[Rowka]

I'm going to their rehearsal tonight. This will be the first time since 1986 that I've played sax in front of anyone.
I'm a little scared.

 

[Grumpie]

Just try to relax and enjoy (easy for me to say, I don't have to go), hope you have fun.

 

[Ferret]

I was born in 1986.



Grats, by the way... I'm looking to get into some sort of regular playing arrangement too. Hopefully I'll be so lucky!

 

[tictactux]

I'm going to their rehearsal tonight. This will be the first time since 1986 that I've played sax in front of anyone.
I'm a little scared.

Congratulations!
Do you still remember which end goes into the mouth?

 

[BobbyC]

Good luck and just try to keep it fun.

Let us know how it goes.

 

[Ferret]

Congratulations!
Do you still remember which end goes into the mouth?

Should figure that one out ahead of time, I think. Sound advice.

 

[Mark5047]

Also remember that everyone there wants you to succeed! You are not in any competition and it should be a fun / enjoyable experience!

 

[bandmommy]

Good for you! I belong to one and love it. Lots of good people/players in Community bands. Relax and have fun!

 

[Reedsplinter]

I was born in 1986.



Grats, by the way... I'm looking to get into some sort of regular playing arrangement too. Hopefully I'll be so lucky!

[you're too young to be on here. Cover your ears.]

Great that you're taking the horn out of the house again! You'll be nervous for about 30 seconds, and then you'll have fun. There's nothing like playing with other musicians: that's what it's all about.

 

[Rowka]

Congratulations!
Do you still remember which end goes into the mouth?

Funny. A kid in highschool marching band (I still remember this vividly) was learning to play the tuba and was failing miserably. The band director thought it best to let him carry a bass drum instead of a horn for a while.
Upon his initial introduction to the bass drum he looked up, and with a straight face asked, "How do you tounge this?"

No kidding.

 

[Saxmusiclover]

Funny. A kid in highschool marching band (I still remember this vividly) was learning to play the tuba and was failing miserably. The band director thought it best to let him carry a bass drum instead of a horn for a while.
Upon his initial introduction to the bass drum he looked up, and with a straight face asked, "How do you tounge this?"

No kidding.

:?

 

[tjontheroad]

I did the same thing this year. It's been well worth while on many levels.

This thread I wrote about it may help you;
http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?t=51246

Good luck and enjoy

 

[emcgowen]

Good luck. I think you'll find playing in a municipal/community band a great time. I've played in ours for the past 15 years - since I was 15 years old. We play once a week in the summer - practice on Monday, perform on Wednesdays. Your sight reading ability becomes almost ridiculous after a while - it's a good thing. Our sax section is a 5pc - AATTB, and we've got one music major, one music educator, and two former semi-pro players. A lot of different experience to share. Plus, it's an additional paycheck for 12 weeks or so.

Also, if your municipal band has been around for a while, check the closets for unused instruments. Trust me on this. I found a beautiful 26m in one of ours that I paid to have overhauled, and it's now my "fun horn."

 

[Rowka]

Well, I just got back. The director just started handing my 1st alto parts. Dang, It's been a long time since I've seen so many notes.
It went very well. I think I played some of the tunes by sight reading a bit better than than the other two altos played after being with the group for a while.
My biggest problem we, of course, my lips giving out soon into the rehearsal. I ended the night by practically biting a hole through my bottom lip just to stay kinda in tune. That will get better.

TJ, I'm going to read your thread tomorrow. It's bed time now.

 

[Rowka]

Oh, it seems the director is a big J. P. Sousa fan.

 

[Mark5047]

Oh, it seems the director is a big J. P. Sousa fan.

Mine too! He even has a separate Sousa band he directs.
www.soundsofsousa.com

Glad you enjoyed community band! My ability to read music has really gotten much better since joining.
Keep us posted

 

[emcgowen]

Don't worry...eventually you will learn to fear the words "March Mania."

 

[steve]

Rowka.....Which band, Orange Park or Jax?

 

[Rowka]

Jax,
Meet at Parkwood Baptist Church on Tuesday nights.
Al Davis conducts.

I didn't know about an OP band.

I only stumbled on this by finding an ad Al posted on craigslist. A few years ago I tried looking for one but came up empty.

 

[steve]

Here is the site for the Clay County Band....they practice in a middle school in Orange Park. I sat in with them last year on tenor and was made to feel quite welcome....but the drive and the fact that I'm in another band in Gainesville made it tough to follow through. Varying degrees of musicianship.

http://www.claycountyband.org/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1