Nathan, I can't tell you how happy that makes me. I've played the clip of your "classical snob" scoop on a loop until I'm literally in tears and my wife yells "staahhhp!" I'm a huge fan of your work. Your talent, skill, and humor put my imposter syndrome into overdrive (no joke). You make the saxophone community a whole lot cooler. Thanks man.
@@drwallysax Man, trust me, I have full-fledged stage 99 imposter syndrome! You have a fantastic video style and you are very articulate in speech - a skill I must fabricate via countless video edits. All of this + your own incredible saxophone playing of both genres! Your channel is growing very fast and it’s only a matter of time till you ZackGrooves me. Also, I am glad someone was able to understand the anomaly of the classical scoop. They still give me chills to this day (I wish I could say the good kind). Glad you liked the video man haha, I plan on doing a surprise video either this month or next, of the jazz and classical snob battling it out on a song! Trying to map it out in my head first...
@@keor443 GooseBumps !!! thanks for the above link (hearing Scott Hamilton play BenWebster's "Thats All " back in 2000).. is what inspired me to go out and again buy a Sax(after 32 years away from playing horns ) that one rainy day in January !!!! and Ive never looked back... so what a pleasure to hear the above link ..Thanks.. so inspiring
This is outstanding. there is nothing like this available elsewhere. Everything else on UA-cam is "try this one tip which will instantly make you a better player" (hint: no, it won't) or "Give me money and I will show you how to improvise over a basic blues without having to bother about tiresome stuff like reading or technique fundamentals". At last a proper non 'quick-fix' course for players who know that there is no short-cut to 'getting good'.
Thanks so much, Mark. I really wanted to offer the best of what I paid tens of thousands of dollars for at the University to everyone that can't afford it. As you mention, the quick fix certainly does sell, but the sugar high doesn't last. As they rack up their credit card charges, I don't think they're feeling the same satisfaction of the long road. I'm glad you're with me. I hereby name you Vice-Chancellor of truth for the Saxophone Academy.
Thanks so much! I’ve been playing for 15 years, but work and life massively got in the way. Really looking forward to brushing up on the fundamentals during these work-from-home months!
For now doc, you're my thunderbolt because my resolution for 21 is to quit messing around with my DAW & spend time practicing my instruments. 10 days into the year & there you are. Cheers, admire your work.
Thanks Rex! I use Logic, but I’m miserable with DAWs...”why am I only hearing the left channel.....why is that so buzzy...WHERE IS MY REVERB!!” Happy practicing my friend!
@@drwallysax definitely amazing! I'm pretty sure there is an interview of Bill Evans and Glenn Gould floating around somewhere , have you seen it? I saw some of it when I was much younger, it has Glenn Gould playing live in that! Very awesome
@@tomscott1741 NO!!! I've seen a documentary on Gould several times (and 32 short films I love) - but never seen that! I LOVE the video of Evans with his brother.
dr. Wally Wallace is an absolute top drawer of a human being! Not often do I listen to someone who threads the needle between seriousness and sarcasm so well. Holla at your boy when you’re in NYC and the coffe (alongside the concerts) are on me! LOL ... thanks for all that you do 🤝
Hello Dr Wally. Thank you very much for this great job. Your professional content and with a little humor makes you one of the best teachers on the internet The dedication of your work is appreciated You have earned a great cup of coffee if you are in Argentina some day
Dr. Wally, I learned saxophone for about two years and stopped for one more years. Thanks for your kindness and I do appreciate your free lessons for saxophone players all over the world. Thanks again and I will offer you Taiwan coffee while you visit my country.
I play clarinet to a fairly decent level and have been thinking about giving the sax a go for a while. This course has finally made the decision for me - what a gift! Your content is absolutely first class Dr Wally.
That's very kind, Richard. Welcome to the dark side! The gold side? I dunno, but welcome and hit me up with questions! I could never master the black torture stick.
Glenn Gould is my favorite pianist. He's arguably more fun to watch than listen his style is so enigmatic! I'm excited to sit with his record again it's been a while
This is such a great course! I've only been playing a few months but just two days of this has drastically improved how easy it is to move around on the sax. It also helps keep my practices focused. The etude is beautiful but what really surprised me was this month's melodic study. It's just as beautiful if not more and is fun / simple for us beginners
Glad to provide some guidance! It's easy to get overwhelmed by choice, not sure what to do, and end up practicing nothing of importance. Welcome to the Academy (I spent a few days in Vienne, for a jazz festival - it was a magical place, I hope to go back!)
OMG Dr Wally, this is exciting! Of course you started on my most hated note ever. But with effort I can now get down to that one. Because I'm a coffee snob, when you visit, I'll only serve the very best.
Ohhhhh, the best coffee? I'm picturing that marvelous scene in "Elf" - deal - you get down to that low C and I'll drink your coffee! Wait, that's a win-win for me!
@@drwallysax LOL yes, but it really is the best in Australia! And yes, I can play a C, it's the B and Bb that kill me. I'm watching your tutorial again and again to master that bugger.
This is Amazing! My 'practice' sessions have been all over the place, some days I wanna learn a tune by ear, the next I'm playing what little I already know over and over again, then come random scales and long tones until I end up putting my horn aside for a couple of days... I can't thank you enough!
So glad you're joining us! It's the endless choices that leads to decision fatigue, I feel ya! Part of the reason I was so excited to put this out was to keep MYSELF on track and accountable. Having a clear "assignment" take out guess work - now, if I can figure out how to tackle virtual accountability for students!! Happy practicing!
Thanks Dr Wally! I’ve been waiting for this day since your first announcement! It’s so generous from you to share your experience, time and effort to make us better Sax players. I presume that the exercises and the rest of the material is suitable either for Bb or Eb saxes. Thanks again!
Dr Wally, this is fenomenal. I am so thankful! This is the most comprehensive and at the same compact "all you need" book. I'll have all my students apply to the class (and subscribe to your channel of course!)
@@drwallysax I would say that in Sweden, where I teach, the system is quite different. I teach at the municipality school of music, students age is between 9-22. I have maybe 10/12 students that can really use the scale exercise, and some of them will go into the etudes as well. Once again, thank you for this material, it's really comprehensive and solve a lot of problems for me!
What’s there to say about these two recordings! So good to be listening to both of these geniuses. Also enjoying both C major full range and Scarborough in the 12 keys. Will be down loading and printing the Etude later today. Thank you!🙏👍
@@drwallysax that was me :) There are no teachers where I live so I try to use every opportunity to learn from the best. This course will help me greatly!
I'll take you up on that, Leo! Spent a night in Paris (on the way to the Vienne jazz festival) - it was amazing. I cried the morning when I had to leave. Good to see you in the Academy!
In exercise 0, i'm having trouble getting the low B-flat through low C# on my tenor to speak anything but a Forte note. I remember being able to do this just fine on my alto back in college, but since then, I've been playing the kind of music where I mostly am playing loud when in that register. I'm thinking the horn needs work or my emboucher does (probably both). It's a 50's Martin Commitee III that I had repadded and adjusted by a phenominal tech a few years ago but he retired and there's nobody who's good within 100 miles. I guess I should look at the emboucher video again. The overtone exercises are working out great. Thanks
Well, time management is coming in to play. I teach high school US History, Civics, & Economics in Decatur, GA and with my wife have three boys all under 7-years-old. January has been busy, as you can imagine on all fronts.. I’m going to have to set a designated time and be ok with the constant interruptions. On the plus side, it’s never dull around here.
Slowly shaking the rust off of my chops. Definitely great to get my fingers moving and brain thinking again. I haven’t spoken the language of the high notes in so long that were you to put subtitles under those parts it would akin to “Am pleased to octopus fortune Volkswagen tonight.” I’m also discovering that my old hard rubber Meyer Style mouthpiece and metal Otto Link isn’t as good as the the tooth grooved Yamaha 4C that came with the YAS 52 I bought last summer. Same sax and reed, but the low notes & mid-D come out so much easier after the switch. Woof. Thanks for making these resources!! Coffee for sure is on me.
Which Glenn Gould Goldberg? He did a famous (and somewhat strange or perhaps one might say idiosyncratic) recording in the 50's and then another in the 80's). What are you thinking is particularly relevant to sax musicality? I do certainly see how those amazing little piecelets should be in the background of every musician (and music amateur) who include in their panoply of traditions all genres influenced by post-medieval Western music... even more so than the Preludes & Fugues.
Hi Dr Wally I'm a few year late but I've been diving into your saxophone course and it's been amazing just hearing my progress so far. The alto audio for the 1st months etude isn't available though, would you be able to point me in the right direction so I can find it? Thank you btw! Appreciate all the work you've done to help people like me get back to practicing consistently 😀
Genius.... I am going to grasp each bit of music from this course ... Thank you Dr. Wally .. please add some payment gateway to your site...so that if we wanna buy you virtual coffee we can have it...😎😎
Hey Rohan, glad to have you join!! Absolutely no payment necessary. I'm going full public access with ALL my teaching. I'm doing fine (financially) but REALLY appreciate the sentiment, thanks my friend!
I just stumbled onto this course. I know it’s two years old now, but how do I find the recordings? I found the website link with all the PDFs, but I can’t find the recordings for the etude of the month.
Yes love the channel and started this course but would love some backing tracks / recordings and unfortunately the music listening sections are missing now?
Love your material you share with us on UA-cam. I’ve only been playing 6 months and I know the 12 major scales. Do you have a course for people just into their first year of study?
Dr Wally, ever consider printing hard copies of your materials. I would buy them in an instant, despite needing glasses to read any and all music now! BTW Love the coffee references throughout the channel!
Maybe some day! Print on demand or (drop shipping) maybe - but the profit margin is tiiiiiny. If I get them printed myself, then I've created a part time job mailing stuff. I want to focus on making bad jokes and honking. Happy practicing!
Very generous. Many thanks. If you ever make it to Dingersville in the middle of nowhere Australia, I'll actually brew an espresso for you - let me know.
Hey, glad to see you here (your user name is pronounced Smartin in my head)! I have several Australian saxophone fiends I need to visit - I'll hit you up on the espresso! I will, however, not be able to help myself from picking up the stirring spoon and saying "That's not a knife...." Fair warning. (I make constant annoying Thunder Dome jokes with my Australian friends - they do not love it). happy Monday my friend!
@@drwallysax Thanks Dr Wallace. I should add that I don't have a instagram account and don't intend getting one, but if at some point you get a discord server, I'd be onboard. I'm gonna go practice now.
Dr. Wally the course is fantastic, I’m a hobbyist that’s been playing off and on for years. Decided to get serious again and this has helped structure my practice which is probably one of the biggest challenges. I did have one question, are there sound samples of the Etudes for reference? One other thing, have you considered adding a PayPal donation option like Jamie Anderson? Thanks again for helping to revive an interest in saxophone. I’m actually just starting to help my son get started so I’m really enjoying playing again.
Very excited to have discovered your great content as I am getting back to playing after a too-long hiatus. I notice the listening assignments are no longer listed on the monthly assignments. Perhaps you've addressed this in a later video I haven't come across yet, but what happened here - a victim of evolving UA-cam fair use policies? Also, are videos (or audio) of the etudes available on the channel?
The listening assignments were the ones I was definitely looking forward to, and leaving them out seems like a huge omission! I'd like to know what happened to them.
Dr Wally. I want to get back into playing which is mostly for my own enjoyment and hobby but I am serious and back when I was playing a very very long time ago, I practiced maybe more than ‘Trane! Since I wasn’t a working musician, of course life, work, you know, had to take the front seat. Now as it was then, is bothering the neighbors; did you know saxophones are really loud and can even annoy people?? The nerve of them!! Anyway, I picked up a couple of the practice saxophones partially fueled by the pandemic. Yamaha’ YDS-150 & EMEO. Can you please offer some insight, thoughts, suggestions, and recommendations for me to get back into the groove?? My heart is in jazz but my earlier training was both classical and jazz. I ‘play’ tenor, alto, Bb clarinet. Thanks so much and keep your videos coming. You’re the best!!!
Ha! My family knows all about the LOUD saxophone. As for suggestions to get back in the groove, start working on this months assignments! As you go, hit me up with questions!
Hi Alex, to be honest, my musical tastes (saxophone wise) ends in the 1960s. BUT, I can promise that these exercises will make you better at every genre, including smooth jazz!
What? So not only you give us great pills of information? Now you are going to give us free courses? Outrageous! what´s next, making us better players?!! Oooh...the nerve...:D Thanks for being awesome!
Real good news, Doc ! And thanks for the assignements of listening to Gould, that I dont know at all (the other one, I listened to the lp hundreds of times..) thanks !!
glad to have you on board, Paolo! The Gould recording is, in my opinion, one of the most profound recordings in existence. happy practicing and listening!
I completed the melodic study however I found that the exercise starting on F# had a couple of errors, both the A# and E# were not marked correctly on the 2nd line bottom of page 21. Was this intentional??🎶🎷
Good catch, it'll be fixed in the revision. In order to keep this free, I (obviously) don't have a publisher - and with no publisher - no editor! Well, I guess that makes you my editor, so thanks! Happy practicing, Lester!
Hi Dr. Wally! I'm enjoying your Fundamentals Course; however, I don't understand how to use the Overtones Exercises... The notes are listed in octaves, but there are no instructions... Could you please help? Thanks!
Hey William, we finger the bottom note while producing the top note with voicing. I've got a couple of videos on the subject, search Dr. Wally and "overtones" - happy weekend!
@@drwallysax Thank you, Dr. Wally... I'm studying the Rubank Advanced Method in tandem with your class, but more the material from your class right now.. I'm not focusing on sixteenth notes right now.. :)
Thanks Dr Wally. Happy to on-board those courses 😁 You said practice less but better. Unfortunately you don't mention how long we should spend time on each exercice. Any advice coming soon?
It's REALLY hard to say, and dependent on everyones' individual life situation. An hour a day can get GREAT results, but I don't want anyone to feel defeated and give up if they can't hit that mark. A few minutes on each would be great - more to follow.
In the workbook, there may be an error in Melodic Studies #1 on 2nd last line. Using the circle of 4ths, we'd expect it to go into E, but it starts on F# and has some other ill fitting notes the rest of the way. Kind of a F# minor vibe.
Thanks Bruce - added to the "fix" list. Downside of free course - no publisher (obviously) - no publisher, no editor! (well, you kind of are now). Thanks!
Dr. Wally, This Christmas my wife bought me a tenor. It is what I played in high school. I have not played in 25 years. Is your new course to advanced for someone trying to get back into playing? If so, what would you recommend for a new old player like me?
you're wife got you a tenor!!! That's a great Christmas! I'm not sure what level you're at, but the course if free - so you're absolutely welcome to download the workbook and assignments and see how you feel! I'll be releasing a beginners course when/if I can make time (homeschooling my kids during pandemic, time is super limited currently). Happy to help if I can!
Hey Doc, any thoughts or suggestions on my chops going to jelly after playing just some of the exercises. I've been playing for quite awhile now with a fairly basic setup. Very frustrating. Thanks.
Hey Dennis, if you’re embouchure It’s still in the developing phases, taking lots of breaks is essential. You don’t have to play through the exercises in their entirety, play a little bit of each one every day. Working daily, and skipping as few days as possible for you all the best results. If you overdo it, you get worn out and overcompensate with the wrong muscles. These are fairly intermediate to advanced exercises, take your time and be patient. Unfortunately, given the limits of the Internet, I can’t see you first hand to see how you’re playing and what the issue might be. But these are my general suggestions.
@@davidschildt6847 Hi David, if you go through the course, the downloads are in the corresponding module. So alto etudes in the module marked - "Advance Etude, alto" etc. If you just start and follow along, it's all there.
@@drwallysax Thank you for your prompt reply. I am very grateful. I have now located the etude! Very much enjoying your Course. Knowing what to focus on in regular practice is key to being able to move forward. Onwards!!
@@drwallysax thank you for your fast reply! So i have no chance to hear this song in "full lenght"? Would you be so kind and upload or send me the recording you already have? It sounds so fantastic!
Dude! You're so cool. Love your vids - will be following from here on!
Nathan, I can't tell you how happy that makes me. I've played the clip of your "classical snob" scoop on a loop until I'm literally in tears and my wife yells "staahhhp!" I'm a huge fan of your work. Your talent, skill, and humor put my imposter syndrome into overdrive (no joke). You make the saxophone community a whole lot cooler. Thanks man.
@@drwallysax Man, trust me, I have full-fledged stage 99 imposter syndrome! You have a fantastic video style and you are very articulate in speech - a skill I must fabricate via countless video edits. All of this + your own incredible saxophone playing of both genres! Your channel is growing very fast and it’s only a matter of time till you ZackGrooves me.
Also, I am glad someone was able to understand the anomaly of the classical scoop. They still give me chills to this day (I wish I could say the good kind). Glad you liked the video man haha, I plan on doing a surprise video either this month or next, of the jazz and classical snob battling it out on a song! Trying to map it out in my head first...
Dr Wally is an absolute legend!
Awwww, thanks Francis! Happy practicing my friend!
I would 100% buy this if it was printed as a book!
Thanks James - I absolutely love my graphic designer's work, she knocked it out of the park! Happy practicing!
When covid is over and you can start travelling again you'll be awash with being offered coffee! Thanks very much for this. Da iawn diolch!
I hope so! Anxiety attacks from excessive caffeine be damned. Welcome to the course, Ellis!
So the style we are playing is Be-Bach. Never played it before, but I’m ready. Thank you Dr. Wallace.
Be-Bach, love it! Granted, isn't that with the Terminator says? Welcome aboard, Keo!
Damn...he beat me to it... beatbop me to it??
@@madyeti3224 ha! God I love our community.
I found some Be-Bach. Great rendition of Lullaby of Birdland as well. ua-cam.com/video/N7ta17oBv2w/v-deo.html
@@keor443 GooseBumps !!! thanks for the above link (hearing Scott Hamilton play BenWebster's "Thats All " back in 2000).. is what inspired me to go out and again buy a Sax(after 32 years away from playing horns ) that one rainy day in January !!!! and Ive never looked back... so what a pleasure to hear the above link ..Thanks.. so inspiring
This is outstanding. there is nothing like this available elsewhere. Everything else on UA-cam is "try this one tip which will instantly make you a better player" (hint: no, it won't) or "Give me money and I will show you how to improvise over a basic blues without having to bother about tiresome stuff like reading or technique fundamentals". At last a proper non 'quick-fix' course for players who know that there is no short-cut to 'getting good'.
Thanks so much, Mark. I really wanted to offer the best of what I paid tens of thousands of dollars for at the University to everyone that can't afford it. As you mention, the quick fix certainly does sell, but the sugar high doesn't last. As they rack up their credit card charges, I don't think they're feeling the same satisfaction of the long road. I'm glad you're with me. I hereby name you Vice-Chancellor of truth for the Saxophone Academy.
@@drwallysax Splendid - I shall acquire some academic robes asap! Seriously though, great job with the website and the content you've put together.
Absolute lengend in deed is Dr.Wally. Thank you for being of service to your followers.
Dr. Wally- Bird and Glenn Gould true geniuses. The relationship between them is amazing and uncanny You’re a genius love you work!
You're a man of great taste, Robert!
Thanks so much! I’ve been playing for 15 years, but work and life massively got in the way. Really looking forward to brushing up on the fundamentals during these work-from-home months!
Yay! hit me up with questions and happy practicing!
This is by far the best resource available online. Dr Wally you're the BEST! Thank you!
Thanks Paula! Glad to have you working with us!
For now doc, you're my thunderbolt because my resolution for 21 is to quit messing around with my DAW & spend time practicing my instruments. 10 days into the year & there you are.
Cheers, admire your work.
Thanks Rex! I use Logic, but I’m miserable with DAWs...”why am I only hearing the left channel.....why is that so buzzy...WHERE IS MY REVERB!!”
Happy practicing my friend!
Glenn Gould is one of the greatest interpreters of Bach that I have ever heard!
Great assignment for the students Wally
Thanks Tom - it is amazing isn't it?!
@@drwallysax definitely amazing!
I'm pretty sure there is an interview of Bill Evans and Glenn Gould floating around somewhere , have you seen it?
I saw some of it when I was much younger, it has Glenn Gould playing live in that! Very awesome
@@tomscott1741 NO!!! I've seen a documentary on Gould several times (and 32 short films I love) - but never seen that! I LOVE the video of Evans with his brother.
I just downloaded your book
Looking forward to the learning.
I like your wit and seriousness and humour
Thanks Mel, glad you're joining us!
dr. Wally Wallace is an absolute top drawer of a human being! Not often do I listen to someone who threads the needle between seriousness and sarcasm so well. Holla at your boy when you’re in NYC and the coffe (alongside the concerts) are on me! LOL ... thanks for all that you do 🤝
That's incredibly kind, thanks Re-know! I'll hit you up next time I'm in "the city!"
Thank you! You are so funny and smart! Great explanations
Thank you so much! To offer such a service and share your expertise for free is just honorable and amazing. I really appreciate it. :)
You are absolutely welcome my bipedal avian friend! Glad to have you in the Academy!
Thanks Doc, for all of your hard work on our behalf.
Most welcome, Dennis! It's going to be a fun year - and beyond!
It’s practice time :))))
Thanks a million Dr.Wally ♥️
Most welcome, Sepehr! Happy practicing my friend!
Hello Dr Wally. Thank you very much for this great job.
Your professional content and with a little humor makes you one of the best teachers on the internet
The dedication of your work is appreciated
You have earned a great cup of coffee if you are in Argentina some day
Oh man, I really want to visit Argentina one day! Thanks for the kind words, and glad to have you on board!
Dr. Wally, I learned saxophone for about two years and stopped for one more years. Thanks for your kindness and I do appreciate your free lessons for saxophone players all over the world. Thanks again and I will offer you Taiwan coffee while you visit my country.
I would love to see Taiwan, and thanks for the offer! So glad to have you learning with us!
Been playing for 10 months and have progressed a lot and this free book is gonna help me grow more. Thank you Dr Wally!!
Joahan, this makes me INCREDIBLY happy!
I love the way this is all put together. Looking forward to buying you a cup of coffee.
Thanks Rob! Black with no sugar - I'm easy!
I play clarinet to a fairly decent level and have been thinking about giving the sax a go for a while. This course has finally made the decision for me - what a gift! Your content is absolutely first class Dr Wally.
That's very kind, Richard. Welcome to the dark side! The gold side? I dunno, but welcome and hit me up with questions! I could never master the black torture stick.
Glenn Gould is my favorite pianist. He's arguably more fun to watch than listen his style is so enigmatic! I'm excited to sit with his record again it's been a while
I listen most mornings, and agree, he's a hoot to watch!
God bless you, Dr.Wally
Thanks, Matt! Glad to have you on board!
Excellent video! Thanks for all your videos and hard work creating them.
This is such a great course! I've only been playing a few months but just two days of this has drastically improved how easy it is to move around on the sax. It also helps keep my practices focused. The etude is beautiful but what really surprised me was this month's melodic study. It's just as beautiful if not more and is fun / simple for us beginners
Ryan this makes my heart sing, thanks my friend!
No, thank YOU!
This is really interesting !!
I didn't know how to structure a practice session before..it really helps !!
Thank you from France !
Glad to provide some guidance! It's easy to get overwhelmed by choice, not sure what to do, and end up practicing nothing of importance. Welcome to the Academy (I spent a few days in Vienne, for a jazz festival - it was a magical place, I hope to go back!)
I was waiting for this!
Thanks for sharing, Dr. Wallace
Absolutely! Happy practicing and hit me up with questions!
What a good year start ! Thank you so much Dr. Wally. Registered !
Yay! Thanks Jean Luc, glad to have you in the academy!
You're so persuasive! I will practice now, 40 hours a day.
All I ask is 38 hours a day.
@@drwallysax if you ever are in Cologne, Germany, you'll get as much coffee as you want.
Thanks Dr. from Brazil.
Most welcome my friend!
OMG Dr Wally, this is exciting! Of course you started on my most hated note ever. But with effort I can now get down to that one.
Because I'm a coffee snob, when you visit, I'll only serve the very best.
Ohhhhh, the best coffee? I'm picturing that marvelous scene in "Elf" - deal - you get down to that low C and I'll drink your coffee! Wait, that's a win-win for me!
ua-cam.com/video/wIiu89zKa4U/v-deo.html
@@drwallysax LOL yes, but it really is the best in Australia!
And yes, I can play a C, it's the B and Bb that kill me. I'm watching your tutorial again and again to master that bugger.
This is Amazing! My 'practice' sessions have been all over the place, some days I wanna learn a tune by ear, the next I'm playing what little I already know over and over again, then come random scales and long tones until I end up putting my horn aside for a couple of days... I can't thank you enough!
So glad you're joining us! It's the endless choices that leads to decision fatigue, I feel ya! Part of the reason I was so excited to put this out was to keep MYSELF on track and accountable. Having a clear "assignment" take out guess work - now, if I can figure out how to tackle virtual accountability for students!! Happy practicing!
Thanks Dr Wally! I’ve been waiting for this day since your first announcement!
It’s so generous from you to share your experience, time and effort to make us better Sax players.
I presume that the exercises and the rest of the material is suitable either for Bb or Eb saxes. Thanks again!
Yup! We’re all studying the same material, I recorded backing tracks for Eb and Bb. Thanks for joining us!
Dr Wally, this is fenomenal. I am so thankful! This is the most comprehensive and at the same compact "all you need" book. I'll have all my students apply to the class (and subscribe to your channel of course!)
That's incredibly kind, thanks Andrea! What grade levels do you teach?
@@drwallysax I would say that in Sweden, where I teach, the system is quite different. I teach at the municipality school of music, students age is between 9-22. I have maybe 10/12 students that can really use the scale exercise, and some of them will go into the etudes as well. Once again, thank you for this material, it's really comprehensive and solve a lot of problems for me!
love that sweet, sweet alto tone
You. I like you.
Thanks Dr. Wally your an inspiration.
Thanks very much!
Thank you Dr Wally!! 👍
My pleasure!
I will follow you Dr. Wally and you have my trust. I really, really appreciate this :)
I appreciate that, Jason! I will not betray your trust. Glad to have you in the academy!
What’s there to say about these two recordings! So good to be listening to both of these geniuses. Also enjoying both C major full range and Scarborough in the 12 keys. Will be down loading and printing the Etude later today. Thank you!🙏👍
Very cool and generous. Thanks for sharing your talents.
Most welcome Issac, glad to have you here!
Thank you so much for this!
Incredibly welcome, Sergej! Good to see you! Diddn't I see you in the BSS live stream on Instagram? Hope you're well!
@@drwallysax that was me :)
There are no teachers where I live so I try to use every opportunity to learn from the best. This course will help me greatly!
Great course! I already see improvement!
Awesome, thank Connie!
Next time you’re in Paris, I will definitely MAKE you a great coffee! ☕️
I'll take you up on that, Leo! Spent a night in Paris (on the way to the Vienne jazz festival) - it was amazing. I cried the morning when I had to leave. Good to see you in the Academy!
Waow, God bless you sir... Thank you very much for this
You are most welcome
Completely missed this one even with notifications on. Darn you UA-cam!!!!!!
jooooooiiiin us Owen. join us.
Thank You, Thank You!
Absolutely welcome, J.D.! Welcome to the Academy!
In exercise 0, i'm having trouble getting the low B-flat through low C# on my tenor to speak anything but a Forte note. I remember being able to do this just fine on my alto back in college, but since then, I've been playing the kind of music where I mostly am playing loud when in that register. I'm thinking the horn needs work or my emboucher does (probably both). It's a 50's Martin Commitee III that I had repadded and adjusted by a phenominal tech a few years ago but he retired and there's nobody who's good within 100 miles. I guess I should look at the emboucher video again. The overtone exercises are working out great. Thanks
I don't own a saxophone (hopefully some day), or can even read music lol. But the content on this channel is just too good. thanks again Dr Wallace 🔥🙌
This is amazing.
Thanks Michael! Happy practicing my friend!
Yay! Thank you Doc!! 😊
Double Yay! Glad to have you on board!
Goodness, this came at the right moment. Looking to get started this afternoon. Thanks!
Excellent! How's it going?
Well, time management is coming in to play. I teach high school US History, Civics, & Economics in Decatur, GA and with my wife have three boys all under 7-years-old. January has been busy, as you can imagine on all fronts..
I’m going to have to set a designated time and be ok with the constant interruptions.
On the plus side, it’s never dull around here.
@@SheltoniaNation I feel ya! My sister in-law teaches elementary down there! Hang in there - we got this!
Slowly shaking the rust off of my chops. Definitely great to get my fingers moving and brain thinking again. I haven’t spoken the language of the high notes in so long that were you to put subtitles under those parts it would akin to “Am pleased to octopus fortune Volkswagen tonight.”
I’m also discovering that my old hard rubber Meyer Style mouthpiece and metal Otto Link isn’t as good as the the tooth grooved Yamaha 4C that came with the YAS 52 I bought last summer. Same sax and reed, but the low notes & mid-D come out so much easier after the switch.
Woof.
Thanks for making these resources!!
Coffee for sure is on me.
Which Glenn Gould Goldberg? He did a famous (and somewhat strange or perhaps one might say idiosyncratic) recording in the 50's and then another in the 80's). What are you thinking is particularly relevant to sax musicality? I do certainly see how those amazing little piecelets should be in the background of every musician (and music amateur) who include in their panoply of traditions all genres influenced by post-medieval Western music... even more so than the Preludes & Fugues.
Hi Dr Wally
I'm a few year late but I've been diving into your saxophone course and it's been amazing just hearing my progress so far. The alto audio for the 1st months etude isn't available though, would you be able to point me in the right direction so I can find it?
Thank you btw!
Appreciate all the work you've done to help people like me get back to practicing consistently 😀
Genius.... I am going to grasp each bit of music from this course ... Thank you
Dr. Wally .. please add some payment gateway to your site...so that if we wanna buy you virtual coffee we can have it...😎😎
Hey Rohan, glad to have you join!! Absolutely no payment necessary. I'm going full public access with ALL my teaching. I'm doing fine (financially) but REALLY appreciate the sentiment, thanks my friend!
I just stumbled onto this course. I know it’s two years old now, but how do I find the recordings? I found the website link with all the PDFs, but I can’t find the recordings for the etude of the month.
Yes love the channel and started this course but would love some backing tracks / recordings and unfortunately the music listening sections are missing now?
got the same problem ) and google knows nothing about hitchcock sax etudes )
I would love the beginner course. Brand new at 66 years
I'm working on it Dimitri - bear with me!
Dr. Wally the 🐐
BaaaAAAAAAaaaa. (that's goat for thanks Bob)!
Thank you Doc!
Very Welcome! Happy practicing!
Love your material you share with us on UA-cam. I’ve only been playing 6 months and I know the 12 major scales. Do you have a course for people just into their first year of study?
Thank you so much!🙏
Absolutely welcome and glad to have you in the course!
I have looked at your tutorial but I cannot find the corresponding instructional video. Can you please help me with that?
Awesome! Thank you very much :)
You're incredibly welcome, Kiato! Thanks for joining the Academy!
Awesome video!
YESSS!!!!!! 💪🏻
Dr Wally, ever consider printing hard copies of your materials. I would buy them in an instant, despite needing glasses to read any and all music now! BTW Love the coffee references throughout the channel!
Maybe some day! Print on demand or (drop shipping) maybe - but the profit margin is tiiiiiny. If I get them printed myself, then I've created a part time job mailing stuff. I want to focus on making bad jokes and honking. Happy practicing!
I just found this and signed up. Is this ongoing? I can just repeat it as many times as I need to? Hopefully reaching the advanced level ?
Thanks🙏
Most welcome my friend!
Very generous. Many thanks. If you ever make it to Dingersville in the middle of nowhere Australia, I'll actually brew an espresso for you - let me know.
Hey, glad to see you here (your user name is pronounced Smartin in my head)! I have several Australian saxophone fiends I need to visit - I'll hit you up on the espresso! I will, however, not be able to help myself from picking up the stirring spoon and saying "That's not a knife...." Fair warning. (I make constant annoying Thunder Dome jokes with my Australian friends - they do not love it). happy Monday my friend!
@@drwallysax Thanks Dr Wallace. I should add that I don't have a instagram account and don't intend getting one, but if at some point you get a discord server, I'd be onboard. I'm gonna go practice now.
Thank you! I love you
Right back at ya, Tome! Happy practicing!
Awesome!
Thank you! Cheers!
Fired up dude!
Thank you so much!
You are very welcome, Rafael. Happy practicing my friend!
Dr. Wally the course is fantastic, I’m a hobbyist that’s been playing off and on for years. Decided to get serious again and this has helped structure my practice which is probably one of the biggest challenges. I did have one question, are there sound samples of the Etudes for reference? One other thing, have you considered adding a PayPal donation option like Jamie Anderson? Thanks again for helping to revive an interest in saxophone. I’m actually just starting to help my son get started so I’m really enjoying playing again.
Hello Dr Wally! I'm from Haiti
Hi Marvens, hi back at you from cold and sunny North Carolina! Glad to have you here!
Thank you so much🥳🥳🥳
You're welcome, Jaden. Thanks for joining the Academy!
Thank you!
Absolutely welcome, Rob! Good to see you here again!
Thank you!!! 🙏🙏👏👏🎷🎷
Very welcome my friend 🙏
Yay is all I can say!!!
Fat Bloke!! Haven't seen you in ages - join us JOIN US JOIN US!!!
@@drwallysax have just done so!
Very excited to have discovered your great content as I am getting back to playing after a too-long hiatus. I notice the listening assignments are no longer listed on the monthly assignments. Perhaps you've addressed this in a later video I haven't come across yet, but what happened here - a victim of evolving UA-cam fair use policies? Also, are videos (or audio) of the etudes available on the channel?
The listening assignments were the ones I was definitely looking forward to, and leaving them out seems like a huge omission! I'd like to know what happened to them.
Dr Wally. I want to get back into playing which is mostly for my own enjoyment and hobby but I am serious and back when I was playing a very very long time ago, I practiced maybe more than ‘Trane! Since I wasn’t a working musician, of course life, work, you know, had to take the front seat. Now as it was then, is bothering the neighbors; did you know saxophones are really loud and can even annoy people?? The nerve of them!! Anyway, I picked up a couple of the practice saxophones partially fueled by the pandemic. Yamaha’ YDS-150 & EMEO. Can you please offer some insight, thoughts, suggestions, and recommendations for me to get back into the groove?? My heart is in jazz but my earlier training was both classical and jazz. I ‘play’ tenor, alto, Bb clarinet. Thanks so much and keep your videos coming. You’re the best!!!
Ha! My family knows all about the LOUD saxophone. As for suggestions to get back in the groove, start working on this months assignments! As you go, hit me up with questions!
Great news! That's what I'm looking for ) Will you use some of smooth jazz song in this course? Thank you for the great videos!!
Hi Alex, to be honest, my musical tastes (saxophone wise) ends in the 1960s. BUT, I can promise that these exercises will make you better at every genre, including smooth jazz!
Thanks!❤️
You are Abso-tootley-welcome! Glad to have you in the course!
@@drwallysax My english is bad (from in Ukraine) but i understand music 🎶😂😍
I appreciate that,
Dr. Talk to you 👋🏽
You are amazing! God bless you!❤️
What? So not only you give us great pills of information? Now you are going to give us free courses? Outrageous! what´s next, making us better players?!! Oooh...the nerve...:D Thanks for being awesome!
I. AM. THE. WORST. (glad you're joining, Javier :)
I’m committed!
Glad to have you on board! I'll hit you up when my lower stack falls off mid-video!
@@drwallysax shipping to Australia may be expensive. Lol Bondi Beach Sydney. Come have a swim when the 19 has vanished. Bring the horns of course👍🙏🥳
Real good news, Doc ! And thanks for the assignements of listening to Gould, that I dont know at all (the other one, I listened to the lp hundreds of times..) thanks !!
glad to have you on board, Paolo! The Gould recording is, in my opinion, one of the most profound recordings in existence. happy practicing and listening!
I completed the melodic study however I found that the exercise starting on F# had a couple of errors, both the A# and E# were not marked correctly on the 2nd line bottom of page 21. Was this intentional??🎶🎷
Good catch, it'll be fixed in the revision. In order to keep this free, I (obviously) don't have a publisher - and with no publisher - no editor! Well, I guess that makes you my editor, so thanks! Happy practicing, Lester!
Hi Dr. Wally! I'm enjoying your Fundamentals Course; however, I don't understand how to use the Overtones Exercises... The notes are listed in octaves, but there are no instructions... Could you please help? Thanks!
Hey William, we finger the bottom note while producing the top note with voicing. I've got a couple of videos on the subject, search Dr. Wally and "overtones" - happy weekend!
@@drwallysax Thank you, Dr. Wally... I'm studying the Rubank Advanced Method in tandem with your class, but more the material from your class right now.. I'm not focusing on sixteenth notes right now.. :)
awesome
Thanks Dr Wally. Happy to on-board those courses 😁 You said practice less but better. Unfortunately you don't mention how long we should spend time on each exercice. Any advice coming soon?
It's REALLY hard to say, and dependent on everyones' individual life situation. An hour a day can get GREAT results, but I don't want anyone to feel defeated and give up if they can't hit that mark. A few minutes on each would be great - more to follow.
In the workbook, there may be an error in Melodic Studies #1 on 2nd last line. Using the circle of 4ths, we'd expect it to go into E, but it starts on F# and has some other ill fitting notes the rest of the way. Kind of a F# minor vibe.
Thanks Bruce - added to the "fix" list. Downside of free course - no publisher (obviously) - no publisher, no editor! (well, you kind of are now). Thanks!
@@drwallysax the other downside of a free course, I can't feign righteous indignation and demand my money back!!! 🤔
Coffe next time you are in Tarragona, Spain! judging by the comments you can make an european tour when covid is finished
Ohhhhhh, Spain! I'll take you up on that! Never been to South America before!
@@drwallysax 😂
Dr. Wally,
This Christmas my wife bought me a tenor. It is what I played in high school. I have not played in 25 years. Is your new course to advanced for someone trying to get back into playing? If so, what would you recommend for a new old player like me?
you're wife got you a tenor!!! That's a great Christmas! I'm not sure what level you're at, but the course if free - so you're absolutely welcome to download the workbook and assignments and see how you feel! I'll be releasing a beginners course when/if I can make time (homeschooling my kids during pandemic, time is super limited currently). Happy to help if I can!
I promise you a visit to the BraunSammlung whenever you are in the Frankfurt area. Braun, you know, the guys who employed Dieter Rahms.
Oh, I LOVE the braun designs of Rams! My Pinterest boards are filled with them. I'll take you up on that offer, Norbert!
Hey Doc, any thoughts or suggestions on my chops going to jelly after playing just some of the exercises. I've been playing for quite awhile now with a fairly basic setup. Very frustrating. Thanks.
Hey Dennis, if you’re embouchure It’s still in the developing phases, taking lots of breaks is essential. You don’t have to play through the exercises in their entirety, play a little bit of each one every day. Working daily, and skipping as few days as possible for you all the best results. If you overdo it, you get worn out and overcompensate with the wrong muscles. These are fairly intermediate to advanced exercises, take your time and be patient. Unfortunately, given the limits of the Internet, I can’t see you first hand to see how you’re playing and what the issue might be. But these are my general suggestions.
Will do, Doc. Thanks again.
Apologies if I am being slow but could you (or someone who knows !) kindly pointy put where I can locate the Etude Studies ... any thanks.
I mean ".. point out ..." of course. its one of those days here!
@@davidschildt6847 Hi David, if you go through the course, the downloads are in the corresponding module. So alto etudes in the module marked - "Advance Etude, alto" etc. If you just start and follow along, it's all there.
@@drwallysax Thank you for your prompt reply. I am very grateful. I have now located the etude! Very much enjoying your Course. Knowing what to focus on in regular practice is key to being able to move forward. Onwards!!
How is that "Saxophone Academy" intro called? 0:28-0:35
it's a tune I wrote called "Your Love is a Gamma Ray." It has lyrics, I'll record it with a singer.....one day!
@@drwallysax thank you for your fast reply! So i have no chance to hear this song in "full lenght"? Would you be so kind and upload or send me the recording you already have? It sounds so fantastic!
Pretty cool stuff. Just out of curiosity, where can I get/buy those Daniel Hitchcock studies?
Included free with the course! We're releasing one each month.
@@drwallysax keeping us waiting every month??? ;)
Where can we find the listening of the etude?