Starting over after... how many years!?

[Kopup]

I'm not a beginner or a late bloomer, exaxtly. I'm a 30-something ex- player of jazz sax and classical clarinet who has not played since college. Marriage, divorce, jobs, & the general struggles of being in one's 20's took over, but I've never stopped missing the rush. I never stop hearing parts in my head when I listen to sax-less songs. And I'd love to start over, but I'm scared to death. Most of all I don't want anyone -- especially me -- to hear the first offensive noises to come from my horn.

Has anyone been here? Are there any words of encouragement for someone who's wasted so much time?

[captorquewrench]

I didn't play for about 10 years, picked up again almost 2 years ago, returning this fall to complete my mus ed degree.

There's hope. ;)

[goodsax]

If you were a gigging jazz sax player, I can't imagine coming back to it now would produce "noise" that horrible. Do it in the privacy of a soundproof studio, or in your home if you consider that sufficiently isolated, but do it. It won't take much time to get your chops back and you'll be glad you did.

[retread]

I stopped playing for 39 years, started again three years ago at age 59. I won't kid you. It can be embarrassing. I found a tolerant community band that let me play even though I stunk. After about a year I was contributing, and after two years I have most of my old skills back. You have to concentrate on improving, not on how much better you used to play. You will regain your ability, but you will have to work hard and be happy with small gains for a while. Your ego must be put on hold. It's a lot of fun, and I'm glad I did it. Six months ago I joined a sax quartet led by a local pro, and just got a feeler from a semi-pro local big band as a fill-in.

By the way, I also played clarinet in concert bands, sax in big bands. Clarinet embouchure came back must faster than sax, but I'm concentrating on sax (tenor and bari) now because I find them more fun.
And clarinet "noodle music" is more than my fingers want to tackle now.
Those clarinet keys are too close together!