[Jonathan C.]

I would like to practice my sax more than I do, and more importantly focus on specifics to improve my playing. I have messed around with some Blues Brothers that I transcribed back home to play occasionally. But I want to focus on my tone, developing it. And focusing on stuff that will make me better as a player, so working through the Ferling etudes. The problem is that I live in a very very small room, with people above, and around me. I work with these people, and am still somewhat the new guy. I hear guitar players almost on a daily basis shedding somewhat. But I rarely hear any wind instruments.
How do I overcome the mental block and practice what I need to? I've tried practicing extremely softly but it still seemed extremely loud to me. :|
I feel that playing or shedding would be a better stress reliever than drinking (I'm out of beer ).

 

[SaxPunter]

I think you have to overcome the feeling that practice is embarrasing. I used to shut all the doors windows and curtains for fear someone would hear how bad I sound when I practice.

I'm surrounded by barking dogs at night, the Greeks 2 doors up have Zorba parties with screaming bazouki once a month, the guy a few doors down inists on warming his 3 inch exhaust equiped turbo-masturbator 2 litre boy racer for 10 minutes at 7 am......

Now I just don't care, I think when you get out and play a bit it seems to help. I do exercises over and over at 80 bpm with all the windows open now. But at the end of my session I put some blues playalong on or an upbeat tune and slay the hell out of it. Then if someone is listening they will at least see I can play a bit.

 

[Enviroguy]

Yep,

Close your eyes and tell yourself that playing sax is the cooling thing anyone can ever do. And then open your eyes and play. Don't worry about the neighbors. If you're good enough, they will like it. And if you're not, they are still privileged. Because one day when you are that good, they will be able to say, "Yeah. I knew that dude."

 

[Jonathan C.]

I'm going to get Ferling sent to me by my parents. It centers around the fact that I know I'll be working a measure or a passage until it is performance ready. For the sole purpose of making myself better. It is not a noise issue, right now I have some hollywood undead and rise against playing decently loud.

 

[Randy Hunter]

Find a place where you can just go and blow the primal scream on your sax. I think it's important to be able to practice softly, with good control and good tone, but you have to have that place you can go to occasionally and just let it all hang out. That's where you let out your frustrations. When I was in college, there was a field out in the middle of nowhere I used to visit in the middle of the night - I found a lot of passion there. Sonny Rollins had the bridge... Practice softly when you need to, but find that place!

BTW, leave the Ferling at home when you go there.

Randy
www.randyhunterjazz.com
Online Jazz Lessons and Books
New Lesson:
Making Sense of Jazz Improvisation
Lesson Series:
Introduction to the Blues
The Arpeggio Circle
Through the Keys
and more...
Lessons page: www.beginningsax.com/Jazz Improv Lessons.htm
Rhythm Changes Demo:

Rhythm Changes Lesson:

 

[Nefertiti]

Find a place where you can just go and blow the primal scream on your sax. I think it's important to be able to practice softly, with good control and good tone, but you have to have that place you can go to occasionally and just let it all hang out. That's where you let out your frustrations. When I was in college, there was a field out in the middle of nowhere I used to visit in the middle of the night - I found a lot of passion there. Sonny Rollins had the bridge... Practice softly when you need to, but find that place!

BTW, leave the Ferling at home when you go there.

Randy
www.randyhunterjazz.com
Online Jazz Lessons and Books
New Lesson:
Making Sense of Jazz Improvisation
Lesson Series:
Introduction to the Blues
The Arpeggio Circle
Through the Keys
and more...
Lessons page: www.beginningsax.com/Jazz Improv Lessons.htm
Rhythm Changes Demo:

Rhythm Changes Lesson:

I used to go to a parking garage in in a business district at night. No one there but a bored security guard and he dug it!

 

[Randy Hunter]

I used to go to a parking garage in in a business district at night. No one there but a bored security guard and he dug it!

When I was on the road a good bit, I'd go to the fire escape stairwells in some of the hotels. I could blow my gourd off and nobody could hear me. It was really cool too, the way the sax would echo up and down the floors.

Randy
www.randyhunterjazz.com
Online Jazz Lessons and Books
New Lesson:
Making Sense of Jazz Improvisation
Lesson Series:
Introduction to the Blues
The Arpeggio Circle
Through the Keys
and more...
Lessons page: www.beginningsax.com/Jazz Improv Lessons.htm
Rhythm Changes Demo:

Rhythm Changes Lesson:

 

[patmiller]

Years ago when I was in the army I tried to practise in my room but I have to say that my colleagues were almost all negative about it. I was even the subject of a formal complaint. On a 6 month deployment to New Guinea I was put in a tent on my own at the far end of the camp. That had its own advantages. I found the best time to practise was when the others were drinking.

 

[sonnymobleytrane]

I used to go to a parking garage in in a business district at night. No one there but a bored security guard and he dug it!

I used to go to a Laundromat at night when I rented an apartment. A friend of mine would practice under a highway overpass. It's tough when the close quarters of others is a concern

 

[gary]

You're at Mildenhall? Go the the Rec center. You might also be able to swing a room in one of the base chapels.
An Air Base has all kinds of places you can practice without being bothered. Especially if you're a cop, there may be some places you can get into that the general base population might not be able to use.
I'm sure if you use your imagination, you can come up with something, right?

 

[hakukani]

I used to go to a Laundromat at night when I rented an apartment. A friend of mine would practice under a highway overpass. It's tough when the close quarters of others is a concern

Overpasses are cool. If you get one without a ton of traffic, they can be great. I used to go to one to practice. It had an 11 second standing wave, so I could build chords.

 

[Rennie]

At home I can practice in my little Saxophone Booth, but it has the disadvantage of a very dry sound. So
I play under a railroad bridge close by, every time I want to hear myself. People drop small change in case, I even got a gig once. Not a thing for winter time though.

Reine

 

[Nefertiti]

I used to go to a Laundromat at night when I rented an apartment. A friend of mine would practice under a highway overpass. It's tough when the close quarters of others is a concern

I used to be a cashier at a 24 hour convenient store when I was at Berklee. I did it because I needed the money but also because the manager let me use there back room 24 hours a day. I use to practice for midnight - 4 or 5 in the morning. Of course I would then sleep through all my non music classes...........

 

[Dr G]

I would like to practice my sax more than I do...

I have messed around with...

The problem is that I live in a very very small room, with people above, and around me. I work with these people, and am still somewhat the new guy.

1) What's up with the picture, Carbs? You don't have to scare us into submission and it ain't Halloween. [rolleyes]

2) Consider looking for another venue. If practicing during the day, I go for a parking garage or a parking lot next to the woods. Playing outdoors will suck the sound out of your horn and you'll HAVE to blow through it to get a BIG sound.

3) If you absolutely cannot get out of the apartment, find something that is musical to play that will develop your tone and the neighbors might enjoy - Ferling will NOT make friends. Example: Instead of long tones, try something like Wayne Shorter's "Infant Eyes".

Be well - and yes, playing your horn will sustain good mental health.

 

[hakukani]

How do you do saxes and submarines, G?

 

[sonnymobleytrane]

I used to be a cashier at a 24 hour convenient store when I was at Berklee. I did it because I needed the money but also because the manager let me use there back room 24 hours a day. I use to practice for midnight - 4 or 5 in the morning. Of course I would then sleep through all my non music classes...........

I once owned a Bar/cafe. I would always bar-tend on Tuesday nights because they where slow and I could practice.....I would sometimes get bummed if customers came in. Not conducive to making money!!!!

 

[bandmommy]

How many of those guys have wives/girlfriends at home?
Start playing a lot of ballads, pop love songs...
Nothing like schmaltz for tone building.

 

[LuisR]

How many of those guys have wives/girlfriends at home?
Start playing a lot of ballads, pop love songs...
Nothing like schmaltz for tone building.

I don't *cries*

 

[Jonathan C.]

1) What's up with the picture, Carbs? You don't have to scare us into submission and it ain't Halloween. [rolleyes]

2) Consider looking for another venue. If practicing during the day, I go for a parking garage or a parking lot next to the woods. Playing outdoors will suck the sound out of your horn and you'll HAVE to blow through it to get a BIG sound.

3) If you absolutely cannot get out of the apartment, find something that is musical to play that will develop your tone and the neighbors might enjoy - Ferling will NOT make friends. Example: Instead of long tones, try something like Wayne Shorter's "Infant Eyes".

Be well - and yes, playing your horn will sustain good mental health.

I don't need to scare people into submission, if they don't follow what I say while on post. Its disobeying a posted sentry, which is an article 92 under the UCMJ, if they talk back its disrespecting a posted sentry which also involves handcuffs. Its best not to mess with a cop lol

How many of those guys have wives/girlfriends at home?
Start playing a lot of ballads, pop love songs...
Nothing like schmaltz for tone building.

Some of them do have girls back in the states. And either their wives are here or are waiting to get command sponsored so that they can come over here.
I think I know a few spots I can go. The only problem then become, providing sufficient lighting, because I do work at night, and am up at night. And how to get music to the outdoor practice spot with me with lighting. I'm thinking soccer field bleachers behind the high school. The closest building is a dorm but its a good 200 meters or so, which means I'll have some privacy to work on what I need to work on.

I'm at lakenheath, Mildenhall is our sister base, bout 10 min or so drive down the road.

 

[gary]

So you're at Lakenheath? My suggestions still stand. Why haven't you started with the rec. center? And I hope it's noticed that he is on a military base in military single housing. Some suggestions just won't work in this situation.

BTW, if the rec. cntr at Lakenheath doesn't help you, still check out Mildenhall anyway. It's a short drive.