how do you practice?

jules · how do you practice?

now this is a serious question. I'm not talking about beginners, but someone who, basically knows what they're doing with a sax. The point is that I've spent the last few years learning scales, taking a few shaped for a walk round te circle of 5ths and then tend to doodle along to my latest CDs. now, of recent, i'm beginning to feel that this isn't actually improving me as a player- I'm treading water. The big question- how do you guys practice?- what do you do, or what's your approach/philosophy on it? i'd be really interested to know to see if I can kick myself back into gear...

Bariman

I personally always try to have a new song to play every week or so, whether it be jazz, bebop or swing, and try some preiodic improve too. I like to listen to the radio sometimes and play what I hear, not just instrumetal stuff, but pop, rock and blues too.

Bariman

Matt AV

I think this is a good and interesting question. It would be very useful to know how different people practise. I think there is alot we can learn from each other in that respect. This topic is very broad but one of the things I have found useful in the past few years is to multitask. There are so many things to practise and never enough time, so I find it important in my work to make sure I am covering many different aspects of saxophone playing while practising a particular exercise. For example when practising scales I will also try to work on rhythm, articulation and sound at the same time. When working through a particular set of scales I try to work on different rhythmic ideas and patterns as well as making sure I am producing a good sound in all registers. If I am practising or trying to memorize a particular piece, I try to incorporate the scales and patterns I have been working on. Sometimes I practise long tones using the chord changes as a basis.
There are many different ways of working like this but basically I always try to have a main focus, be it rhythm, melody, sound or articulation, while at the same time trying to be aware of the other areas I can be working on.

reisio

You get to a certain point and you don't have to "practice" anymore, just regular playing takes care of it.