my first lesson

[retromom]

Hi All,
I had my first lesson this evening and it was really fun. :D They are only one half hour long though and the time seemed to fly by so quickly.
At any rate we spent the class learning the B,A and G keys. does that seem to be the norm for first timers?

Do most of you sit or stand to play the sax?
thanks
Vicki

[cleger]

Congrats on taking the plunge!

The classes do go by pretty quickly don't they. I spent most of the first lesson learning about proper emboucher and the basic sax fingering. Sounds like that's about par for the course.

I usually like to stand when I play, but there are times when sitting is also desireable (like when my back is aching).

[fballatore]

Vicki -

That's about how my first lesson went, and pretty much how most beginner books start out. How did you sound?

I sit during my lessons, but mostly stand when I practice at home. Breathing properly is easier when standing.

Just out of curiosity, what did your instructor tell you to work on during the week until your next lesson? And did you decide to rent or buy a sax?

Frank

[retromom]

Hi Frank,
I decided to rent for now given the fact that I had never even held a sax before This week.:wink:

The teacher told me to practice the first page of the book which is really basicallyB, A, and G. Further down the page it seems to be a variation of finger movement , the 4 count and moving smoothly from one note to the next {at least that was my take on it :?: :?: :?: }
Any thoughts or suggestions from anyone? I have nothing to compare it to as I've never taken any sort of music lessons before.


This post may seem like it came out of nowhere but i'm actually answering Franks question and I haven't yet figured out how to quote in order to post the question too.

thanks
Vicki

[gary]

I haven't yet figured out how to quote in order to post the question too.
Vicki - go to the post you want to quote and click on the word "quote" in the upper right hand corner of that post.

A new window will appear with the full quote. In the upper left-hand corner, enclosed in brackets, you will see a the word quote and the quotee's name in quotation marks (i.e. "gary"). At the end of the quote you will again see the word "quote" within brackets.

So as not to quote the entire post, if there's any one, or just a few, sentances you want to quote, you can mark and delete the extranneous stuff so long as it is within the two bracketed phrases. If you erase part of the brackets, you get another kind of posting.

[fballatore]

Vicki -

What book are you working out of?

Frank

[retromom]

Vicki -

What book are you working out of?

Frank


Breeze Easy Method 1 ---Saxaphone

[retromom]

Thank you very much Gary.

[jallen256]

Vicki,

Congratulations on your first lesson and making the decision to go for it! I put my clarinet away after high school and didn't get it back out until my son started playing the trumpet (some 30 years later). I had fooled around with the sax in school and decided I ought to give it another try now that could afford it and had the time.

A year later, I'm still kicking myself for waiting so long! I've been lucky enough to play clarinet in a wind ensemble at church where they will also humor my evolving sax skills when a part is needed.

Congratulations and keep it up!

- Jim

[wianno]

retromom,

I too started with the sax quite late, well after most people retire. I've been self-teaching for the past two years and seem to be making excellent progress, though I'd never discourage anyone from taking lessons. My schedule doesn't give me much room to do so.

There are two web sites that you may find helpful.

The first is http://saxlessons.com/ , where you can view (and copy as files) lessons taken from the Rubank beginners method book, which probably parallels your lesson book closely. The advantage of this alternative lesson source is that Alastair Ingram, the site's sponsor, also plays the lessons (which you also can capture as file downloads.) I found this very helpful flying solo.

The second site is http://www.dolmetsch.com/theoryintro.htm, where you can learn music theory in small, manageable, doses, beginning with notation.

Good luck and ignore the people who object to your screeching. In a couple of years they might send a compliment or two your way.

That reminds me. Beginners will make awful noises. The trouble is, beginners don't know whether they or the instrument should be credited (which is where the teacher comes in to help.) But to my point, don't put up with a poor instrument. Play one that has been regulated by an expert and passes your instructor’s test. Then you must keep it regulated. You don't need a fancy instrument. An overhauled used YAS-23 will do just fine for the first few years and more. You can get them quite reasonably on eBay.

JD