New to the sax.

[fireman5]

I was wondering how long it took everybody before they started playing the sax proficiently? I've only taken two lessons and was just curious how long I should go before I know if I should continue on with the lessons? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[DanY]

Well, it's been 12 years and i'm still waiting!
Seriously though, I used to think "if only I could play the C major scale, my life would be complete", then it was "If only I knew my major scales in all 12 keys, I would be satisfied", then it was "If only I could play with vibrato, my quest would be over."

It doesn't work that way. Sure, you'll be able to impress your non-musician mates in about 2 months, but you won't impress yourself because your expectations will have risen.

Stay with the lessons. Everyone progresses at a different speed.

[fireman5]

Cool. Thanks a lot. That helps. Is there any particular song you strived to learn to play? I would love to play "The Entertainer". I always liked that song.

[Ivy]

The Entertainer would be a difficult song for a beginner because it has a lot of 8th note and 16th note syncopations which takes a while of practice trying to read these. This song is deceptively simple when you hear it but complicated to read. Start with a slow ballad or blues.

[Dave Dolson]

Fireman5: Most anything by Scott Joplin is difficult, plus any of the great rags are fairly intricate. I agree that simple tunes are what you may be able to play, even by ear when you learn the fingerings. That's how I started - by working out melodies I knew. Then came the harmonies and then the fills associated with the clarinet parts in Dixieland jazz. Of course that was many years ago.

If you are motivated and practice regulalry, you may amaze yourself at how quickly you improve. Good luck. DAVE

[yana sax]

i would probably reccomend "Take 5" as a cool piece to learn, only 'cos that was the 1st proper "cool" piece i learned!

[HC]

There is no such thing as proficiency. The day you consider yourself "proficient" is the day you stop improving.

I have realized, especially on piano, how much I would spend learning one piece when I know it sound really good. Those pieces often test the limits of my musical ability and thus makes me a better player.