How long have you been playing?

[Saxy Man]

Just wonderin' who I'm talking to. That's all. I'm in seventh grade and I've played alto for three years, tenor for 3 months and so far 6 months on bari.

[srcsax]

Oh Lordy...... i have been playing long enough to be better than i am :shock: Since 1969.

I'm sooo old I played at the last supper....Just kidding...playing professionally since the late 50's

[paulwl]

24 years this fall. To give you young pups an idea...that's before SA80s, Taiwanese no-brand horns, Fibracell, the internet or CDs (the only thing digital we had were watches and calculators...but a guy in the next block had an Apple ][ that flipped us all out). Weather Report was hot. Josh Redman was 10 years old. Old saxophones were dirt cheap and had such a bad rep my parents wouldn't buy me one. (I started on a YAS21- not bad, but...)

[DD]

Was that you at that dinner party, Winesax? I been doin' it as a "pro" (AFM) since 1959. Last one was last night. Keeps me young and sensitive to others needs! :lol: If I didn't play, I'd be mean, old and ugly to be around.

[Merlin]

30 years and counting.

You'd think I'd have more to show for it after all this time.

[Jeff Foster]

Since 1967.

[tomsch]

Started playing tenor when I was 13. I'm 39 now.... time sure does fly :shock:

[Joseph Boucher]

I started playing at the age of 8 and now i'm 54, that's 46 years. Joe.

[MonchMan]

Let's see .... 34 years can it be?!? :shock:

[Dr G]

Started clarinet in 1965, started bassoon in 1968. Tenor sax came into my life in 1969. Bought my first flute in 1971. I started playing the sop in 1972. Whew, it's been a while! :shock:

Seems like music is the only constant thing in my life. :lol:

[AirSax85]

You can never play for "too long".

[Jazzophone]

started on tenor when I was eleven (beginning of seventh grade), and added bari to my repertoire at thirteen (grade 9). I'm fourteen now, and you'll never catch me. 8)

[jd]

didnt realize how many old fossils were out there. ive been at it 29 years .im 44 and thought i was old!

[Joseph Boucher]

jd, Who's an old fossil? :shock:

[steve]

15 years, in two installments...1957 to 1967...1998 'til now. What goes around.....My major regret: no playing in between...but am making up for lost time.

[Media Lint]

I answered 7-15, which is true. It's about 9, but most of it was in school and then it was 15 years before I picked it back up. So it's like 8 + 1 = 9 :)

[Tharruff]

I started playing the clarinet in 1967 when I was 10 years old. Then started playing Sax in 1972 when I was 15.

YIKES !!!

I'm getting awfully old considering that I'm not all that good of a player.

[jazzbluescat]

40+ years.
And it's never too long by the way~~http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung/travesmilies/sternzeichen/smilie_loewe.gif

[Frank D]

Started clarinet in 1965, added sax in 67. It's been a heck of a good ride so far, just trying to keep it going.

[jd]

sorry joe .i didnt mean to imply you were an old fossil. your not even an antique yet! dont even qualify for a senior discount yet :lol:

[Joseph Boucher]

- jd - , Why do I keep getting insurance flyers about my "final expenses"? When I turned 50, AARP sent me my first year free membership. My kids are already putting in their request for family heirlooms. Even my parents who are still alive, ask me if I have a 'plot' yet. In the meantime I'll just keep on tootin. Joe.

[Mike Ruhl]

I started playing sax in the 5th grade, in 1969, I think. I had already tried guitar and violin. I wanted to play flute, but my folks nixed that.

Mike R. :USA:

[eagle 0 four]

WOW! I feel so young...most of you were playing and I wasn't even born yet. Been 17 for 4 days now and been playing for 9 years, with luck it there will be many more to come.

[RS]

Started on clarinet in '61. Switched to sax in '65. Hope to get another 40 or so years in.

[Dr Loud]

I'm in 7th grade & i've been playing alto 4 2yrs & am just starting soprano

[Lee]

Began playing in the "Summer of Love", 1969, I think that adds up to about 34 years. I still enjoy playing and learning. This a great thread.

[Wailin']

Let's see..I did 10 minutes on long tones, 15 minutes on scales, 30 minutes on Aebersold CD's and 15 minutes on classical pieces so I've been playing for one hour and 10 minutes.

[JOSEPH MCKIM]

Since 1956, and still going strong.

[saxusa]

So long that it's to late to change careers now.

[OnyxSax]

I've played sax for 21 out of my 35 years. Been playing piano longer, 28 years, long enough to not remember what it was like to not play music. I guess that gives me a combined 49 years of experience, not bad for a 35 year old guy.

[Balladeer]

I started playing sax in 1960 at age 11. I guess that makes over 42 years.

[CluelessEPA]

I'm about Winesax's vintage. Not pro but I did make some nice spending cash when I was younger. Had a lot of fun too! Now I do it just for fun.

[saxtek]

42 years. I'm starting to get the hang of it.

[saxusa]

Careful SAXTEK, it just may develope into a habit. :lol:

[DD]

Here's a habit worth emulating. I played the 103rd anniversary of the Jamestown NY AFM local over the weekend with one of the best rhythm sections I have had the pleasure of working with (Mike Jones piano, Gil Pease bass (Buffalo) and Karl Alanakian drums (Erie). Honored at the event were several members with over 50 years of membership, including a sax man of 89 years with 70 years of membership - he even brought his pristine '27 gold Conn sop to jam with! What an ageless and priceless inspiration. We should all play so long! :D

[bari_sax_diva]

Oh geez... started on clarinet at ten, picked up alto about four years later, dropped everything to go to college and get married, then picked it back up again when I graduated and my marriage bit the dust. Now I'm 33, back at playing about three years (maybe a little longer), and baritone is my main axe. Wish I'd had the guts to pursue music professionally, but then again... it's nice to have a day job that pays for my GAS... :)

Cheers,
Leanne

[johnsax]

I've been playing sax (alto) for about 5 months. Took it up at age 45. WHAT WAS I THINKING? I've played classical guitar for over 30 years though. I did actually play a wind instrument for one week in high school (french horn) but that's a story I'm keeping between me and my therapist. Let's just say it wasn't pretty!

My main goals are to learn improvising and get good enough to play in some kind of community big band or small jazz ensemble. I'm giving myself about a year or so for that.

My other goal is to get better than Paul Desmond, Sonny Criss and Johnny Hodges. I'm giving myself about a hundred years for that one. In the mean time, I'm keeping my day job and developing my technique to the point where my playing doesn't set off the neighborhood dogs.

John

[hershel]

i've been playing clarinet for 32yrs.
tenor sax for about 27yrs.
alto sax for about 17yrs.

i'm 45yrs old and have always loved playing!

[Tenorsaxer]

well, 9 months on Tenor now. I play for about 100 minutes a day and play weekly at a local restaurant. I am never going to stop playing sax or jazz. I don't care if I am 97, can't walk, stand, or breath on my own. I will find a way to play it.

[popsax]

I started playing when Truman was prez. Selmer didn't even make a Mark VI back then.

[popsax]

Tenorsaxer! If you can't breathe, you must be dead or using an oxygen tank. In that case get two, one for your lungs and one hooked up to the mouthpiece. Then you'll just have to press the keys.

[MS]

It's been so long I'm not sure that I remember. Must have been about 1954 or 55 in 4th grade. Geezzzzzzzzzzz!

[Samthejazzman]

Started playing tenor at 16 added a soprano a year after, added a baritone 3 days ago, turned 18 march 5th. Started playing i think it was july of 2001, right before 10th grade, i graduate this year.

I am living proof that there is no such thing as starting to play late. I am totally self taught, i bought my first tenor when i turned 17 for 540dollars, it is a YTS-23 in mint condition. I still play it today, hopefully one day pass it on to my kids.

I can honestly say that in 3 years i play better then the kids we had in our band class that played since grade school.

[Amy]

I have only been playing seven months but I played the clarinet for five years before that.

[samsax]

Forty years as an amature and part time play for pay.