Amateursaxbassoonman
06-26-2006, 12:56 AM
Hi,
I'm just starting up sax again after leaving it for about 14 or 15 years. In high school, I played mostly Tenor sax and bassoon, but started on Alto and never completely stopped playing it. I was a music major (bassoon primary, tenor sax secondary) for 2 years in college before burning out and quitting (this was many years ago). Needless to say, I've moved on to a different career, but I purchased a Martin alto a little over a month ago and have been practicing (and enjoying it immensely). I've also got a Benetone Tenor sax (that I think is from the 1920s) and I am just about to send it out for repairs and I just picked up a crummy sop for $147 that plays, but feels more like a toy than a serious musical instrument (its an EM Winston).
So, here is my plan, since I never stopped listening to music I have come to realize that I like both alto and tenor equally. In fact, I recently acquired two early Sonny Stitt recordings in which he plays both alto and tenor (sometimes even on the same tune). Needless to say, Stitt, Cannonball, and Coltrane are my idols. I can basically work in an hour or two per day, but right now I must spend most of my time working on my dissertation (which will be done this year, hopefully). Once my dissertation is done, I will be a free man (and my family has, in a way, informed me that for a graduation present, it might be a new saxophone).
Anyway, once I'm done, I plan on supplementing my teaching career with some occasional gigging (night clubs, weddings, etc). So my plan is really just to focus on Alto and Tenor, when I get it back. I never had much of a problem switching between the two. I don't think I'll ever be a serious sop player, but I wouldn't mind getting good enough to where I could pull it out for a tune or two on occasion.
One thing that I notice is that my big hands seem to fit better the tenor. Do you all think that hand size really matters with what instruments you play? Also, I thought about for practicing either switching each day (Alto on M,W,F) and Tenor on (Tu,Th,Sa) and Sunday free for whatever I want. Or practice a little bit (30 minutes on each) per day?
Joe
I'm just starting up sax again after leaving it for about 14 or 15 years. In high school, I played mostly Tenor sax and bassoon, but started on Alto and never completely stopped playing it. I was a music major (bassoon primary, tenor sax secondary) for 2 years in college before burning out and quitting (this was many years ago). Needless to say, I've moved on to a different career, but I purchased a Martin alto a little over a month ago and have been practicing (and enjoying it immensely). I've also got a Benetone Tenor sax (that I think is from the 1920s) and I am just about to send it out for repairs and I just picked up a crummy sop for $147 that plays, but feels more like a toy than a serious musical instrument (its an EM Winston).
So, here is my plan, since I never stopped listening to music I have come to realize that I like both alto and tenor equally. In fact, I recently acquired two early Sonny Stitt recordings in which he plays both alto and tenor (sometimes even on the same tune). Needless to say, Stitt, Cannonball, and Coltrane are my idols. I can basically work in an hour or two per day, but right now I must spend most of my time working on my dissertation (which will be done this year, hopefully). Once my dissertation is done, I will be a free man (and my family has, in a way, informed me that for a graduation present, it might be a new saxophone).
Anyway, once I'm done, I plan on supplementing my teaching career with some occasional gigging (night clubs, weddings, etc). So my plan is really just to focus on Alto and Tenor, when I get it back. I never had much of a problem switching between the two. I don't think I'll ever be a serious sop player, but I wouldn't mind getting good enough to where I could pull it out for a tune or two on occasion.
One thing that I notice is that my big hands seem to fit better the tenor. Do you all think that hand size really matters with what instruments you play? Also, I thought about for practicing either switching each day (Alto on M,W,F) and Tenor on (Tu,Th,Sa) and Sunday free for whatever I want. Or practice a little bit (30 minutes on each) per day?
Joe