Introducing myself

[selmer10ersaxchick]

I am a newbee to this forum and to playing tenor saxophone. I have only been playing since July 2011 when I first held my first tenor saxophone. I played or tried to blow out my first notes and deal with the stress in my lips which created tension in my body. This unfortunately spelled disaster for me after 4 weeks of trying the instrument and I slowly lost confidence. I put my nice new shiny black/gold Selmer 11 tenor sax away because I felt a complete failure. I put my sax away between July and November 2011.

I then decided to do some research to find something to help me pick up my sax again with new vigour. I bought books, watched you tube, spoke to friends mainly non-musical people and the shop where I purchased my saxophone. I needed an instructor but long hours at work and the cost commitment would be a long term challenge.

Then I found Johnny….. only last evening I just decided to do some more research and I am so so glad that I did. I have to replay the videos several times but I am understanding the lessons. I have learned the C scale fingerings, the D Major fingerings and why there are 2 sharps and I now understand the D Major Chords 1,3, and 5 and the optional appreciation of adding the root octave note as a fourth note. I have also learned the difference between a clear note and a black note and a dot after a note and 4/4 and 3/4.

Now I am exhausted from my day job but I am motivated to carry on. I have not blown any of these notes on my sax but I have done the fingerings both on a pencil and pretending to be holding my sax.

I am loving what I am learning and today I will pick up my sax and implement everything that Johnny taught me just a few hours ago. I thank Johnny so much for his strategy, his skills, knowledge and experience and I will dedicate everything I learn from today to Johnny.

I have been fortunate to be able to purchase a great saxophone as a complete beginner. This is both a pleasure and a pain because the pressure is on me not to fail or waste thousands of pounds when I could have given the money to charity for example or helped a friend in need. But I have a desire to join a band and gig live on stage and I have already been asked to learn 3 songs to enable me to join a band in the new year. Pleasure and pain stress and enjoyment.

I feel able to move onwards and I will keep you updated. If I achieve my goal and do my first gig that will be absolutely amazing and you will all be the first to know plus uploaded videos. Perhaps I have set my stall out too big but that is in my personality failure is not an option. Tell me what you think as all comments will be appreciated and taken on board. I am sending a BIG thank you to Johnny.

selmer10ersaxchick from London England UK signing off but not over and out. Regards to you all x

[john]

Hi there, glad you found the site! It's great that you decided to pull the sax out again otherwise that would be a waste for sure. I hope you keep plugging away at it. If you put even some effort and practice everyday you will be amazed at how much better you are even after only a year.

Keep going over the lessons at your own comfortable pace. Don't move ahead untill you understand and are able to execute it at least slowly, otherwise you will always have stumbling blocks.

good luck and don't hesitate to comment or ask more questions here as you go.

Johnny

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