Been playin the flute for about a year now and picked up the alto 2 weeks ago. Having a relaxed embouchure makes a world of difference. My tone feels natural and not forced. I have no illusions about the work ahead of me though. Thanx for your videos.
"Put the metronome on, its like the drummer" Jay, that is pure gold. Visualizing the metronome as the drummer somehow immediately made it easier. Thanks as always for the great instruction and advice you offer through your courses and videos.
ALL the great drummers are married to that triangular little box. Example: Steely Dan, "Home at Last" featuring Bernard Purdie on drums. He is the coolest of the cool, drum-wise. Never overplays, perfectly behind the beat, and you can TELL he's STILL using a metronome after probably 60 years playing drums. Only bad habit is a reversed China, which destroys not-cheap drumsticks as if you let your dog chew them. He's said he uses it at 40 bpm to this day! Heard it at a drummer's clinic, best way to meet legendary players in an "in-the-know" setting.
I love these videos - as someone just getting back to my sax after many years of storing them in the closet these teaching videos are very valuable. I hope you do more please!
first of all thank you for taking your time out to give us this education on the sax all your lessons are great what i like you keep it real im a veteran and me playing the sax again is my goal im starting from rock bottom i have to learn everything all over again . learning from you is easy and understandable once again i would like to thank you keep up the good work
Many thanks to Jay and those who have submitted their own videos. I learned a lot from watching players who are not ready for Carnegie Hall, and I got tips on what I should be doing more of in my practice sessions. For me this was a reinforcement of the adage that horn players learn more when they have their teachers and colleagues criticize them. This session gets a thumbs up! Marv K
I'm just starting. Been playing for two days in sax. I am a performing musician in guitar, harmonica, and vocals. I am going with your course. Planning on starting it within a couple days. I wanted to say how valuable this type of video is. I learned a little from it right away. I want to add some sax songs to my performance but I know I'm a ways away. But I'll be dedicated. The guy that was into it for 10 days really encouraged me. Thank you!
Great lesson. Where were you in 1970 when I started? You could have saved years of mistakes. SCOOPING? A tough old teacher once said : " When you play a note, you're like a Boxer..don't muck around...HIT it...if you can't do that you haven't heard the note before you play it." He went on to explain that Johnny Hodges knew what he was doing, & I should try that later when I learnt the basics. Scoop = insecurity? Playing that next note twice to be sure that it is OK = insecurity. Theory is not enough. We have trust our ears. THEN instrumental technique makes sense. But we must be guided in that. You are doing it. Thank you.
Maybe try a drum lesson or two? I don't know any drummers who "muck around." :) It's not anywhere in our nature, lol. if anything, we could all stand a bit of mucking in drumming. haha.
@@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823 thanks. Mucking around is the way to be free with your instrument, it becomes part of you & gives you the confidence to have a go at anything. The technique has to be worked on, & if you are OK there, no Conductor can intimidate you. "What do you want?....let's do it". Having said that, the Drummer lays down the feel. A good drummer is worth his weight in gold. No argument from me. Thanks for your ideas. All the best to you.
All of your comments resonated with me as I continue my own journey in improving my sax playing. This is like an online masterclass, thank you to the folks who sent in the videos!
2 things. FRED! Whoa..10 days. You are an inspiration. And, I didn't know this video existed. Great stuff here. I was a music major back in the day...bassoon and sax in jazz band. Squanderedmy gift & now at age 60 picking up the sax again (can't afford a bassoon!) Your videos are helpful and encouraging. Many thanks.
You are a gifted teacher. Totally amazing channel you have. I'm 51, and started playing in my late 40's. I have known about long tones and overtones for years, but never did them much, and I suffered from all the issues you describe here. But, your video on long tones really got through to me. I have been doing 100 tones / day with the neck and tonal energy, then on all notes of the horn then overtones. In 2 weeks, I'm already relaxing, getting fuller tones, smoother sound. I thought I was hopeless, but actually I see now how this basic training is so beneficial. I'll record and send in soon.
@@bettersax you'll know you made great progress when your own teacher doesn't exactly recognize your sound anymore :) and maybe YOU barely recognize it, yourself. It's kind of freaky and existential. lol Sort of like hearing your own voice recorded for the first time.
You continue to amaze me with your approach to teaching sax!! I played alto sax in my youth only by reading music and have recently purchased my dream sax -- a tenor. Your approach makes more sense to me and I wish I had it sixty years ago. Listening to your student lessons is fantastic! Keep up the great work!
Love this content and your analysis and advice. Priceless. I've been back on my alto for a year now after a 10 break. Loving every minute. Thanks to all you put themselves up for advice...takes lots of courage!
Just in time to prevent me from developing some bad habits! Thanks to the brave souls for sending in videos. Seeing things corrected ‘in real time’ is super helpful.
Great tips! The guy who has only been playing for 10 days --- amazing start! Good reminders: metronome, relaxing, not lifting fingers too high off the keys, half-tone approach notes instead of bending … I appreciate you doing this and sharing your knowledge which helps others (me/us) improve my/our sax playing. I still need to apply all the good info you are passing on.
Jay, I sure appreciate everything you are doing in teaching eager saxophone players. Great tips all the way around. I need to loosen up a lot lol Thanks again!! Please keep up the great work. Kudos to the individuals that were brave enough to share!!
A really great idea for a video, it’s great to see you focus on what is pretty much how most of us learners play. Still so much work to do, but at least I can see I’m not alone. The scooping is the hardest to get over as I know I do it all the time, but can’t hear it as I play, just when I playback my recordings, I imagine it’s much the same for all of us improvers. Thanks again for putting this video out there, and much respect for the three guys prepared to put it out there in public. J
Thank you for sharing Jay ! More of these pointers to stay mindful of playing better! Like the one of how to more smoothly between notes.So I myself won’t sound so choppy and use of metronome or a backing track.
Love the videos and kudos to the 3 that allowed their sessions to be shown! Jay, you hit on a number of things that relate directly to my playing but especially the talk about emboushure. I tighten up when I play in front of people and invariably squeak and/or run out of air. Keep these coming. I'll get a video to you soon.
Thanks so much Jay, we are all indebted and greatful for the work u are doing on this channel and also all your efforts in scrutinising the videos sent by the community. Its very helpful to watch others and also learn from each other. Will send in my video soon
A massive well done to all those brave saxophonist who shared their video - no mean feat. Thanks for your advice Jay. I agree with your reference to 'scoops and bends' and your finger position. I may be brave and share mine soon - well maybe!
Thank you so much for that explanation of embouchure and airflow... I'm only 8 days in and currently on your pentatonic crash course after following your beginners course and having watched dozens of embouchure videos. I'm finding producing a clear, smooth note a bit hit-and-miss, though the TonalEnergy app you recommended is great for getting in tune when I do!! Can't wait to reassess my embouchure with today's pentatonic scales having seen this advice. Thank you again Jay!
Well Jay you hit the nail on the head for me! I learned quite a bit from ur first 10 lessons. Being an old Bone man from kid days, I’m sure I’ll pick up rather quickly! Since all the fires and Pandemic restricting socializing, this was the perfect time to learn something new! I hope to be able to play a song by my 70th in December lol? And if I can’t by then, I’ll learn later on in the year. I played 1st chair ALL STATE Concert Band, Orchestra and Jazz. I hated the trombone, but was forced to play it to be in the band! I wanted to play the Sax hahaha!! My embouchure is sore but I’ll stay at it to toughen up! I can’t wait to learn more notes to improv on? I grew up listening to the Thomas Brothers and studying Poveroti. I was All State 1st Tenor back in my day and I have perfect pitch. I’m very excited and will become a member just as soon as my lips get stronger hahaha!! Great Lesson so far, I can’t wait to move forward! Thank you...you’ve brought out the Young in my Heart!
Good advice on relaxing the embouchure and breath support and the fingers on the pearls and the posture and the rhythm all good things I need to stay aware of and yes practice slowly good job everyone
Really enjoyed it . I like all of your video's . They are always informative. Iv'e been playing for a little over two years , practice 1 to 1.5 hours a day. I give these guys alot of credit to put their videos up . Great job.
Jay. You have a profound way of delivering your message and your content is exceptional. This is a magnetic idea. I may need to build up some courage and submit a video. Thank you. RCA
Wow, I fully enjoyed the videos of the progress these people are accomplishing in such a short time! Keep up the good work guys, you perfect those songs.....practice hard! I’d like to see more of these student videos? Maybe one day I’ll be able to perform something? I’m practicing, so we’ll see what I’ve learned as a beginner! Thank you Jay, Donnie
I am going to enjoy these. I've been playing 35 years and 25 years ago was in jazz school and presently teach a "few" students on the side. I appreciate your work and will be pointing more to this great advice!
Fred sounds amazing for only 10 day. Keep up the great work and use that metronome as Jay instructed it's a fundamental component of a musicians progress. Using the metronome helps to develop the foundation for time feel and great time feel and sound are two features of a saxophonists playing that will set you apart from many others and give your playing a professional sound and polish beyond the notes and improvisational skills. All great players can play with amazing time feel when performing without accompaniment, they make it sound like there is a rhythm section playing when there isn't. That is primarily due to practicing with a metronome and etching great time feel into your musical DNA.
Wished I had seen this one before I began watching your videos........catching this episode on a bad mood day, wishing I had a magic wand RIGHT NOW to instantly and immediately wave over me that would make me be the best Sax player ever.....several times I felt like giving my Sax a flying lesson it wouldn't forget ever. Ugh. Okay....back to PRACTICING...breathe! Thank you! :)
I recognize the feeling. 🌝 I have been practizing for over a month now on a pirce with several fast passages Starting slow, metronome etc. just a Jay recommended. Thought I was doing really well and recorded myself playing the song. Whaa. The only thing I could appreciate were some notes that had a nice warm sound and nice vibrato. And that my rythm was decent. 2 passages were not terrible. The other ones were 🤮. Fortunately I have learned throughout the years to try to find the pisitive things. And that was in this case: A month ago I could not have made this recording. Still not as I want and performance-ready but I made tremendous progress. I allow myself for a moment the feeling of wanting to throw my saxophone, then laugh about myself, relax and start practizing again and enjoying the sax sound.
Great video Jay and those helpful tips will really help those guys to improve & I'm going to use them to help my playing especially the one about the posture!
I’ve been playing sax since 5th grade and I’m about to graduate high school. I’m in the Colorado All State Concert Band as first part as well. However, the Achilles Heel of my playing has always been my rhythm. For whatever reason, it’s just really difficult for me to keep in time when doing improv. I’m going to try to just subdivide music whenever I hear it and when I play it to see if I can develop a better sense of rhythm. Thank you for the advice and I may submit a video so I can get some critique!
Hi Jay, I love your channel and your videos - in fact so much that they convinced me to pick up the sax again after 23 years!! I played the alto back in high school, and took private lessons from one of the saxophone legends in Denmark - Holger Laumann. I watched your video on the Yamaha YAS-280 and the Jean Paul AS-400, and decided to go for the Jean Paul. However, the build quality seemed a bit questionable, so I ordered the YAS-280 from i.K. Gottfried here in Denmark, and WHAT a difference! TOP build quality - so - fortunately Amazon took back the Jean Paul AS-400. So, I got my YAS-280 almost two weeks ago, and I love it so much that I've been playing for 2-3 hours EVERY day since, but I'm kindof struggling with embochure and playing in tune, so I was wondering wether you would comment on my technique if I upload a small video? I know it's a lot of hard work getting back up on the horse, and maybe I'm just too impatient getting everything right in no-time, so how long do you think it will take getting the strength back to be able to play in tune? I signed up for private lessons starting this thursday, so hopefully he will be able to calm me down and encourage me to keep at it and have patience :o). Thanks a billion for a great channel with tons of useful information!
Like what you said about scoops. At first, it seems like something cool to be doing but if it's done too often it leaves the impression of poor intonation. Yet we hear it all the time on recordings. I´m currently practicing "Faces of the Heart" by Dave Koz and the scoops are not too often. More often there is a kind of slide from one note to the next which is probably done the way you described - using fingering rather than embouchure.
For the C to D transition, some of the right hand fingers can be kept down (experiment to hear differences in timber and intonation), but with practice, that transition can be made smoother.
Hey Jay, loved the video and instructional criticism! I really benefited from alot of it especially the "slurring" of notes...learned how to overcome that by dropping 1/2 note and then going into the next instead of using My eurburchure to do so. Thanks, and look forward to seeing the next video! Chuck T.
Wow - just wow!! Great playing by all - and your bravery impressed me as much as your playing. I see myself making a lot (all?) of the mistakes Jay points out. I've got a long, long way to go, and it'll be a cold day in hell before I put myself out there like all y'all did. This is the second studio critique video I've watched and one observation: where are the women?? I'm gonna keep looking. There must be adult beginner women out there somewhere. Thanks to both the players and the instructor!
My instructor tells me I am moving my finger too far away from the keys and it has a tendency to make me late playing some of the next notes. Move them far away from the keys is part of me getting the values to close/open quick enough. Sometimes I will start the airflow before the valves are fully closed or open if I don't. I have made reducing finger movement as part of my practice.
I just signed up with the Better Sax Studio. On your website, my Sax right now is being Overhauled, will get it back in a week or two I sure hope , this is so scary for me but I got to , I need a lot of help
Hi! I have been practicing alto sax for about four years and have been taught the lower lip over teeth method and have now moved to your method.Is this now to prove arduous and lenghty? I feel much more comfortable with your recommendation. Great program. Myk H
Been playin the flute for about a year now and picked up the alto 2 weeks ago. Having a relaxed embouchure makes a world of difference. My tone feels natural and not forced. I have no illusions about the work ahead of me though. Thanx for your videos.
Jay's comments are just pure gold
"Put the metronome on, its like the drummer" Jay, that is pure gold. Visualizing the metronome as the drummer somehow immediately made it easier. Thanks as always for the great instruction and advice you offer through your courses and videos.
Thanks Lonnie.
ALL the great drummers are married to that triangular little box.
Example: Steely Dan, "Home at Last" featuring Bernard Purdie on drums. He is the coolest of the cool, drum-wise. Never overplays, perfectly behind the beat, and you can TELL he's STILL using a metronome after probably 60 years playing drums. Only bad habit is a reversed China, which destroys not-cheap drumsticks as if you let your dog chew them.
He's said he uses it at 40 bpm to this day! Heard it at a drummer's clinic, best way to meet legendary players in an "in-the-know" setting.
You've GOTTA do more of these. Didnt even know you had this in your channel.
I love these videos - as someone just getting back to my sax after many years of storing them in the closet these teaching videos are very valuable. I hope you do more please!
first of all thank you for taking your time out to give us this education on the sax all your lessons are great what i like you keep it real im a veteran
and me playing the sax again is my goal im starting from rock bottom i have to learn everything all over again . learning from you is easy and understandable once again i would like to thank you keep up the good work
I'm very glad to hear it. Thanks.
same here... i haven't played my horn in 20 years. picking it back up and this channel is very very helpful
Many thanks to Jay and those who have submitted their own videos. I learned a lot from watching players who are not ready for Carnegie Hall, and I got tips on what I should be doing more of in my practice sessions. For me this was a reinforcement of the adage that horn players learn more when they have their teachers and colleagues criticize them. This session gets a thumbs up!
Marv K
He may be the best teacher ever...respect
I'm just starting. Been playing for two days in sax. I am a performing musician in guitar, harmonica, and vocals. I am going with your course. Planning on starting it within a couple days. I wanted to say how valuable this type of video is. I learned a little from it right away. I want to add some sax songs to my performance but I know I'm a ways away. But I'll be dedicated. The guy that was into it for 10 days really encouraged me. Thank you!
Great lesson. Where were you in 1970 when I started? You could have saved years of mistakes. SCOOPING? A tough old teacher once said : " When you play a note, you're like a Boxer..don't muck around...HIT it...if you can't do that you haven't heard the note before you play it." He went on to explain that Johnny Hodges knew what he was doing, & I should try that later when I learnt the basics. Scoop = insecurity? Playing that next note twice to be sure that it is OK = insecurity. Theory is not enough. We have trust our ears. THEN instrumental technique makes sense. But we must be guided in that. You are doing it. Thank you.
Maybe try a drum lesson or two?
I don't know any drummers who "muck around." :) It's not anywhere in our nature, lol.
if anything, we could all stand a bit of mucking in drumming. haha.
@@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823 thanks. Mucking around is the way to be free with your instrument, it becomes part of you & gives you the confidence to have a go at anything. The technique has to be worked on, & if you are OK there, no Conductor can intimidate you. "What do you want?....let's do it". Having said that, the Drummer lays down the feel. A good drummer is worth his weight in gold. No argument from me. Thanks for your ideas. All the best to you.
All of your comments resonated with me as I continue my own journey in improving my sax playing. This is like an online masterclass, thank you to the folks who sent in the videos!
Glad to hear it.
Still catching up on all your vids. Loved the colab. You guys are my heroes.
2 things. FRED! Whoa..10 days. You are an inspiration. And, I didn't know this video existed. Great stuff here. I was a music major back in the day...bassoon and sax in jazz band. Squanderedmy gift & now at age 60 picking up the sax again (can't afford a bassoon!) Your videos are helpful and encouraging. Many thanks.
Thanks a lot Jay, very usefull tips!
Love these! Could watch them all night! Thanks to all!
Will do another one soon.
Great tutor session. Much appreciated from someone who has recently taken up the sax again after 35+ years
Very fun to watch these suggestions. Thanks Jay!
This is invaluable. And thanks to the contributors, who were willing to expose themselves to criticism for all of our benefit
As I believe that I am possibly an intermediate student your program is proving a great help.
You are a gifted teacher. Totally amazing channel you have. I'm 51, and started playing in my late 40's. I have known about long tones and overtones for years, but never did them much, and I suffered from all the issues you describe here. But, your video on long tones really got through to me. I have been doing 100 tones / day with the neck and tonal energy, then on all notes of the horn then overtones. In 2 weeks, I'm already relaxing, getting fuller tones, smoother sound. I thought I was hopeless, but actually I see now how this basic training is so beneficial. I'll record and send in soon.
Very important revelation. Keep doing it daily and a year from now your sound will have transformed.
@@bettersax you'll know you made great progress when your own teacher doesn't exactly recognize your sound anymore :) and maybe YOU barely recognize it, yourself.
It's kind of freaky and existential. lol
Sort of like hearing your own voice recorded for the first time.
This is great Jay, really helpful to see and hear people learning and mastering the same problems we all experience
Thanks Bill
You continue to amaze me with your approach to teaching sax!! I played alto sax in my youth only by reading music and have recently purchased my dream sax -- a tenor. Your approach makes more sense to me and I wish I had it sixty years ago. Listening to your student lessons is fantastic! Keep up the great work!
Thanks Roy. I will.
Ooo, you should have just gotten the bill about now. Please don't jump off the bridge :) lol
Some precious gems in there. Thanks for these, very helpful for beginners like me.
Love this content and your analysis and advice. Priceless. I've been back on my alto for a year now after a 10 break. Loving every minute. Thanks to all you put themselves up for advice...takes lots of courage!
Just in time to prevent me from developing some bad habits! Thanks to the brave souls for sending in videos. Seeing things corrected ‘in real time’ is super helpful.
This video is of great benefit. I got lots of ideas from this. Hope there are more to come. Thanks Jay.
There will be thanks.
Very good Jay. Lots of good tips and comments. Great idea of recording yourself while playing.
Great idea Jay. Very very helpful. Super interesting to hear your professional thoughts and critiques. Thank you.
Great tips! The guy who has only been playing for 10 days --- amazing start! Good reminders: metronome, relaxing, not lifting fingers too high off the keys, half-tone approach notes instead of bending … I appreciate you doing this and sharing your knowledge which helps others (me/us) improve my/our sax playing. I still need to apply all the good info you are passing on.
Thanks Rob, I'll do more like this going forward.
Jay, I sure appreciate everything you are doing in teaching eager saxophone players. Great tips all the way around. I need to loosen up a lot lol Thanks again!! Please keep up the great work. Kudos to the individuals that were brave enough to share!!
Yes they were brave and it’s much appreciated. Thanks.
I bet if you play after a 90 minute massage, you'll see a huge improvement :)
Great video, extremely instructive! Many thanks to those who submitted their videos. Please keep them coming. Thanks Jay!
WoW ! I have had my sax for 10 days and I’m still trying to get a consistent note to come out ? Nice job friends 👏👏👏👏
A really great idea for a video, it’s great to see you focus on what is pretty much how most of us learners play. Still so much work to do, but at least I can see I’m not alone. The scooping is the hardest to get over as I know I do it all the time, but can’t hear it as I play, just when I playback my recordings, I imagine it’s much the same for all of us improvers. Thanks again for putting this video out there, and much respect for the three guys prepared to put it out there in public. J
Thank you for sharing Jay ! More of these pointers to stay mindful of playing better! Like the one of how to more smoothly between notes.So I myself won’t sound so choppy and use of metronome or a backing track.
I look forward to hearing you again in a few months time when you've had the time to work some of this into your playing.
Very cool. Great idea to do this. We can all learn from these examples. Thanks to all who send in their videos.
Thanks
Thanks Jay for taking the time to critique us sax players - very helpful. I hope to submit my own video soon.
Love the videos and kudos to the 3 that allowed their sessions to be shown! Jay, you hit on a number of things that relate directly to my playing but especially the talk about emboushure. I tighten up when I play in front of people and invariably squeak and/or run out of air. Keep these coming. I'll get a video to you soon.
Bravo!! Great help with the fundamentals, Thanks to the brave souls who submitted their videos.
I truly appreciated this session. I have learned a lot and I hope to see more.
Great to hear thanks.
Thanks so much Jay, we are all indebted and greatful for the work u are doing on this channel and also all your efforts in scrutinising the videos sent by the community. Its very helpful to watch others and also learn from each other. Will send in my video soon
Thank you. I look forward to hearing from you...
Brand new to sax. Started learning 2 weeks ago at age 55. Thanks for the help
You're welcome, never too late to start. There are many, many of my students having lots of success at that age and much older.
@@bettersax 52 here and just started about a month ago. Keep it up!!
I got sucked into a great deal from.a stunningly pretty YAS 23 from eBay from a Wisconsin music store, myself.
A massive well done to all those brave saxophonist who shared their video - no mean feat. Thanks for your advice Jay. I agree with your reference to 'scoops and bends' and your finger position. I may be brave and share mine soon - well maybe!
Thank you so much for that explanation of embouchure and airflow... I'm only 8 days in and currently on your pentatonic crash course after following your beginners course and having watched dozens of embouchure videos. I'm finding producing a clear, smooth note a bit hit-and-miss, though the TonalEnergy app you recommended is great for getting in tune when I do!! Can't wait to reassess my embouchure with today's pentatonic scales having seen this advice. Thank you again Jay!
Great to hear about progress
Well Jay you hit the nail on the head for me! I learned quite a bit from ur first 10 lessons. Being an old Bone man from kid days, I’m sure I’ll pick up rather quickly! Since all the fires and Pandemic restricting socializing, this was the perfect time to learn something new! I hope to be able to play a song by my 70th in December lol? And if I can’t by then, I’ll learn later on in the year. I played 1st chair ALL STATE Concert Band, Orchestra and Jazz. I hated the trombone, but was forced to play it to be in the band! I wanted to play the Sax hahaha!! My embouchure is sore but I’ll stay at it to toughen up! I can’t wait to learn more notes to improv on? I grew up listening to the Thomas Brothers and studying Poveroti. I was All State 1st Tenor back in my day and I have perfect pitch. I’m very excited and will become a member just as soon as my lips get stronger hahaha!! Great Lesson so far, I can’t wait to move forward!
Thank you...you’ve brought out the Young in my Heart!
Good advice on relaxing the embouchure and breath support and the fingers on the pearls and the posture and the rhythm all good things I need to stay aware of and yes practice slowly good job everyone
More please...this was great!!!
Really enjoyed it . I like all of your video's . They are always informative. Iv'e been playing for a little over two years , practice 1 to 1.5 hours a day. I give these guys alot of credit to put their videos up . Great job.
Thanks. Yes they are brave to contribute.
Thanks Jay, you pointed out a few things I need to work on. I like to watch your videos, I always get something useful out of them.
I really like this video Jay, great way to get everyone involved and learn from each other! 👍🏻
Glad to hear it Timo. Thanks. Have you submitted a video yet?
Better Sax sure did Jay, sent my version of Doxy. On the Better Sax forum I also posted my version of East of the Sun, West of the Moon.
Jay. You have a profound way of delivering your message and your content is exceptional. This is a magnetic idea. I may need to build up some courage and submit a video. Thank you. RCA
Wow, I fully enjoyed the videos of the progress these people are accomplishing in such a short time! Keep up the good work guys, you perfect those songs.....practice hard! I’d like to see more of these student videos? Maybe one day I’ll be able to perform something? I’m practicing, so we’ll see what I’ve learned as a beginner!
Thank you Jay,
Donnie
I am going to enjoy these. I've been playing 35 years and 25 years ago was in jazz school and presently teach a "few" students on the side. I appreciate your work and will be pointing more to this great advice!
Love your videos, I always learn something form them.
Awesome, thank you!
Very interesting to watch! Learned a lot.
Good to hear thanks.
This was great! Thanks
great video, picked up a lot for a beginner, thanks also to those that submitted there videos
These critique videos are very interesting, thanks Jay👍
Fred sounds amazing for only 10 day. Keep up the great work and use that metronome as Jay instructed it's a fundamental component of a musicians progress. Using the metronome helps to develop the foundation for time feel and great time feel and sound are two features of a saxophonists playing that will set you apart from many others and give your playing a professional sound and polish beyond the notes and improvisational skills. All great players can play with amazing time feel when performing without accompaniment, they make it sound like there is a rhythm section playing when there isn't. That is primarily due to practicing with a metronome and etching great time feel into your musical DNA.
yup.
agree.
--the drummer :))
This is a great concept, please keep it up! Some really valuable tips around scoops, embouchure, solos. Cool, thanks.
I will thanks!
Wished I had seen this one before I began watching your videos........catching this episode on a bad mood day, wishing I had a magic wand RIGHT NOW to instantly and immediately wave over me that would make me be the best Sax player ever.....several times I felt like giving my Sax a flying lesson it wouldn't forget ever. Ugh. Okay....back to PRACTICING...breathe! Thank you! :)
I recognize the feeling. 🌝
I have been practizing for over a month now on a pirce with several fast passages Starting slow, metronome etc. just a Jay recommended. Thought I was doing really well and recorded myself playing the song. Whaa. The only thing I could appreciate were some notes that had a nice warm sound and nice vibrato. And that my rythm was decent. 2 passages were not terrible. The other ones were 🤮.
Fortunately I have learned throughout the years to try to find the pisitive things.
And that was in this case: A month ago I could not have made this recording. Still not as I want and performance-ready but I made tremendous progress.
I allow myself for a moment the feeling of wanting to throw my saxophone, then laugh about myself, relax and start practizing again and enjoying the sax sound.
Brilliant! Super helpful hearing other learners. Jay: great comments and advice!
Thanks Matt.
This is pure gold
Inspiring work guys!
Great video Jay and those helpful tips will really help those guys to improve & I'm going to use them to help my playing especially the one about the posture!
Great comments...I love to see and hear the clips and then process the comments...great job
Hi Jay loving this great idea
Thanks Jay for excellent comments. I am greatly improving after taking your superb courses.I would like to see more instruction on timing and sound
I’ve been playing sax since 5th grade and I’m about to graduate high school. I’m in the Colorado All State Concert Band as first part as well. However, the Achilles Heel of my playing has always been my rhythm. For whatever reason, it’s just really difficult for me to keep in time when doing improv. I’m going to try to just subdivide music whenever I hear it and when I play it to see if I can develop a better sense of rhythm. Thank you for the advice and I may submit a video so I can get some critique!
1st step to correcting a problem is awareness. You'll sort it out I'm sure. Would love to see a video from you Mark.
Hi Jay, I love your channel and your videos - in fact so much that they convinced me to pick up the sax again after 23 years!!
I played the alto back in high school, and took private lessons from one of the saxophone legends in Denmark - Holger Laumann.
I watched your video on the Yamaha YAS-280 and the Jean Paul AS-400, and decided to go for the Jean Paul. However, the build quality seemed a bit questionable, so I ordered the YAS-280 from i.K. Gottfried here in Denmark, and WHAT a difference! TOP build quality - so - fortunately Amazon took back the Jean Paul AS-400.
So, I got my YAS-280 almost two weeks ago, and I love it so much that I've been playing for 2-3 hours EVERY day since, but I'm kindof struggling with embochure and playing in tune, so I was wondering wether you would comment on my technique if I upload a small video?
I know it's a lot of hard work getting back up on the horse, and maybe I'm just too impatient getting everything right in no-time, so how long do you think it will take getting the strength back to be able to play in tune?
I signed up for private lessons starting this thursday, so hopefully he will be able to calm me down and encourage me to keep at it and have patience :o).
Thanks a billion for a great channel with tons of useful information!
Great advice on these videos! I learned something about the shoulder movement which I am guilty of!
Yeah good idea to check yourself in the mirror frequently.
@@bettersax Thanks Jay. Keep up the great work!
Like what you said about scoops. At first, it seems like something cool to be doing but if it's done too often it leaves the impression of poor intonation. Yet we hear it all the time on recordings. I´m currently practicing "Faces of the Heart" by Dave Koz and the scoops are not too often. More often there is a kind of slide from one note to the next which is probably done the way you described - using fingering rather than embouchure.
That’s awesome, thanks for submitting, and thanks for the lesson.
For the C to D transition, some of the right hand fingers can be kept down (experiment to hear differences in timber and intonation), but with practice, that transition can be made smoother.
Wow. Really helpful pointers. Great to see others working it!
That was great. Thanks toall the players for stepping up. I learned from everything.
Thanks Jay. Clear and helpful as usual. I need to relax those shoulders!
Thanks a lot Jay ! I really appreciate your feedback ! I'll practice the transitions like you suggest.
A lot of great observations and tips on improving technique.
Thanks
Thanks so much!!! Your tips have helped me so much. Thanks Jay!
I'm glad, thanks.
Hi Jay, this kind of video is just great. I recently started your method and love it. Thank you.
Thank you Jay!
Hey Jay, loved the video and instructional criticism! I really benefited from alot of it especially the "slurring" of notes...learned how to overcome that by dropping 1/2 note and then going into the next instead of using My eurburchure to do so. Thanks, and look forward to seeing the next video!
Chuck T.
Great to hear Chuck.
Loved the video! Brave souls, like your analysis and insights, just like going to see my old teacher in person. More! Yes! 🚀
Great video Jay, would love to see more.
i love the videos. great step by step
KUDOS to the guys with the cajones to post these videos!
Indeed. Mad respect for everyone that submitted a video. 10-day dude sounded great!
Excellent video, and great teaching, continue like that, is very useful.
10 days !!!!!...Man oh man ...real good !....I have 2 days on the books and not with lessons yet...just now making some squawks and such...
Wow - just wow!! Great playing by all - and your bravery impressed me as much as your playing. I see myself making a lot (all?) of the mistakes Jay points out. I've got a long, long way to go, and it'll be a cold day in hell before I put myself out there like all y'all did.
This is the second studio critique video I've watched and one observation: where are the women??
I'm gonna keep looking. There must be adult beginner women out there somewhere.
Thanks to both the players and the instructor!
Excellent great to get free professional constructive criticism.
Thanks Paul.
Best ever player's and videos. Send more videos.
This was a fabulous video. Thank you.
You are a true coach
Good stuff! I enjoy all your videos very informative! Keep’m up!
I will do. thanks
More vids like this plz
waiting for the continuation !!!
There will be more!
My instructor tells me I am moving my finger too far away from the keys and it has a tendency to make me late playing some of the next notes. Move them far away from the keys is part of me getting the values to close/open quick enough. Sometimes I will start the airflow before the valves are fully closed or open if I don't. I have made reducing finger movement as part of my practice.
George, practicing in front of the mirror and going slowly helps me with this...
Great idea!
I just signed up with the Better Sax Studio. On your website, my Sax right now is being Overhauled, will get it back in a week or two I sure hope , this is so scary for me but I got to , I need a lot of help
Hi! I have been practicing alto sax for about four years and have been taught the lower lip over teeth method and have now moved to your method.Is this now to prove arduous and lenghty? I feel much more comfortable with your recommendation. Great program.
Myk H