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the saxophone is the easiest instrument to play badly
2007/02/07 01:42
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SAX 1 - The easiest instrument to play well

It is often said that :

"the saxophone is the easiest instrument to play badly"

This is undoubtedly true.
Oddly enough it is equally true to say that :

"the saxophone is the easiest instrument to play well"

 		The crucial difference between playing badly and playing well is "know how".

Once you have a clear concept of how to play the saxophone, you simply will not stop getting better. That is the beauty of music, you never stop learning.

But you need to have a clear concept of what it is all about. Without it you can play all your life and progress very little.
The main thing you will achieve is fooling yourself. Perhaps you learn to play a bit faster, big deal ! It does not mean very much, for :

"it ain't worth a bone, if it hasn't got a tone !"
I regularly get mature students that come to me after a lifetime of playing, who are dissatisfied and frustrated with their playing.
Their problem is in each and every case the same. They lack a clear concept of how to play the saxophone. They are going around in circles and can't get out.

This is what the Jazclass Saxophone Course is all about.

If you have an honest look at yourself and find that you have at best only a vague idea of what you are doing, then this course is for you.
It does not matter how long you have been playing, one day, or a whole lifetime : I urge you to follow this course, it will change the way you play forever.

 

SAX 2 - Getting from A to B 

We all know that the shortest route between two points, A and B, is a straight line.
"A" represents the concept of how to play the saxophone.
I will explain to you in detail the principles of good saxophone playing : posture, embouchure, breathing, voicing, articulation, fingering, etc.. 

To travel that route you need four things.

  1. The location of A
  2. The location of B
    "B" is your concept of how you wish to sound.
    This means identifying and listening to your favourite sax player.
    As you progress through the Course you will get a better idea of what you should be listening for. This will bring your "B" more in focus.


    The Saxophone Course also provides the mode of transport.
    This consists of a comprehensive selection of exercises (on tones, overtones, articulation, vibrato and ballads) and a well organised Practice Schedule to get you to "B".

  3. Transport to travel (your legs, a car, a camel).
  4. Fuel for the vehicle to get you there (food, petrol, water).
    The fuel is provided by yourself.
    You must decide to undertake regular practice and be motivated to continue no matter what. You can do it entirely at your own pace, but don't stop !
    Knowing where A and B are and having the means to travel is no good to you if there is no fuel.

As you travel on the road B will become more and more in focus.
However you will never actually get there, for B, like a mirage, will always move further ahead of you. This is a characteristic feature of all art. You can always get better.

SAX 3 - Getting started

Today is the first day of the rest of your life !
Why not make a start right now and get organised.

  1. Prepare your  B
    • B : start listening to your favourite saxophone player.


  2. Prepare to practise regularly.
    You will achieve more by practising 20 - 30 minutes each day than by 2 or 3 hours one day and nothing for the next two days.
    • Try to practise 5 days a week and take 2 days rest.
      This way you can sustain regular practice for a long time.

    • Keep your sax on a stand.
      This way you can pick it up any time and do not waste time putting the instrument together.

    • Set a regular time during the day for your practice and keep this time slot for this purpose no matter what.


  3. The Saxophone Course provides you with a Logbook to record your practice. In this you can specify the time spent on tone exercises, technique, etudes, songs, improvisation each practice session.
    Add the total (in minutes) for each day, and add all totals for each week. This will give you a (well earned) sense of achievement and will help to motivate you to sustain your efforts.

SAX 4 - Contents of the Saxophone Course  

Regardless whether you have been playing for 6 months or for 20 years, this Course will dramatically improve (if not revolutionise) your approach to good saxophone playing!

(I give you an unconditional Money Back Guarantee on this.)
Saxophone Course consists of 10 lessons.

  1. Each lesson is viewed through your web browser, and looks the same way as this and all other lessons on Jazclass.

  2. The Course is sent to you by airmail on CD-ROM.

  3. Simply copy and paste the 'Jazclass' folder from the CD (which contains all the courses you order) onto your hard drive, then open the access file with your browser (without going online), and all lessons are at your finger tips and ready to go.

  4. The files consist of html text files, gif files for illustrations, exercises and sheet music of songs, and of Play-a-Long midi files.

The whole course provides you with sufficient material to practice for a considerable time.

 The Lesson topics are :

  • Lesson 1 The Concept of Resonator Control

  • Lesson 2 Posture

  • Lesson 3 Embouchure, Mouthpiece, Reed

  • Lesson 4 Air Support and Breathing

  • Lesson 5 Voicing and the first Overtone Exercises

  • Lesson 6 Oral tract Registers (the sure way to a big sound)

  • Lesson 7 Articulation

  • Lesson 8 Fingering Principles

  • Lesson 9 Long tone Exercises and Organic Imagery

  • Lesson 10 Vibrato- and Altissimo- Exercises

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