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Finally decided to act on a longstanding desire and will this afternoon become the proud owner of my first saxophone (Yamaha Alto).

I've played guitar since I was 10 but have always wanted to belt out some earthy tones from a sax. Is 41 too young for a midlife crisis..?
(I think my teacher is only a little older than my daughters!)

I'd be interested to know if others here can shed any light on the perils and pleasures facing a newbie saxophonist.

Like I said, Simon, should be fun seeing you on your rooftop at midnight, playing sax with bourbon by your side while frustrating local cats with your mournful tunes! I'm sure there will be lots of advice forthcoming soon.......

Good luck with it.

Cheers

Michael

Simon,

I'm wondering whether your post might best be handled as an extension of this one?

Either way, good luck, and make sure that you have fun in this new pursuit. Music has always been one of my fundamental loves, and if it can give you half the pleasure I derive from my playing, you'll be sure to have a ball.

Thanks Mike and Gary. I'm certainly looking forward to getting started. Perhaps my manic Jack Russell will join in for the bridge....

Gary - I thought about adding to the guitar thread but thought it may have gotten lost there - please feel free to move it if you think that's more appropriate.

there must be easier ways to have sax!!


Seriously though, you are dead a long time.

At this rate we will be able to get the dslr big band runnng in no time.
we got plenty of bass players and guitarists.
we need percussion and work on the strings and keyboards!!

Steve

That's a scary thought Steve. At present all I'm managing to coax out of this rather beautiful looking instrument are some awful sounds reminiscent of a flatulent water buffalo... The neighbourhood children will be having nightmares tonight.
Still, I suppose my first forays on the guitar were equally unimpressive but it wasn't long before some vestige of music was achieved. I start lessons next week so watch the papers for music teacher suicides in the Brisbane area.

"A Saxophone is an ill wind that no one blows good"

Louis Armstrong

Not an unexpected retort from a trumpet tooter, Dug!
(But a bloody good one at that!!)

That's a scary thought Steve

what simon??
dead along time
or
dslr band
or both?

with the guitar I figure you can at least turn it down a little, at least until you can sound a little ok.
The sax on the other hand, not sure how quietly you can practice with one of this. Drums similar.

Many years ago there was a guy a few doors down who practiced drums and you always knew about it.
One night one of my friends had this small casio keyboard which had percussion accompanyment we wondered what this might sound like amplified as it had a line out.

so, as it turned out we had this full marshall stack (valve 100w ) and connected the keyboard to that . Well the percussion sounded frighteningly loud. so there we were making all this drum stuff. you could feel the air compressing in the small room we were doing it in.
....it was then we realised that it was midnight so we shut it up.

The next morning my next door neighbour sees me and starts a conversation over the fence.
Something like: did you hear that bastard playing his drums last night??
bastard! I was going to go punch his head in. bastard. woke me up. couldnt get back to sleep I was so angry. bastard.
all I could say was that I didnt hear it and walk away.
Aren't instruments fun!

Steve

i'm a clarinet player by trade, but have taught saxophone to a few younger ones - rest assured it's one of the easier instruments to learn, and the most fun!

just make sure you enjoy playing it at all times - once it becomes a chore to practice, reconsider how much you really want to play!

avkomp wrote:

That's a scary thought Steve

what simon??
dead along time
or
dslr band
or both?

me + sax+dslr band = scary thought!!

avcomp wrote:with the guitar I figure you can at least turn it down a little, at least until you can sound a little ok.
The sax on the other hand, not sure how quietly you can practice with one of this. Drums similar.

Agreed - these things certainly make some noise and it's not as if you can shove a pillow in it to soften the volume! Might have to head on down to the swamp and serenade the frogs. BlacknStormy can come too - she plays the sax as well.

Great story about the creative use of Marshall ampage!

Spartikus - thanks for the encouragement. Pleased to hear someone else thinks it's easy; BlacknStormy told me the same thing at work today. I agree with though in that when something becomes a bother, it's time to move on. Good advice. Life's too short, echoing Steve's sentiments above, and you're a long time looking at the lid.

1. Does Steph know about your new acquisition yet??

2. I hope that the golden horn isn't going to replace the D70 as your primary play thing

Once upon a time saxophonist.

Steve

SteveGriffin wrote:1. Does Steph know about your new acquisition yet??

Yes, Steve, but let's not talk figures, shall we? After all, one man's saxophone is another man's studio lighting set up... Quid pro quo!!

SteveGriffin wrote:2. I hope that the golden horn isn't going to replace the D70 as your primary play thing

That's enough talk about primary playthings - this is a family show!!!

simon, since you mention the family show thingy,

you shouldnt be talking about going down to the swamp having SAX with blacknstormy

Steve

True... Damian's normally in attendance as well and things could get weird.

Congratulations on your purchase Simon

May you quickly master your latest instrument!

Cheers

Graham

Thanks Graham - I'm looking forward to the challenge.

Manta,

I dont play saxophone, but if you will visit Amsterdam dont forget to visit 'Alto' pub. It sounds good

Regards,

K.Polak

I wish you were up here in Cairns with me Simon so that yu mught cajole me into learning to play. Playing the sax has always been my dream. My son played it like a dream, great talent, but finsihed year 12 a year ago and hasn't picked up his alto sax for over 12 months. What a waste I tell him. When I'd give my left testicle (probably because I don't need it anymore ) to be able to play it but unfortunately I'm a musical neanderthal
I wish you luck my friend
cheers
marco

I'll keep that in mind Krystian - and add it to my list of pubs to visit (getting pretty long, that list....)

Can I play, or Do I play?
I have an Armstrong Tenor sax I pull out on the odd occasion, can "play" Ald Lang Syne (guess when it got used last?), Happy Birthday, and a few other things that don't sound too bad.
It's good fun but just another one of life's pursuits that I don't have enough time for - like our piano.
Enjoy it!

Marco that is one of the funniest posts I have read in a long time I know how you feel

Great stuff Simon... you'll love the Sax...

I learnt the Clarinet at the age of nine and switched to Sax at the age of 11... I still have my first Clarinet... and still have my old Tenor Sax (Yammie) which was my 13th Birthday Pressie... ( I also have hidden away 2 trumpets and a keyboard somewhere too )

Your post inspired me to dig out the ol horn and blow the cobwebs out... Bugger me have I lost the touch... its hard to beleive I once got to play with some amaxing musians...

I'm now really looking forward (read Hoping) my kids will choose to learn music so I can relive my youth again... I love teaching kids... its so rewarding...

I don't know if you can still get them but the old Tune a Day series of beginers books were great... really easy to follow ...

One thing you will benifit from is your guitar experience... understanding chords and patterns will be a big benifit when it comes to improvisation... (something that I always Struggled with)

But in our topsy turvy world your a Guitarist delving into the world of Woodwind and I have desired to do the reverse... have been considering buying myself a guitar and teaching myself to play... the thought of being able to pull it out around a campfire for a sing along is very apealling (Unless u have to listen to me sing (errr I think thats what its called)... )

Pity your not up this neck of the woods... we could have tutored each other...