This is me too. Your advice is pure gold (as always). I am about 6 months back in to the tenor sax after a 30 year break. I bought my YTS 62 (purple) in 1986. Played for just a couple of years and then had to stop for other commitments. Tried to get going again in 1990 (no internet) and had the most horrendous experience with a teacher that saw my confidence and belief completely shattered and it went back in the case after just a few weeks. So I took up guitar and drums and I have had a lot of fun with those instruments. I am so glad that I didn’t sell it. I too got it checked out by a sax technician, and it needed very little attention. And wow! Coming back at 59 with the time to practice now and the incredible resource that is the internet I am having a blast. After watching many channels on the internet, ‘Get your Sax Together’ is my favourite by a country mile. Your enthusiasm and passion has ignited mine. Whilst I am years away from transcribing Miles Davis like your follower below, I am making steady progress now and loving it. I can say with confidence that this time that I will not give up again. There is a coffee coming your way later today when I get back home. Thank you Jamie for your inspiration.
Indeed, huge change. Back to saxophone playing after more than 30 years. Got my YAS-62 checked and overhauled, bought some gear and watched many videos on RU-vid. Started playing overtones, working on vibrato, got some nice apps on my iPad (TE tuner, Anytune pro+, iPractice Pro, iReal Pro) and transcribed a solo (Miles Davis on 'So What'). Lots of fun. BTW, thanks a lot Jamie for all the work you put into your RU-vid channel. Much appreciated. 👍
Back after 12 years got myself a good horn and good mouthpiece loving every minute of it, It was these videos that got me back in 3 months in and feel like a kid in a sweet shop with all learning videos etc Thank you again Jamie
After playing tenor in my high school band in the 80s after only a few lessons, I only decided to get back into it as a way to keep myself entertained during the first Covid lockdown... After 35 years! Now 18 months later and countless RU-vid turorials, various online lessons, your Masterclass and Tone Mastery courses I think I’m finally getting to a place where I’m feeling more confident with my sound although my brain is not doing so well wrapping itself around music theory and all I want to do is play all my favourite songs that I teach myself by ear.
I was a music major in college and then stopped playing for 25 years. I started again 8 years ago. I wish I'd seen your video then. A lot has changed, and students learn so much more than I did back then. It's taken me a long time to figure out and break bad habits... I'm still finding them. 😊 Breathing was a big recovery for me (asthmatic playing bari). When I started again, I could only play a measure on a breath. Now I'm almost where I was in college and no more asthma attacks (which I had a lot of before playing again, not because of playing) . I've lost my ability to improvise, and I truly had to start over and relearn how to do it. But I can attest that it can be done if people stick with it and your videos help so much. Thank you.
Good tips! I took a 20 year break and when I restarted the first couple of years were rough (for many of the reasons mentioned, especially because my sax was not in good condition & it took me a while to find the right technician to get it working properly), but thanks to your input (and other on-line teachers) I have been able to go way beyond my early days.
This really resonates with me. I took 18 years off and picked up sax again in January. I was primarily an alto sax player back in the day with one year of tenor in college. It took nearly two months of long tones and overtones to even get to a place where I could play anything but now I’m enjoying it again. I recently bought a used Reference 54 and am reinventing myself as a tenor player.
Literally just got back into playing after 25 years. Played from 5th grade to 9th grade. Already got 2 saxes an alto of course and a tenor because I always wanted to try a tenor. I've been playing about hour and a half a day for like 3 weeks now loving it. Pretty much were I left off.
I'm returning to sax after about 10 years off and this is all great advice. The material you have been putting out has been "instrumental" (I said what I said) in rekindling my love of playing sax. Thank you!
I’m a returning player after 20 years off. I started back up in January of this year and have been having so much fun. I agree with all of your points in this video. One of the first songs I learned was the sax intro to Careless Whisper that I learned from your tutorial! Thank you. Just last night I jamming with friends and we played the full song together with one friend on bass, one on piano, and me on sax. So much fun! My two goals are to play along with my favorite pop songs (mostly from the 80s and 90s) and to jam with friends. I’m already doing both after just 6-7 months! I’m loving it. It’s a lot of work but so rewarding 🎷💕✨
Love the thumb nail. I pretended to play back in high school. I was the 3rd seat, and never remember practicing. Now amazingly I’m able to generate a sound.
Had a sax on rent for six weeks in 8th grade before parents moved. Instrument was returned and new school in new town had big hills and a long walk to school. Just back to it this year...56-13 = 43 years away. First few sessions were amusing but then found traction with the one hour masterclass Jamie. Thanks. Hope to complement piano and guitar youtube uploads with some sax also.
Could you make a video on how to pick up sax again after a short break (such as a vacation)? I feel like many of us struggle with getting back on track because we couldn’t take horn with us and feel unmotivated for a while. Thanks!
Amen to this message! I started playing again after a ~30yr lapse. This return to music-making may have been the 2nd best decision of my life. Celebrating the anniversary of my best decision tomorrow! Jamie (aka Fred Flintsax - yabba dabba doo), please share demo and remodel photos so we can suffer along with you.
Just off to my 1st rehearsal with my sax quartet. Haven't played my tenor since lockdowns started. Fingers crossed! (Don't remember having green reeds, though. Sure they used to be black!)
How did you know! I picked up an Alto after 37 years a couple weeks ago. I found your RU-vid channel and I am enjoying it immensely. I am looking to add a tenor. Anyone have a good recommendation for a tenor to purchase at around $1500?
It's worth also saying for those returners without a horn that the market is vastly different to say 20 years ago. Today you can get a perfectly playable alto like the Eastar for under £250, and a very good one like the Jean Paul or Better Sax by Bundy for under £600 (tenor < £800). Gone are the days when you had to go on the 'knock' for £1000 or more for a beginner horn.
