First Lesson

[Torachan]

G'day all.

I've been reading the posts on this site for some time now. I must say a big thanks for inspiring me to finally pursue my interest in learning the sax.

I have taken onboard a lot of the suggestions made on this board and tommorow is my first sax lesson from a qualified teacher whom comes highly recommended. I do not want to have to un-learn bad habits :twisted: So i'm pretty excited

Not that I am gloating but.... I'm getting a loan of a horn through my old school (been 12 years since I graduated... helps when your old man is the 2IC :D )

Of course where to practice was of some concern for me (I live in a block of flats... surrounded by blocks of flats). Read the suggestions on this site. Came up with two new ones which I will be using..... Drive to an industrial estate to practice (the night workers may appreciate it.. then again) best of all I work in a retirement village which has a wood work shop which is .. wait for it... sound proof. Better yet it is never used. To quote Homer J Simpson "Woo Hoo" :D

Thanks heaps for this great site and thanks heaps for all the support (whilst not for me it certainly inspired me)

Cheers

[gary]

Welcome, man. Have a good time, and have fun with it. Good luck. Gary

[Torachan]

Well I've just had my first lesson. It's the first time I have ever picked up a sax so it was a bit of a steep learning curve :)

It took a while to work out that the reason why all I seemed able to do was make the horn sqwark (maybe it's the reed?) was that I was putting my teeth on the reed :oops:

I asked about how my teacher got away with playing the sax in a block of units. Turns out she lives in an acustic (sp.) paradise. None of her neighbours can hear her. Not bad.... can't imagine that I'll be that lucky so it looks like an hours drive for me so that I can practice :cry:

Well not quiet true. Haven't got my hands on a horn just yet. My missus is adament that I am not to buy one :cry: but there are ways and means.... :wink:

Anyone thinking about trying an instrument all I can say is go for it. You'll never never know until you give it a go.

Cheers

[sax_appeal]

Congratulations on your first lesson! Its great that you enjoyed it and even more so that you would be willing to go to great lengths practise. Thats the attitude that'll get you far as a player.

Good luck.

[Dog Pants]

G'day Torachan. This thread is gonna smell like a pub if all us Aussies monopolise it! :) Congatulations mate, it is a steep learning curve, but with good teacher, you'll be playin' da blues in no time. I have a few suggestions which might help you out. 1. When posting on this forum, it is your sworn duty as an Australian to take the **** out of any overly serious santimonious bulls***. 2. You must continue as you have begun and use our lingo and not be swayed by all these seppos and poms into speaking English or American. 3. Most of what you post should be written tongue in cheek as opposed to those on this forum who write with "gland in hand." 4. It is OK to be serious at times as long as no one actually catches you at it. Now to the sax playing. I live in an appartment now and have taken to staying back at work and practicing. If you get yourself set up and well organised it's not a bad compromise. No PC in the room at work so no Band in a Box or Jammer pro but spend $10 bucks on a cheap pair of PC speakers that you can hook up to a walkman and then every week or two burn a cd of play alongs you want to practice with. If your teacher can record some of your lesson, you can get him to record a few licks or patterns at slow and then normal speeds and burn these as well. Buy a cheapo music stand to leave at work too as well as a cheap tuner and basically that's it. Oh...and get the most comfortable chair in the building and chain it to something in the room :) Finally, don't get all nervous about people being able to hear you, otherwise you tend to a) tense up and sound like s*** on a stick anyway. b) only play what you are already good at, which is musical masturbation. c) get so sick of the "Pink Panther theme," you'll end up puking. As soon as you learn a few tunes, try getting out and about and busking. You'll meet all sorts of wonderful people, make tons of cash and get a free mention on this forum too! :wink: Finally if you're ever in Sydney, drop me an email and we can have a beer or six whilst I bull*** to you about what a great busker I am.

[gary]

G'day Torachan. This thread is gonna smell like a pub if all us Aussies monopolise it!
Yeah, what is this lately, anyway? It's all over the forum. Something like the seventeen year locust plague in Maryland? :shock:

Some additional rules, Torachan:
1. Don't listen to Dog Pants.
2. Whatever you do, don't use paragraphs. It just makes it easier for the foreigners read what you might be trying to hide from their prying eyes.
3. Try to stir up the sh*t and then stand back and watch everybody have a go at each other.
4. Everytime you pass an alto playing busker, leave that "special little surprise" in his hat.
5. Remember, all Yanks are nothing more than Ozzie wannabees.
6. If you have any more questions, refer to rule number one above.

p.s.Torachen. Dog Pants understands Gary actually digs him and wouldn't say anything to hurt him...lest he be hurt himself!! :twisted:

[Dog Pants]

Torachan. Sorry mate. Gary is right. The only time you should take me seriously is when I'm talking about beer or leather. :D Feel free to sling good natured abuse. This forum can get a little righteous at times, so a little **** taking won't hurt.
Gary
is
reading
impaired
so
please
use
paragraphs.

And don't forget to ask Harri to add beer drinking smileys to the emoticons.

Man... see what happens when I go a whole week without a drink.
BTW Gary, the Martin Handcraft Comm1 arrives in about 10 days! can't wait. The Chu Alto comes out of the repair shop this w/e. Can't wait for that either! Need to sell another body part now though. :)

[gary]

Gary
is
reading
impaired
so
please
use
paragraphs.
ROTFLMAO !!
(true, though)

Need to sell another body part now though.
I understand your wife has a suggestion! :shock:
.

[Bill Mecca]

[Need to sell another body part now though.
I understand your wife has a suggestion! :shock:
.

OUCH! ;-D

and yes beer drinking emoticons would be welcome.

[Kareeser]

Honestly, I don't understand you Aussies...

Of course, coming from the "land up there" (as you may call Canada, :D), there are some things I don't understand about the land down under, :P

[Torachan]

Thanks heaps guys for the "unwritten" rules of this site. Will do my upmost to follow them. I was kicked off a nursing BB recently. The thread had to do with why men seemed to get along better than women in the workplace. 'Twas a heated discussion. I put in my 10 cents worth "Because 1)we are smarter 2)Stronger and 3)we can pee standing up without getting our feet wet". Needless to say the guys found it funny but the dumb moderators were all shiela's :lol: Anyway the whole BB was bitchy. :roll:

Where is the beer drinking smiley????/ :x