[simon196]

I know it sounds foolish, but how can I progress to play like this?

BTW: I'm starting high school this year. I know progress isn't an overnight thing, Chris Potter is at the top, both technically and musically through lots of dedication and talent.

 

[Martinman]

Listen a lot, practice a lot, take lessons.


I'll let the better players tell you how to actually do these things.

 

[magical pig]

I was lucky enough to attend one of Chris Potter's masterclasses. The way he did it was to transcribe A LOT. Bird, Newk, Trane, just about anyone. Then he started developing his own thing, looking at ways to develop his peculiar rhythmic sense. He is practicing constantly. Music is his whole life.

There's no 'method' to being this good. The best schools and books will not get you there. You need to be curious and have the fire. Play and practice like your life depended on it.

 

[Wade Cornell]

Not sure why but most on this site don't like to talk about talent. It's a fact of life that some people have talent and some don't. We are not all equal, but hopefully have equal opportunities. Yes, you've got to play your *** off to get to the top, but working very very hard does not guarantee you will get to the top are even be a very good player. You've got to have talent and ability.

Is there anyone who thinks you can become a great pro basketball player by just practicing a lot if your 5' tall? We've all got limitations, just some are less limited than others. Know yourself and by all means see how far you can get, but don't buy the idea that by just trying very very hard that you will necessarily be a great player. It's just not reality.

 

[Wilbur Weltklang]

I disagree. If you try very very hard, you CAN become a great player.

 

[toughtenor]

buying recordings and REALLY listening to them, ( so you can sing along with not only the sax but also with the bass AND listen to the chords) trancribing , learning by ear ,playing along with them etc will get you well on your way. That's how a lot of players got started. Far better then books. (allthough books can be a good addition to your listening)

 

[piwikiwi]

@ simon
Not that I'm a great player but I offered to give you advice to avoid making the same mistakes I did but it's kinda useless if you don't respond to that.

Not sure why but most on this site don't like to talk about talent. It's a fact of life that some people have talent and some don't. We are not all equal, but hopefully have equal opportunities. Yes, you've got to play your *** off to get to the top, but working very very hard does not guarantee you will get to the top are even be a very good player. You've got to have talent and ability.

Is there anyone who thinks you can become a great pro basketball player by just practicing a lot if your 5' tall? We've all got limitations, just some are less limited than others. Know yourself and by all means see how far you can get, but don't buy the idea that by just trying very very hard that you will necessarily be a great player. It's just not reality.

Yes but music is very diverse, some people(like monk) a very creative but lack technique, some will have a very distinctive sound, others will have great technique but are not so good at playing ballads. Everything will have different strengths and weaknesses

 

[hgiles]

Start. Learn one note at a time, one scale, one tune, one set, one gig... take it in small chunks and take your time.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Is there anyone who thinks you can become a great pro basketball player by just practicing a lot if your 5' tall?

 

[Wade Cornell]

It seems that I've hit a sore spot for some who would like to believe that just trying hard = greatness. Piwikiwi makes a good point, there are a lot of different types of greatness that may not require outstanding technique, but there must still be something there that person has that works and makes that person stand out from the crowd.

Education is very important, but putting in the effort to become a PhD of music (a LOT of work!) certainly doesn't make you a great player. How many PhDs can you name who are great well know world class musicians? Same is true for all of the arts. Trying hard does not = greatness. However having talent and not ALSO trying hard = a "could have been" type failure. You won't know until you try. Know yourself, be real, and do the best you can.

 

[scotts]

Has anyone tried "Effortless Mastery"??

 

[magical pig]

Talent is just another word for "hungry mind".

 

[JL]

I agree with Wade here. You do have to deal with reality. And the reality is we are not all the same. Talent is an ambiguous concept and pretty difficult to pin down. But it's clear that some people have more ability in certain areas than others. That doesn't mean you can't play wonderful music just because you don't have the innate musical ability of Chris Portter. Quite the contrary. If you play what you are capable of, work hard and reach your potential, and play follow your own musical path, you'll likely be playing some very good music.

It's understandable that everyone wants to play just like--insert your fav hero musician here--, but eventually you have to deal with the fact that you are not Bird or Coltrane or Getz or Potter or Joe Blow either. You are you, with your own unique ability and talent (however you define talent), so I think the best course is to listen and study the masters and your favorite musicians, pick up what you can, then get on with your own thing. Because no matter how much talent you have or how hard you work, you won't sound just like anyone else, and that's a good thing actually.

Just my 2 cents....

 

[Mike Letus]

To Simon196,

Please reread post #13 above. There's some good wisdom/advice to be learned in it.

Now--you may someday play like Chris Potter. Then again, you may not. I wouldn't bet my life on it, but I seriously doubt that Potter at age 14 sounded like the Potter you posted. As long as you have some talent/skill you will improve with time and practice. It also may be a good idea to take lessons from someone who will focus you on what you're trying to do and not just going through method books.

 

[Mike1955]

but eventually you have to deal with the fact that you are not Bird or Coltrane or Getz or Potter or Joe Blow either.

Who knows, maybe Simon 196 will surpass them! It's certainly not for me to say otherwise! Geez, I'm really out of the loop...I never heard of Joe Blow! lol....

 

[JohnGalt]

I disagree. If you try very very hard, you CAN become a great player.

So every one who has not become great simply has not "tried hard enough"?
I think not.
What Wade said.

 

[JL]

Geez, I'm really out of the loop...I never heard of Joe Blow! lol....

LOL. This is the guy I was referring to:

http://www.yourdictionary.com/joe-blow

 

[JohnGalt]

Tallness is not a prerequisite for good basketball.
If I wanted to be an operatic tenor, I'm s*#@ out of luck because I don't have the pipes...doesn't matter how much I study or vocalise, it aint gonna happen.
What constitutes "talent" however is open for debate.

 

[Mike1955]

LOL. This is the guy I was referring to:

http://www.yourdictionary.com/joe-blow

Yes, I understood the connotation. I figured using the 'lol' it was indicated.
My feeble attempt at woodwind humor. At least you're giving Simon 196 the benefit of not potentially aspiring to be Joe Blow.

 

[alljoe]

Not sure why but most on this site don't like to talk about talent. It's a fact of life that some people have talent and some don't. We are not all equal, but hopefully have equal opportunities. Yes, you've got to play your *** off to get to the top, but working very very hard does not guarantee you will get to the top are even be a very good player. You've got to have talent and ability.

Is there anyone who thinks you can become a great pro basketball player by just practicing a lot if your 5' tall? We've all got limitations, just some are less limited than others. Know yourself and by all means see how far you can get, but don't buy the idea that by just trying very very hard that you will necessarily be a great player. It's just not reality.

If you accept that you cant teach someone and tell half the people they will never be good enough, you just cut your teaching revenue stream in half and might put some college departments out of business. "Its just that some teachers cant teach as well as me so you should hire me instead". At least that seems to be the party line.