Anyone here play saxophone?

[masonanddixon]

If so what level are you at and where have you received formal education?

[CavaliersFTW]

I did up until high school. I was never that good or committed to it like some people are. To me it was just another way to get a good grade and a class / activity that was entertaining. I didn't try to do jazz band or take lessons or anything that would have actually gotten me relatively decent at playing. Haven't played one in over 10 years, recently gave the one I owned (an alto sax) to my nephew who is now old enough to play it in school. I played tenor and bari at some point as well but they were provided by the school.

[masonanddixon]

I did up until high school. I was never that good or committed to it like some people are. To me it was just another way to get a good grade and a class / activity that was entertaining. I didn't try to do jazz band or take lessons or anything that would have actually gotten me relatively decent at playing. Haven't played one in over 10 years, recently gave the one I owned (an alto sax) to my nephew who is now old enough to play it in school. I played tenor and bari at some point as well but they were provided by the school.

I just bought a new alto and am absolutely loving it. I get lessons weekly and then spend the rest of the week practicing whenever I get home.

Did baritone hurt your back at all?

[CavaliersFTW]

I just bought a new alto and am absolutely loving it. I get lessons weekly and then spend the rest of the week practicing whenever I get home.

Did baritone hurt your back at all?
I don't recall that it did no, I actually can't even remember if it was propped on the floor or worn with a neck strap like the tenor and alto are. I never thought carrying or playing any saxophone was uncomfortable.

I actually went 3 years without using a neck strap with my alto until the band director finally noticed and forced me to use one. My alto had a decent hold for my thumb though. Most of the designs would prob not be so easy to play without a neck strap. But no, the bari wasn't uncomfortable to use from what I remember.

[masonanddixon]

I don't recall that it did no, I actually can't even remember if it was propped on the floor or worn with a neck strap like the tenor and alto are. I never thought carrying or playing any saxophone was uncomfortable.

I actually went 3 years without using a neck strap with my alto until the band director finally noticed and forced me to use one. My alto had a decent hold for my thumb though. Most of the designs would prob not be so easy to play without a neck strap. But no, the bari wasn't uncomfortable to use from what I remember.

hahaha thats pretty funny. I'm like 6'5'' and it hurts me especially my right thumb.

Do you think you'll ever get back into it?

[masonanddixon]

I played a little keyboard, sax, clarinet, and percussion since my middle school pushed us to learn music.

Never was great in any of them, but to my defense I didn't have an attraction to music the way I do today.

I also took classes for singing and dance in middle school. I'm curious if predominantly white schools did the same at our grade level.

What level of saxophone did you reach?

[masonanddixon]

I played the Alto Sax. I never practiced at home or practiced my sheets. I treated it more as a throwaway class than something more serious. I'm better off not sticking with being a Sax player in High School because I'm not their type.

Man I wish I played music in high school. It's hard as shit organising the time for it all at 33 but I suppose I am more intelligent now than I was then.

[Yoda]

Nerds you are.

[Nick Young]

Yes. I'm pretty good. i played orchestra in middle school and then kept practicing after and playing on my own. My middle school music program was one of the best in the state and I even did a few performances at Disney Land, as part of the orchestra of course. I mainly played alto because the orchestra needed more, but like tenor a lot more.

I got bored of sax and haven't really played for a few years. I'm good at it, but I don't really like a lot of jazz or music that features saxes, apart from Springsteen, but the sax parts in his songs are easy. I wish I had learned a better instrument like piano instead.

[DukeDelonte13]

i used to. I used to be pretty damn good. I played from 4th grade until maybe sophomore year in high school.

I was always first chair and always had solos at all the band and orchestra concerts. Even though there isn't traditionally sax in orchestra the director wanted me to play in it so i did it for two years in high school.

My various teachers were all high on my skills. They hyped it up to my parents and my parents thought i was going to be some damn saxophone prodigy.


I just quit like an assh*le. It was boring and i hated doing the concerts. I switched to playing bass guitar when I stopped and I've played bass ever since.

I recently just a few weeks ago busted out my sax after over a decade of not playing it. The pads are now leaky and it needs to be repaired.

[DukeDelonte13]

Yes. I'm pretty good. i played orchestra in middle school and then kept practicing after and playing on my own. My middle school music program was one of the best in the state and I even did a few performances at Disney Land, as part of the orchestra of course. I mainly played alto because the orchestra needed more, but like tenor a lot more.

I got bored of sax and haven't really played for a few years. I'm good at it, but I don't really like a lot of jazz or music that features saxes, apart from Springsteen, but the sax parts in his songs are easy. I wish I had learned a better instrument like piano instead.


my biggest regret as well. Developing that separation with the left and right hand is something I never did.

[masonanddixon]

Yes. I'm pretty good. i played orchestra in middle school and then kept practicing after and playing on my own. My middle school music program was one of the best in the state and I even did a few performances at Disney Land, as part of the orchestra of course. I mainly played alto because the orchestra needed more, but like tenor a lot more.

I got bored of sax and haven't really played for a few years. I'm good at it, but I don't really like a lot of jazz or music that features saxes, apart from Springsteen, but the sax parts in his songs are easy. I wish I had learned a better instrument like piano instead.

I don't know why you think piano is a better instrument, both are valuable and unique in their own right and I find saxophone to be more emotive.

[Akrazotile]

Props to OP on learning a real instrument instead of how to push buttons that make noises and proclaiming himself a "DJ" :facepalm

Couple years ago I bought a harmonica since I was moving around a bit but wanted to have an instrument I could play, figured thats the most portable one there is. And Ive always just liked their sound. Unfortunately I just havent been able to make consistent practice time to really get proficient, but hopefully someday in the future.

Would love to jam with OP and any other instrumentalists on ISH some day. :cheers:

[warriorfan]

^ this ngga jams on the skin flute all day

[Nick Young]

I don't know why you think piano is a better instrument, both are valuable and unique in their own right and I find saxophone to be more emotive.
piano is 100x better for me, sax is too boring and one dimensional compared to piano.

[Nick Young]

i used to. I used to be pretty damn good. I played from 4th grade until maybe sophomore year in high school.

I was always first chair and always had solos at all the band and orchestra concerts. Even though there isn't traditionally sax in orchestra the director wanted me to play in it so i did it for two years in high school.

My various teachers were all high on my skills. They hyped it up to my parents and my parents thought i was going to be some damn saxophone prodigy.


I just quit like an assh*le. It was boring and i hated doing the concerts. I switched to playing bass guitar when I stopped and I've played bass ever since.

I recently just a few weeks ago busted out my sax after over a decade of not playing it. The pads are now leaky and it needs to be repaired.
Hell yeah, I switched to bass guitar too! I used to spend 7+ hours in my room practicing and trying to learn higher ground and other fast slap songs. From the ages of 13-15 I was actually pretty good and could do some cool slap-bass shit.

Then I stopped playing, picked it up again when I was 22. I still jam some times with my friends. I lost my slapping skills and solo skills but I can still lay down some steady Kim Deal eighth note beats:rockon: :rockon: :rockon:

[StephHamann]

my idol:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxopViU98Xo