What is the best approach to improve my sound (tonguing, getting more volume, play by ear, improvising/soloing)
(Has been playing 10 years, practices three days a week)
(Has not yet tried to learn anything by ear)
-Brent
My response:
Not an especially specific question, but it basically has a straightforward answer.
First thing would be to practice more. If you’re aware of your sound, it should get a little bit better every time you play.
Practicing three days a week means you’re practicing less than half of the days in a week.
Each day you don’t practice, you get a little bit worse.
Volume depends a bit on which reed and mouthpiece you use, but also on your physical condition.
To get better at learning music by ear you have to start learning music by ear. To do that, I would recommend starting with simple melodies that are played slowly. Learning Taps by ear on saxophone could be a good start.
Pretty much anything you do on saxophone will get better by practicing more.
Saw this post about practising. I can only practise 3 days a week, unless I change my job of course!
So managing what I do in my practise is all important.
But I think there’s much you can do away from the sax:
Learning scales/chords and tunes
Embrouchre exercises
Ive bought a “tin whistle” flute for 10 bucks, which is great for trying new melodies, playing to the beat etc
Hey Andrew,
That’s a good plan to do what you can away from the saxophone.
For me, the clarinet is a lot easier to take some places too.