Too late to learn?

[ivierre]

Hello everyone,

Just like the title of this thread, I am wondering if it is too late for me to learn to play sax? I am currently 23 years old and never played sax but only piano and harmonica. My friends keep telling me that i am getting old and it will be hard for me to learn. Is learning to play sax really that hard?

Is finding someone to teach me how to play the only way to learn to play sax? Will books or videos help or that just not possible?

I've heard a lot of people said that Alto is much easier to play than tenor because of its size? I actually like the sound of tenor more...(i think) which is softer?

I wont join any jazz band but only playing it for fun and pleasure. Should i get a alto or tenor? Is there any site that I can actually compare the sound of two?

thanks a lot and sorry for asking lots of questions....

[sskilton]

Hi Ivierre, I am 29 I have been playing for almost 9 months. I have improved greatly, so no it is NEVER too late. What is important is that you really want to play.

I would suggest you take a look at the Late Bloomer section for some great tips and advise. I would definitely recommend a good teacher. A good method book will serve you well in addition too a teacher. I kind of teach myself as well as lesson work, then go to my teacher with questions. He is quite happy for me to do this and likes my enthusiasm. What types of music are you interested in playing?

I am an Alto gal myself, but if it’s is the tenor you want to play I really don’t think you have to start on the Alto. I mean you are an adult, so will be able to hold a tenor without any real difficulty. I will let some of the tenor player comment on that.

Don’t worry about the questions, we have all been there. That is what we are all here for.

Welcome to the world of sax, you won’t regret it. Do let us know how you get on.

Sarah.

[Sassaphone]

I started playing at 55. I had my doubts at the time, but I'm satisfied with my progress. I think if you put in the time you will have few, if any, limitations. If you like tenor then thats what you should get--both instruments have their drawbacks as well as their strengths. In order to avoid frustration, I suggest you start out with a teacher at least until you develop your embochure. Practice at least an hour per day and you'll start seeing results in a short time.

[ivierre]

thanks so much for the warm welcome and the helpful replies.

Mind if i ask, what are the drawbacks and the strengths of the two?

thanks once again

[Sassaphone]

I own both alto and tenor. From my point of view there is more resistance with the alto, it requires a somewhat tighter embochure and I tire quickly playing it. The tenor is less resistant and requires a looser embochure but more air support. Of course mileage may vary, and the drawbacks can be mitigated to some extent by the choice of a mouthpiece and reed.

[gary]

Oooooh maaaaan, LOL!! Maybe 80 is a little late to be starting something...unless of course you're 90!!

Go for it dude...and take an inventory on your friends; they don't sound very supportive or adventurous to me. They'll have you sitting in a rocker in front of a fireplace with a blanket over your lap and a hound dog on the floor by the the time you're 35 :oops:

The best saxophonist and most successful player and teacher of saxophone in my region didn't even start playing until he was around 29. He was a rudderless engineering student at the university until he saw the light.

I would offer only this advice from personal observation. My father took up banjo in his 40's and just was so perfectionist (read insecure) that he defeated himself and quit. Be patient with yourself. You will soon discover that no matter how good you are there are always better players, and no matter how much you progress there's always more to do. That can be self-defeating unless you also realize that the flip side of that wonderful coin is that music is not a dead-end pursuit and there are always new and satisfying things to learn.

For the last three years I have gone to summer workshops where people half my age or more smoked me, and I am always putting myself in playing situations where I'm the oldest cat but not one of the strongest on the stage. It takes some lunacy to do that but I have found that, with very few exceptions, the younger people are supportive and respectful of what I'm trying to do and learn. As a budding musician you will come across a few jerks but most will be willing to help you out.

Regarding instruments, just listen to a lot of recordings and decide which sound you like the best. After that, still test play tenors and altos because what you hear on a recording (or, God forbid, in a live performance of live music with live musicians!) may not be what you feel and hear when you are actually playing. You may get a different "buzz" from one instrument that the other doesn't give you. IMO neither is harder or easier to learn, they've both got their characteristics so just choose the one to which you relate the best.

I would also ask you to read the "Advice on Buying a Saxophone" section of this forum (and please do that first) and then ask us questions before you buy one. Getting a bad sax is not a mistake you want to make.

Get a good teacher, listen to a lot of music and make your own decisions regarding your playing and musical choices. We're all with you and hope you are not a stranger to the forum.

Don't be asking yourself when you're 50, "I wonder what if...".
Go for it, man!

[Gordon (NZ)]

Only 23!!

You don't appreciate just how young you are! A perfect time (barring infancy) for learning ANYTHING.

Perhaps it is not until you are twice that age that you appreciate just how young 23 is.

If I stopped learning at 23 I would know a very small fraction of what I know now, and at 56 I am STILL young!

Go for it! The world's your oyster.... (unless you want to be a contortionist, in which case your body is probably too old to start.)

[Troy]

Yeah! What Gordon said. It's only because you're under 30 that 23 seems "old." Go check out the Late Bloomers thread.

Oh...and, like gary said, get yourself some new friends!!

P.S. I started at 39.

[Sigmund451]

Listen youngster, go get a horn and a teacher. Get to it. I got a wild hair and started at 39. I play everyday and there are few things I have found in my daily life that brings such enjoyment. I have no aspirations that I will be a professional. This is not because it is impossible but rather because of the limited time (and talent) I also have to devote time and energy to family, job and so forth. I do project being able to play local gigs in another year or so. For me this would be rewarding enough. The only thing in you way is you...so step aside.

[CherylH]

Good gracious, I should hope not!! I started 3 months ago and I'll be 50 at the end of the month. "too old" is only an attitude, and we get to pick our sttitude. Just play what speaks to you, and find someone to play with, even if it is only a CD.

Cheryl

[mrschewy]

You're definitely not too old. I started playing alto 3 months a go at 36 and have never played so much as a set of spoons before, let alone read music!! Go for it, get a teacher, enjoy yourself and get some mates who support you. Or you could just crawl into a hole and give up on life!!!
Have fun, enjoy and you're at the beginning of a great journey. :D

[z_bassman]

This is my first post.

I'm 44 and I just ordered my first saxophone. I've played various instruments for years...


French Horn - 33 years
Piano - 31 years
Vocals - 13 years
Bass - 6 years
Guitar - started this year
Drums - started this year
Saxophone - just ordered a soprano



...but I finally decided I wanted to try a reed.

I'll keep you posted.

Sean

[jazzbluescat]

Good luck with the soprano; intonation can be a bear to handle.

[Maybe keep the reed, can the horn. :twisted: ]

[jeffoest]

I'm 42 and have played piano for a few years. Picked up the guitar 2 years ago and now I am playing just fine. Bought an electric bass last spring and within a week I was recording with it. I just got a saxophone on Saturday and so far seem to be doing allright with it even playing songs from my standards fake books - though a bit screechy.... lol

when I bought the guitars 2 years ago, I thought 'what am I doing? and wasn't sure if I was too old to learn new tricks. Now I'm brimming with confidence and figure if 10-year olds can figure it out, so can I!!. Hey - remember, you don't need to be John Coltrane to have a good time....

Go for it!!

Jeff
http://www.jeffoestreichmusic.com

[Joe Linux]

My feeling is that sax is one of the most fun instruments you could choose. For one thing there are a lot of good play along methods that have good CD background accompaniments that go along with the method books. I would suggest starting with an Alto though. There won't be any method books for Soprano and in fact I believe in general you will have to use Tenor music. As far as I know, ther really aren't any Tenor starter books either. As for ease of play I don't think there is much different between Alto and Tenor except Alto is easier to hold. As for cost, I believe an Alto may offer the best value. I think there are good altos out there for under $500.00. I paid $600.00 for my Tenor. I'm 61 and have made what I consider to be an excellant progress in a short time, but I did have a lot of musical experience with other instruments. Had I realized how much fun sax is, I probably would have gotten the sax in the $1300.00 range that Dave Kessler had suggested. Nevertheless, I'm satisfied with my present Solist horn from Kessler Music, and really enjoy playing along with the great rhythm section on the Jim Snidero "Easy Jazz Conceptions" book. I would suggest starting out with the Hal Leonard's "Alto Sax Today" book. There is a Book I, Book II, and Song Book in the series. You can start playing from the Song Book even before you finish Book I.

[Joe Linux]

Essentially the instruments are the same except the Tenor plays a fouth lower. Sometimes or even often it's hard to hear the difference between the two. My experience is that Tenor players tend to have more extreme personalities and hence a more extreme wilder sound, at least when playing jazz. I bought a Tenor because my son already had an Alto. But the more I think about it, If I owned just one sax, it would be an Alto. Here are the reasons:

It's smaller, easier to hold. The case is smaller. Alto's can be purchased for less. There is more beginner music for Altos. Finally the sound characteristics and fingerings are essentially the same except that the Tenor plays a bit lower, and Alto a bit higher. To get the lower sound you pay a big penalty for an instrument that is heavier to hold and carry around and costs more.

[JL]

It's smaller, easier to hold. The case is smaller. Alto's can be purchased for less. There is more beginner music for Altos. Finally the sound characteristics and fingerings are essentially the same except that the Tenor plays a bit lower, and Alto a bit higher. To get the lower sound you pay a big penalty for an instrument that is heavier to hold and carry around and costs more.

Regarding sound characteristics, I don't see/hear it as this simple (tenor lower, alto higher). There is a different timbre and different overall characteristic to a tenor sound vs alto. The tenor sounds deeper, richer, more powerful, and just, well, different. Both alto and tenor sound great when played well, and which one you prefer is entirely subjective.

In the original post ivierre stated that he thinks he likes tenor more. If that's the case, ivierre, I can't see why you shouldn't go for the tenor right off. It's true it is larger, but the fingering is no more difficult, and I don't find tenor more difficult to play than alto. In fact, I find the firmer embouchure required for alto to be a bit more of a chore. But a lot depends on how much time you spend playing a given instrument. In any case, at 23 you are very young and have plenty of time (but don't waste any of it) to learn music, believe me.

[francois]

It's never too late, full stop.

[Straightsax]

I am currently 23 years old and never played sax but only piano and harmonica.

Oh yeah, you are ancient at 23. And those friends of yours, LOL. I started playing saxophone in my 40's. Dont ask me how long ago that was, but probably longer than you've been alive. Well, almost. Remember the golden rule.

Everything, before 40 is just rehearsal.

How many gray hairs to you have? Do you require a disability placard when you drive a car? Do your bones fell like you've been in a tackle football game over the weekend and it's Monday morning, on Thursday?

If you feel drawn to a certain instrument then there is an indication that you will be good at if you put the time in. You will also progress faster, because it is something that you want to do. What your friends have to get over is that they are not losing a piano player, they are gaining a saxophonist.

23 is old. Yeah right. Then what the heck is 40 and beyond.

As always, Peace.

Chris.