis. Goffman saw a connection between the kinds of acts that people put on in their daily life and theatrical performances.
In social interaction, as in theatrical performance, there is a front region where the “actors” (individuals) are on stage in front of the audiences. This is where the positive aspect of the idea of self and desired impressions are highlighted. There is also a back region or stage that can also be considered as a hidden or private place where individuals can be themselves and set aside their role or identity in society.[5]
The core of Goffman's analysis lies in this relationship between performance and life. Unlike other writers who have used this metaphor, Goffman seems to take all elements of acting into consideration: an actor performs on a setting which is constructed of a stage and a backstage; the props in both settings direct his action; he is being watched by an audience, but at the same time he is an audience for his viewers' play.

And what does all that have to do with me,there was a time in Jazz that the players always wore suits but today its different,yes there are gigs where you have to dress up i.e. weddings,private functions but on the whole its casual dress,but listeners of Jazz on the whole come to listen to the music and thats what you are judged on.

 

[kevgermany]

I should imagine that it was Adolphe Sax himself who chose to apply the same note names to the same fingerings throughout the range, thus making saxophones transposing instruments, but he could have done it the other way, making all saxophones C instruments at the expense of having to learn different fingering for each variety of sax.

Transposing instruments were around a long time before the saxophone. They came about precisely so that musicians could switch keys without switching fingerings.

Clarinets, horns, flutes, whistles etc. are good examples.

And Sax had intended two different sets of saxes - C and F for orchestral work, which didn't take off - and today's Bb and Eb for military band use which we use today.

 

[Nick Wyver]

on the whole its casual dress,but listeners of Jazz on the whole come to listen to the music and thats what you are judged on.

I think I'm with Bernie on this one. It doesn't matter what you wear - in any situation, not just on stage - people will judge you by what you're wearing. They can't help it - it's what humans do, consciously or unconsciously.

 

[jazzdoh]

I think I'm with Bernie on this one. It doesn't matter what you wear - in any situation, not just on stage - people will judge you by what you're wearing. They can't help it - it's what humans do, consciously or unconsciously.

Yes i can see where you and Bernie are coming from but i don't think you are judged any different whether you are playing at a gig or walking down the street relating to what you wear that is.

 

[Bernie]

And what does all that have to do with me,.

Well according to Goffman it applies to society generally.

 

[jazzdoh]

Well you might be right,i won't be losing sleep over it,BTW which Real/fake book have you chosen.

 

[Nick Wyver]

but i don't think you are judged any different whether you are playing at a gig or walking down the street relating to what you wear that is.

And that I would definitely disagree with. 🙂

 

[jazzdoh]

And that I would definitely disagree with. 🙂

Go on Nick enlighten me.

 

[Bernie]

Well you might be right,i won't be losing sleep over it,BTW which Real/fake book have you chosen.

The pocket Real Book, Book 1, concert pitch. It's already here, amazing service from Musicroom.com.

 

[Nick Wyver]

Go on Nick enlighten me.

Err... how?
If performance was no different to walking down the street then I doubt we'd end up with the likes of Kiss. You may disagree with the idea that this extends to jazz or even the local blues jam session but I think you'd be wrong. It's certainly pretty obvious to me that most performers at the jams round here wear stuff that they wouldn't wear walking down the street. I quite often turn up in whatever I'm wearing at the time but it's still a decision I've made and it will be noted by everybody watching - if only to think, "Couldn't that scruffy bugger have made some sort of effort?".

 

[jazzdoh]

Err... how?
If performance was no different to walking down the street then I doubt we'd end up with the likes of Kiss. You may disagree with the idea that this extends to jazz or even the local blues jam session but I think you'd be wrong. It's certainly pretty obvious to me that most performers at the jams round here wear stuff that they wouldn't wear walking down the street. I quite often turn up in whatever I'm wearing at the time but it's still a decision I've made and it will be noted by everybody watching - if only to think, "Couldn't that scruffy bugger have made some sort of effort?".

Ok i can see where you are coming from,but you can see some outrageous outfits walking down your high st.
Haven't been to a jam session in about 10 years,maybe i need to go to get some better dress sense lol.

 

[trimmy]

You must live near small minded judgmental people Nick, as the jams i go to are like yourself just wearing their everyday clothes !
Even the live acts beforehand are in everyday wear

 

[trimmy]

Haven't been to a jam session in about 10 years,maybe i need to go to get some better dress sense lol.

If you've got jeans and t shirt you'll fit in well here

 

[Nick Wyver]

You must live near small minded judgmental people Nick,

Nope, just normal human beings.