Are You Playing the Right Instrument?
I just got done doing an amazing in-depth interview with the multi-gifted New York saxophonist, composer, and mouthpiece refacer Adam Niewood for our podcast (aka Best. Saxophone. Podcast. Ever.). Among the things that struck me over the course of the interview was Adam’s description of a major turning point in his musical journey.
You see, the saxophone that Adam learned to play on was the alto. And while he was quite enthusiastic about that instrument, Adam’s passion for music became fully ignited only after his high school band director asked him to help balance out the sax section by playing tenor instead. Once Adam started focusing on the tenor saxophone, he found himself extremely motivated to delve more deeply into music and eventually reach the level of mastery that he currently possesses.
Here's a new alternative to the uninspiring tunes often found in the average beginning sax book. This collection of 25 tunes, each with backing and demonstration tracks plus a video tutorial, is the product one of my most significant discoveries in over two decades of working with beginning saxophonists. That is, beginners learn fundamentals much faster by playing the kind of music that attracted them to the horn in the first place.
INFINITEMUSICAN.COM
🎷 Sax Fundamentals Faster
The beauty of playing the saxophone is that there are quite a few members of our instrument’s family that we can choose from, and we can even jump to the other woodwinds relatively easily as well if we desire. All of this means that we have choices.
So if you’re focused on just one member of the saxophone or woodwind family and finding your enthusiasm for practicing your particular instrument is starting to fade, or has already faded, you may want to consider making the switch, even if it’s just a temporary diversion. A new axe can revitalize your passion for music and allow you to find your true voice on the instrument.
That’s all, now discuss among yourselves…
October 10, 2012 @ 8:08 pm
I believe it applies for other instruments as well? Would you agree that you could/should change from a stringed instrument to a woodwind or else if you feel stuck, completely demotivated?
cheers,
Laurie
October 10, 2012 @ 8:49 pm
I wholeheartedly agree! If you’re not making any real progress on the instrument you’re playing, then there is nothing lost by trying another one. In fact, many of the world’s greatest musicians are multi-instrumentalists, so there’s nothing wrong with have multiple axes under your belt.
My 2c,
Doron
June 4, 2013 @ 12:01 pm
I agree. I’m a tenor who loves alto, tuba and flute!
June 4, 2013 @ 6:33 pm
Wow, that’s quite a combination, always cool to hear about people who don’t pay attention to standard musical boundaries.
October 17, 2013 @ 12:43 pm
I agree whole heartedly with that, I played alto and soprano and its always good to be able to switch around, same fingerings on all saxophones and everything but somehow switching just makes it more interesting. One thing I would say though, is that they all need to be practiced regularly, like if I played soprano for a week and no alto, then I notice mine tone on alto would be diminished. Just my two cents. :)