Proffesional saxplayers

[fusionjazzmadman]

I would like to know how many of you are proffesional saxplayers, it seem to me that many of you play and practice a great deal, and therefore i would like to new if that's your job. As proffesional saxplayers i count the ones who studies music in college too of course.

[Andrew]

Well, if you are counting people who are still in college, then alright I'm a "Pro". I really don't consider myself a pro musician since I don't make a living off of it (yet). But, I can tell you that it is really really hard to get gigs anywhere around my location. Also, why would they take me when they can take better cats from my school (University of North Texas). I'm starting to see how hard this is going to be, but hey...I'm willing to put up all the work...I love this.

[fusionjazzmadman]

Andrew, i've got to ask you how much you practice, my main goal for now is to get in to music college so i would like to know how you succeded

[Andrew]

I have been on a practice lull right now...I got sick and just couldn't practice any more than 30 min a day. However, once I get back into my groove, it'll be around 3-4 hours a day. There were some nights that I went to the practice room and left without realizing I had spent the entire night there (about 7-8 hours). Come to think of it, there have been lots of those nights in the past. I'm starting to get back into the rhythm of practicing again though. I hate getting sick...it ruins everything.

[Bootman]

There are so many things to practise, not just scales and technique. You need to look into transcribing, sound production, phrasing, new tunes and ways of approaching the changes. This is often best done in a group session with a band and you all work on thigns together. Personal practise is different from gig practise but you need to get a balance between both.

My practise regime is like this:
Scales / Overtones, scales are done 3 octaves whenever possible.

Chordal movement techniques, over the range of the instrument.

Take a phrase and transpose it at will into any key in any octave.

Learn a new tune or 3. I try to learn at least 3 tunes a week and commit them to memory. This is usually older Jazz standards, pop tunes or whatever.

I also practise on different horns all the time and play through tunes on the Piano as well. Once I have learnt them on horn I then play them on Steel drum to really make certain I know the tune and the harmony.

I also look at classical Sax music or Flute tunes and play them on the full blown RnB or Big jazz set-ups. Klose Etudes or similar is a good starting point. Santy Runyon's Etudes are also fantastic. Also try sight transposing these too.

I hope some of this helps you. You will need to sort out how it works best for you but I practise in 30 minute segments so as to maintain my concentration level and intesity. Each of us is different but this works best for me.

[saxophone_volume1]

do you learn those 3 songs in all 12 keys or just what it is written in????

[Bootman]

I usually learn 3 songs in at least 4 keys, once I have it under control in the 4 keys then I can transpose it to other keys fairly easily on the spot. It can be challenging.

[JOSEPH MCKIM]

I didn't study music in college but, playing the sax is how I feed myself.

[saxusa]

I,ve been called a pro before, among other things. 8)

[jazzbluescat]

Those black fishnet stockings'll do to ya.http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung/liebe/love-smiley-030.gif

[saxusa]

Oh behave. :wink: