My First Lesson

[fballatore]

Well, I've been hesitating posting this, because I've been replaying the lesson in my mind. There are two thoughts I have. First - wow, where did the time go?!? The half hour lesson seemed like it was over in ten minutes. Second, and I know this is probably my fault, but my instructor knowing it was my first lesson, went over very, very basic info that it turns out I had already taught myself. I guess without me speaking up, there was no way for him to know that. I should have spoken up.

I'm a little surprised he didn't even mention embouchure, he just told me to let my upper teeth touch the mouthpiece, and close my lower lip over the reed and blow. I think I was expecting him to take a closer look to tell me what I was doing wrong, or right.

The one nice thing about the lesson was that when he had me blow my first note, he got a very surprised look on his face. When I asked him why, he said "Because you actually made a nice sax sound. I usually expect a weak squeak or something that sounds nothing like a sax!" I took that as a compliment. (I did get my sax about 2 weeks before the lesson, and had been working on my own, so I wasn't too surprised.)

I was hoping to stir up some thoughts and memories of your first lesson. I'd love to hear from you...

[Martin Williams]

What he told you to do with your embrochure was a good solid place to have told you to start at. Everyone's embrochure is different, but that is a good place to start at to develop a strong embrochure. You are going to have to develop that yourself, and its going to take quite a while.

Martin Williams

[Gandalfe]

Hey F, I'd love to know what your instructor gave you to prepare for lesson two.

[fballatore]

Gandalfe -

Good question - that was something else I was wondering about. During the lesson, he showed me how to play the notes B, A, and G for about 8 counts each (he didn't tell me to count, that's just about how long we played the notes). All he told me to do until next week was pratice those three notes.

Frank

[Martin Williams]

longtones!

He's doing a good thing, its going to vastly improve your tone quality, and doing it enough will strengthen your embrochure, help focus your air stream, and you can also work on some articulation too.

If you can do this: record yourself now at the begining of the week doing these exersizes. Do it early in the day before your second lesson. then listen to it and you'll see your improvements yourself. I tell this to students all the time and (if they practice!!) they are all able o see some difference

Martin Williams

[fballatore]

Hmmm, whenever I've seen someone mention that longtones are great practice, somehow I had the idea that longtones meant holding a note for as long as possible. (That's one of the things I had been doing on my own before my first lesson.) Is holding a note for 8 counts considered longnotes?

Frank

[Martin Williams]

Many beginners (this may not be the case for you) cant hold a note for 8 counts

[fballatore]

Boy, you're quick with the responses! Thanks!

One more thing. For the most part, I can hold my notes for 8 counts (or more), although they do waver a bit at times. I'm sure that's just because it's all so new to me. What happens at times though, is that I'll be playing the longnote, and right in the middle of the note, no sound, just air blowing through the sax. I found if I tighten up my embouchure at that point, the note will sound again. I'm also guessing that this is because my embouchure muscles are not in shape yet. Do you agree?

Oh yeah - I almost forgot. I had bought some Vandoren blue box reeds # 2 and # 2.5. The tech that checked out my sax when I first got it told me to start out with a 1.5 that he gave me (Rico). My teacher told me to experiment with the 2 and 2.5's during the week. I don't notice much of a difference in my sound with any of the 3 different strength reeds. And I even think I remember him telling me that the Vandorens run about a half stronger than most other reeds, so that a 2.5 Vandoren is like a 3 Rico, do I have that right?

Frank

[Martin Williams]

Yeah you got it right IMO on the embrochure thing.

Also, I agree with your teacher on the reeds sizes. the softest reeds I have ever (personally seen anyone start on are 2s, but generally I would try and have them go with the 2.5 and move up too a 3 after a year or so depending on their improvement level

Martin Williams

[Old Charlie]

fballatore,

About long tones:

I haven't had a lesson yet, but I talked with an instructor in trying to line up a series of lessons. He had to pass me on to another instructor because he only handles intermediate and above.

The point is, I told him I was practicing long tones and whole notes from saxlessons.com. About long tones, he said the MOST IMPORTANT thing is the tone and NOT the time. Read http://www.saxlessons.com/longtones.htm . It has an excellent explanation of what he's talking about. I read it and was convinced that long tone practice is for me every day.

Good luck and keep us posted.
__________________________
Just tootin' along, playin' a song!

[fballatore]

Charlie -

That's fantastic - thanks! Now I understand perfectly!

Frank

[gary]

All he told me to do until next week was pratice those three notes.
LOL!! That's austere.

"Concentrate on the mind that has no mind."
"Play only these three notes, Grasshopper."
I love it.

If you've got the discipline (which kids don't usually have) that's a great assignment.

Folks...embouchure :wink:

[DirkW]

Reminds me of when I gave my son his first sax lesson. My objective was to show him how to put it together, hold it, and blow a single note. He wanted badly to play a song so I showed him how to play Mary Had A Little Lamb using only B, A, and G. About an hour later I heard some multiphonics coming from his room and he was trying to figure out how to play notes using on his right hand. I reluctantly showed him all the notes on a C scale and gave him a fingering chart. A day later he was playing Jolly Old Saint Nicolaus in two different keys.

Flash forward two years later, and it's like pulling teeth to get him to practice 45 minutes every day.

[Gandalfe]

Great link Old Charlie. I immediately read it and sent it to every sax player I teach or play with. Thanks for the great pointer!

[Old Charlie]

Now, if I could just find an instructor.

I put my name in at the local store Christmas week - no results yet. I called a local instructor who's busy but referred me - no results yet......... This waiting is getting tedious. I need one-on-one direction and correction!!!!!!!!!

Anybody know of an instructor in Livermore, Pleasanton, or Dublin, CA that teaches weekly and has evening openings?

[Jackie]

Hi everyone, Im in the same boat finding an instructor. I have called 2 and they have not gotten back with me. I am 50 and doing something I have put off for years now. I think there afraid of my age. I have been teaching myself too but I want some hands on experience so I do the right thing here. I do not want to pick up any bad habits by doing it my way :D I have learned rolling along and my husband is impressed. I am renting right now but I think I might be getting my own soon. The place where I am renting are the ones that gave me the names of 2 instructors, so I will be giving the sax back after the 2 months Ive already paid for LOL Anyone in the Akron Ohio area want to teach an ol broad :D

[Martin Williams]

If you can get ahold of the U of Akron sax guy, I had a freind that was studying with him during high school, he may be able to take you.

Martin Williams

[Jackie]

Hey Martin Thanks for the info, I am assuming you mean an instructor at Akron U? or someone on the board? :o I was thinking of calling some of the schools to see if anyone gave private lessons, so I guess my thinking was right.

[Martin Williams]

Yeah I meant the professor, I forgot his name though. My freind said he was really good.