Confessions of a Scared old guy

[john]

That’s why I made the videos I have. look at the very first videos in the beginners section…from taking it out and putting it together to how to hold it to how and where to put your hands and fingers. one step at a time. you need to get that sax before you go crazy!

[Steve CA]

lol…………yeah, you are right!! I’m obsessing, huh?! (lol). I wish I lived in your neighborhood, so I could learn directly from you. That would be REALLY great. But…….your videos are sorta like “being there!!”

It’s like everything else I guess……….the night time is the worst…………better to get the horn and get it in my hands, and let me “have at it,” to overcome the heebie jeebies I’ve got.

-Soupy

[john]

heebie jeebies ya that’s a good way of putting it! videos are helpful of course. in your position a real live lesson from someone nearby is recommendable cause he can stop somehing potentially bad from happening right off the get go and save you time and frustration.

[Steve CA]

While I wait for the instrument to be “ready” to bring home, I’m using this time for any learning I can. Talking to you; watching your videos; talking to others; watching THEIR videos…………..I’m staying “in the groove” the best I can, as I prepare for learning WITH the instrument.

For example, I just watched a video on “how to clean” the Saxophone. Dragging rags thru the horn and neck, with a weight is an interesting idea. I’ll do it. Made me wonder though about the pad & hole relationship. The rag will drag PAST this area, but nothing was addressed about how to keep the pads in good condition (Pads kept moist? lubricated?), or how to avoid sticky keys by removing any moisture or whatever, between the pads and the rims they rest on, on the hole.

I’m also spending a certain amount of time, talking with those who live nearby, for lessons (as we’ve talked about) in person. One gentleman pointed out that it would be a good idea NOT to do anything with the Sax, once I get it home, until I could meet with him in person, to avoid any bad habits starting up, before he gets a chance to instruct me. I dunno……….I’m braver than that……….lololol.

-soupy

[Anonymous]

When i had my 1st sax i didn’t own a sax, and had no info on anything sax wise,
i just asked my daughter’s music teacher to give me a taster session on the sax,
after the 1st lesson which was only about how to breathe, where to put the mouthpiece
and bite on it, and how to play mid B to low E.

He lent me his spare sax, i took it home, struggled to assemble it, even put the
mouthpiece on upside down, which my daughter pointed out when she heard me
screaming out the same note for 10 mins.

I recall after 4 lessons, he had to reshow me where to put the mouthpiece in
my mouth as i was wondering why i couldn’t play some of the high notes, and
had slipped into a bad habit already.

For the first few months, i had doubts in my mind, that the reed was on the mouthpiece
in the correct place. My instructor was basically correcting things for the first few months,
breathing, posture, finger positions,. Then later on he stopped from tapping my foot to
keep in time with music – that’s more of a long term issue to stop you’re playing from becoming
mechanical, i’ve seen a few videos on the blogg where people do this while their playing
and are in time, but there is a world of difference between someone who is playing and not
tapping there foot compared to someone playing who is tapping there foot.

At the end the day like Johnny says – it’s easier to not get into bad habits than it is to get
out of bad habits..

[Steve CA]

and the only way I would know about my own bad habits, is feedback from a teacher who watches and listens to me. Thank goodness for folks like Johnny, who give of themselves, in many ways, to help we “newbies” out!!

-Soupy

[Anonymous]

I’ve never been in the army or anything like that, but i’ve watched a few films on the big screen
where they show you new recruits being trained, from what i’ve seen they don’t let you
develop bad habits from day one – unless of course it only happens in the movies?
But they do have some fantastic military marching bands!! Not half.

[Author]

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