Starting over guy seeks advise

[progmr]

Hello everyone. What a great site. It is nice to know that I am not the only “starting over” player. I played sax in high school and felt I got rather good at it (always sat 1st chair) but found guitar and dropped the sax. Now that I am older and wiser after 17 years I rented a YAS-23 and am back at it. I was pretty amazed that I remember 99% of the fingerings and actually produced a good, in tune tone after all of these years.

Having said all of that I am wondering what other starting over players have experienced in their return journey. I play guitar in my church and would find it interesting to add a sax to the mix from time to time or perhaps join the local big-band ensemble. I guess I would like to know how quickly you were able to get “good” again, what practice routines you are following, and any pitfalls to relearning you’ve experienced.

I’ve been on about 1 week and have been working long tone drills, some scales, and out of the Universal Method for Saxophone book, some online exercises, and playing with some Glenn Miller stuff for the “fun” moment of my routine.

[alsdiego]

progmr,

I played seriously in high school, then in rock bands in college. Then put down the horn for 40 years! I was also amazed at how I could still read music, and even play a decent chromatic scale from the top to the bottom of the horn.

It took me about 2 years to "come back" to where I was, and to begin to go beyond that (improvisation). Went to a Jamey Aebersold jazz camp after about a year of practice, and it was very inspirational.

Some specific suggestions for you:

1. Your embouchure is probably more or less completely undeveloped at this point. Start with soft (2 - 2 1/2) reeds, and a modest tip opening in an inexpensive mpc like the Yamaha..... wait for your embouchure to develop before you get into the more expensive mpcs. Make sure you're using a correct embouchure, without biting.

2. Learn your major scales in all 12 keys, and use them as a warmup every day to develop your technique. Make sure you keep your fingers relaxed (a mirror helps). Also, find some etudes you like to develop your technique.

3. Don't push too hard at first.... 1/2 hr. to 45 mins. may be all your relatively weak embouchure can handle at first..... be patient.

4. Make sure your horn is well adjusted and leak free, so you're not fighting the horn. Try to avoid the "gearhead" acquisition thing until you've spent a couple of years coming back.... then you'lll have a better idea of an appropriate horn for you...... don't be like me :) I immediately ran out and bought a King Super 20 alto..... 3 years later, I've switched horns to something that's more appropriate for me, even tho the Super 20 is a killer horn.

This may well be the best decision you ever made..... it was for me.

Al