Introducing myself...

[Face Ache Mike]

Hello! Been reading this forum for a couple of weeks or so since I bought my TJ Horn. Have to say the atmosphere here is great and I look forward to learning a lot from you all 8-)

So, about me. I`m 41, live in England and before sax wouldnt have known a semi crotchet from my elbow. I feel like I`ve taken the first tiny step on a life long journey. I don`t have any preconceived ideas of where I`ll end up, I just want to enjoy the trip.

After lots of reading (both internet and books) and absorbing a couple of dvds I booked myself a lesson. I was really looking forward to it, however I didnt enjoy the attitude of my tutor so, not disheartened by any means, I`m about to book lessons with another.

I practice every day for 2-3 hours with short breaks every 20-30 mins for my face to recover (hence the nick name!) and to let whatever I learned to sink in.

So thats me. I feel like I know a few of you already and can empathise with a lot of the comments on here. I see myself asking the exact same questions so thank you for saving me the trouble of typing!

Right, back to my addiction.... :glasses1:

[fballatore]

Hey Mike -

Welcome aboard. You've definitely come to the right place! I'm envious of your ability to practice 2-3 hours every day. I'm able to squeeze 45 minutes - 1 hour every day, and I do that religiously. You'll make progress quickly if you're able to practice that amount of time in the long run.

Great idea to find another instructor. I tried 2, and although I liked both of them, I felt more comfortable with one over the other, and I'm glad I made the decision (4 weeks into lessons now).

Good luck with it, and keep on blowing!

Frank

[gary]

Welcome! Glad to see you're willing to face the music, Mike.
(Sorry. Couldn't resist.)

Hope to see you around.

[Face Ache Mike]

Hi Frank!

Thanks very much :) You are one of the ones I meant when I said I feel I know some of you already ;) (Feel stalked? lol). Yeah Im lucky in having the time to practice so much. While the weather has been bad here its meant one of my other hobbies (tinkering with cars) has taken a back seat but I can see it struggling to get attention later! Heck I might not even realise the sun is shining spending so much time "playing!"!

Yes I have made progress - enough to surprise everyone (yes the entire neighbourhood!) including myself. I can play When the Saints, Alloutte, Happy Birthday and simple tunes like that - not well but recogniseable. Thing is, I just enjoy making good sounds so long tones and scales give me as much pleasure as tunes when I get it right.

Good news on the tutor front. Turns out there is a sax player literally just around the corner from where I live. Im also in contact with a professional teacher so something positive should happen. Do you think it would be a bad idea to take guidance from both of them at the same time? The pro is about 50 miles away so I was thinking of seeing him once a month and the local one more often.

[Face Ache Mike]

Welcome! Glad to see you're willing to face the music, Mike.
(Sorry. Couldn't resist.)

Hope to see you around.

Vielen Dank Gary!

:lol:

[sorelip]

welcome aboard Mike

You are almost exactly where I was 18 months ago .. Im 40 bought a TJ horn (tenor), started off practicing about 2-3 hrs a day but current work committments have cut that down a bit. Still unsure of the direction I'm heading but mixing a bit of Jazz, Blues rock soul ... I'm happy with my progress but realise Ive a long, long way to go before I'll be even half satisfied!

Keep at it .. you wont have any regrets!

[fballatore]

Mike -

Well, I don't know if I feel stalked, but I was looking over my shoulder as I read your reply!

Personally, I think that working with both the professional and the local tutor wouldn't be a bad thing, as long as they didn't give you conflicting information. The more ideas and instruction you can get from those who have knowledge will help. I'd make sure that I discussed the situation (that you're seeing both) with each of them, and make sure that they're both on the same page.

Frank

[Face Ache Mike]

Frank,

Yep Im a very up front, nothing to hide type of guy so both tutors would be clear on that. Im not being forceful but its my hobby, my time and my money being spent and I want to go at it my way so long as I`m not building my own obstacles. Make sense?

Thats something Ive come across already is the conflicting advice thing. Biggest issue is caring for my sax. Ive got a lovely shiney new instrument and I want it to stay that way as long as possible. I couldnt feel pride playing a shabby old thing so I take care of it well. My ex tutor told me to throw away the pad saver and do nothing but "spit in it and put it in the case" when youve finished. They were his exact words. That was about 10 minutes into the lesson and really put me off him. He showed me his battered old sax explaining that appearance means nothing to the sound - which I agree with, but for me part of the coolness is the way it looks.

I`ll quit the stalking now, it isnt as much fun when your subject knows youre there ;)

[Face Ache Mike]

Sorelip,

Thanks :) I`ve deliberately not set any goals, just to progress every session even if its the tiniest amount. Theres been times I thought I wouldnt do my normal length of practice such as today when I woke up feeling rough (due to staying up til 3am reading this forum!) but when I put the sax down for my first rest Id already done an hour. Time flies by when your the coolest dude in town lol :D I expect it to drag for everyone in earshot though :lol:

[gary]

...but for me part of the coolness is the way it looks.
But, but Duuude. Looking shabby IS the coolness.

Haven't you ever seen new Karate black belts beating their belts on a sidewalk so they'll look old and used? Come to think of it - I'M old and used. Maybe that makes me cool too. Never thought of it that way. :scratch:

[Face Ache Mike]

...but for me part of the coolness is the way it looks.
But, but Duuude. Looking shabby IS the coolness.

Haven't you ever seen new Karate black belts beating their belts on a sidewalk so they'll look old and used? Come to think of it - I'M old and used. Maybe that makes me cool too. Never thought of it that way. :scratch:

I`m with the sexy shiney saxy class ;) If I look good, I`ll feel good and that`ll help me sound good 8-) well thats my theory anyway (sitting here unshaven and wearing my scruffy working clothes even though all Ive done today is practice) hehe :D

[Face Ache Mike]

Woooww!!!! I just had my first sax lesson with my new tutor :D What a world apart from the previous one. He really built my confidence. I feel like practicing 20-30 hours a day now never mind 2-3 :)

Sorry, no time to type - theres a sax crying out to be played :D