[Grumps]

Though I was never a studious player, I'd like to think that over time I've improved simply with more playing, more experience and more time picking up tips and learning new material. For what I do, I'm happy where I'm at and there's not much I work on these days other than learning new songs. Got me thinking though... eventually, all our skills will diminish over time. I got to see it first hand with my father on piano. It was something he never recognized, even in the later years when completely unable to carry a tune. I'd like to think however, that if it ever got to be too much for me, I'd adjust my commitments accordingly. But when that day comes... that the ability to improve is long gone... well, it's not really a pleasant thought I suppose; and thankfully has not arrived as of yet (I hope).

Anyone coming to terms with this?

 

[1saxman]

I don't think about it - never have. I have recordings of me playing stuff that I cant play now because I cant articulate at that speed anymore. But as far as tone, musical knowledge, style and concept, I am still constantly striving. I don't believe any serious player really ever decides 'Well, I cant get any better.' and hangs it up. You can always improve something as long as you can physically play, be it tone, style or concept. Concept to me is changing as I age and 'hear' a different, warmer style but I still have that cold edge when I hit the gas. I also am constantly working on the horns; today I replaced some pieces of Teflon that were in bad places, making the horn clatter - I was working in the table keys today because every time I played the horn, even if I didn't hear the clacking, I could feel it in the left little finger when I was doing something involving G#. I tore out the three pieces of hard Teflon under those keys and put in felt.
This is just an example of the things I could spend hours doing every day. I have five horns in service and there is no end to it. But I have matured in that sense too, and as long as I can halfway see I expect I'll keep working on horns. I'd hate to think of being forced to get somebody else to do these things. Number 1, they don't even understand when I tell them in writing what I want, and number 2, even if they do it they don't understand why.

 

[lostcircuits]

Improving is a relative term. First you try to get some of the squeaks out, then you try to improve your tempo, then you try to play complicated patterns and emulate one of your idols and then you start realizing that all of this sounds awful if you don't get your sound to the point where you start liking it. And then your ears get tuned more and more and hopefully one day you realize, to quote Herbie Hancock, that those are all tools and that music has to come from within. And that should never stop improving. Yes, you can lose speed etc. but less notes are often more. Silence is the canvas on which we paint the notes ... And even silence can be improved.

 

[A Greene]

The great classical saxophonist Marcel Mule put his saxophone away at age 60 and moved on to other activities living to be 100 years old. I’d like to think I’m getting better - If not better then at least differently. If only I would have practiced 3 hours a day when is was 12 or 13 years old. Now where did I put that time machine.

 

[Ken]

The great classical saxophonist Marcel Mule put his saxophone away at age 60 and moved on to other activities living to be 100 years old. I'd like to think I'm getting better - If not better then at least differently. If only I would have practiced 3 hours a day when is was 12 or 13 years old. Now where did I put that time machine.

OTOH there are plenty of examples of great players playing until they died of old age, or couldn't because of health reasons.

I like to think my playing has grown from what it was 10 years ago because of the things I've learnt and practiced during that time. You might get worse in some areas, like technique, but still grow in other ways. When I listen to an album like Coleman Hawkin's Sirius some people pan his playing, but I like it as I hear the soul in his playing. I often like recordings of players when they get old for that reason.

I guess it's not a pleasant thought that your playing might deteriorate with age, but as long as I enjoy playing I can't see myself giving it up completely unless it was for health reasons or life circumstances etc.

 

[Budget Explosion]

Yes, I've been playing for 43 years and I'm still improving on three fronts: 1) playing by ear; 2) soloing in a much more rhythmically interesting fashion; 3) at the same time, learning to serve the song when playing live instead of trying to show off to the audience at every turn.

But, I'm a worse sight reader now (was never good though) and I have stunted technique - when I hear the old recordings from 1980 (8th grade), I still sound the same (which depresses me a bit.)

 

[Arundo Donax]

Definitely getting better compared to 10 years ago. I understand music better and my playing is more automatic - like touch typing - where I don't have to consciously think about the notes, they just flow.

Although I record myself, I still don't like the sound. 95% of the time I use the same mouthpiece I started with. Time to experiment and improve.

 

[Keith Ridenhour]

I keep a journal of practice and what I'm improving. so I can see exercises on alter scales, diminshed patterns, rhythm work, tone work. If you focus you get better. I am lucky. I got gigs out of college and could play wicked fast but I can rattle off 10 things I do better now. Im not as fast reading the omnibook but I can play 3 hours of memorized songs some in many keys. I could never do that out of college. Im 65, I'm much better than 60 or 55 when I retired. K

 

[Keith Ridenhour]

But the physical stuff takes work. to avoid arthritus and other health problems Ive been doing younger next year (the book) for 7 years now. I'll stop when im dead or incapacitated K

 

[JimD]

As A Greene says I wish I had done more serious practice when I was younger but I'm doing it now and, I assumeit's taking me longer, but my aim is to get better. I play differently and my aims are different but that's why I do it, to get better. I'm never going to play concerts to large audiences but there you go. You know a lot of tunes, I don't and I wish I did so that's also getting better.

 

[saxoclese]

In a word no. In my early 70's I have given up the chase, and am content to just play for fun in my "comfort zone".

 

[bandmommy]

Getting better, probably not.
Definitely still holding my own.
In 15-20 years I'll be seeing a marked and steady decline.
The circle of my playing life is nearing 3/4 complete.

 

[rcpayne]

I'm 68 and have not had to worry about losing it yet. I actually feel like I've reached a new level of playing as far as jazz improvising goes. It's been said that playing music keeps your brain working so hopefully I have a number of years left (fingers crossed, knock on wood) before I can no longer play. If I live that long. I think my playing is more musical than it was 40 odd years ago. The use of different nuances and tonal colorings is something that for me only came with time, lots of time. There's always room for improvement or something to learn. If you think you know everything you've got your head where the moon doesn't shine.

 

[J-Moen]

Probably not aimed at my age group, but at 30 I'm finally getting proficient enough to feel comfortable on most songs, so yeah definite improvement.

Hoping for a lot more, maybe I'll be good enough to get in a group setting sooner or later

 

[10mfan]

I feel like I’m always growing and I never look backwards. I love where it’s at today and I look forward to it getting better and better as time goes on.

 

[1saxman]

When I say 'playing', I mean playing actual gigs, not farting around at home. When, for whatever reason, there are no more gigs for me, that will probably be the end. Although, I might go online and just record stuff and put it out there if I can still play. I guess at 75, I'm in pretty rarified territory for a working sax player in pop music. Its just that I've been gigging since I was 16 and I still look forward to 9:00 on Saturday night! Looks like things are loosening up - my first gig since Feb. 8 is July 10. Here's the funny part - I'm still playing many tunes that I originally learned when they were first out as hit records in the '69s/'70s. Good songs don't really get old.

 

[GT]

I have certainly improved over, say, the last 20 years. But, as I approach 70, I find that it is certainly harder to learn licks and patterns and retain them...

 

[KeithL]

Yes but it takes a great deal more time to see any measurable improvement.

 

[swperry1]

Absolutely. Learning a second instrument (bass x 2+ years) brought a whole new dimension to my sax playing. I get better every single time I pick up either instrument.

 

[Ixthusdan]

I am always learning music and sax, and other things as well. I shall learn until I am done here, having completed the race. Paul Desmond played until he died, even after being diagnosed with lung cancer. When I have less air, I just play shorter phrases. I am not as accomplished as you all, and there are those who see my age and dismiss me. That is their problem because I still have things to do.��