Forum of the Saxes

JPSaxMan · Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2005 8:57 am Post subject:

Of course ya have to work at it! Laughing

...in the athlete example, even those guys had to work at what they did before they realized it was their knack, but to only keep working more. Does it mean if you have a talent you can slack? Heck no, I have to work every day, but the thing is, if you have that talent, you might get the feeling that the 'work' you're doing really isn't work at all, not the sluggish stuff everyone dreads getting up to do in the morning, but the stuff needed/wanted to go further in your area. You worked hard to get where you are today....no question. But did you feel it soley as work to get to a certain point or did you just fluidly do it, maybe knowing the reward at the end? There is a difference, and one of them is a natural-based answer and the other a force-based answer. The one who answered with the natural-based answer will tend to comprehend music/music theory/playing etc easier than the one who it was forced upon.

This reminds me of my first second tenor (that made sense, right?) in jazz band. He's been doin sax for a full year now, and he thinks he's hott stuff. Wrongo, why is he not? His humility gets in the way and he thinks he's the best of the best. He thinks he is musically inclined just because he does clarinet "well" (which is debatable btw), and can "play" saxophone and now can "play" flute after six months of playing (oh boy Rolling Eyes

). But aside from humility and his case, he stinks. He's a clarinet player by nature. Last summer I decided to take up clarinet. I've been doin it for a full year now. IMO and in the opinion of the band director's, I have a solid understanding if not a higher level of understanding of the clarinet than he might of the saxophone. As a sax player, he lacks breath support which also hurts intonation, his embouchure for saxophone, while it looks good, also hurts his intonation (not enough chops).

But my point was if I have a true musical inclination, I can master musical stuff in no time. My friend who thinks he's good, well, he's still biting the dust. I doubt he has any clue on music theory, chord changes, chords themselves, etc etc. He just thinks he's hot stuff. And I bet he had to WORK at saxophone, with obviously little progress. I had to work at clarinet, and I did find it a little more tenacious than with saxophone because I was new at it, but I did enjoy learning a new instrument.

His talent most likely in some other field, and if it's not, he better get one quick because with his ego, he will never fit in well with other musicians. He was just an example in my case, a well abiding example. If you don't have a musical talent, you may do well, but not as well as one with a musical talent.

Now my friend, I am not saying by any means that you don't have talent, or you stink, so don't come back and say that to me because I just said I didn't... Shocked

. I'm just saying, in general, if you don't have a talent in music, you will only do as good as you are physically and mentally able to do. Some people, believe it or not, cannot train their minds to do certain things because they do not have the will power or their minds are not open enough.

But that's enough for now. I'm sure half of you will need glasses by the time you get done reading all of this Laughing

_________________
JP
Student of Saxophone
Music Education (BME) Major-2011
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

altosax4ever · Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2005 6:12 pm Post subject:

I'm sorry, but didn't you just repeat what I said?
_________________
Music IS Life

(and the saxophone is breathing)

JPSaxMan · Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2005 6:14 pm Post subject:

No, you're saying (to my understanding) that ANYONE can become "great" at saxophone with work. I'm saying that not just anyone can become "great" at saxophone with just work. I've said my mind, but that's what I've interpreted your statements as. Confused

_________________
JP
Student of Saxophone
Music Education (BME) Major-2011
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

altosax4ever · Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2005 7:53 pm Post subject:

So what do you think someone needs to have a talent at to be able to

be 'great'?
_________________
Music IS Life

(and the saxophone is breathing)

JPSaxMan · Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2005 7:57 pm Post subject:

To be "great" (as in like, master the field, become a professional, not just a weekend-warrior or a hobbyist) one must have a talent, yes.
_________________
JP
Student of Saxophone
Music Education (BME) Major-2011
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

Jacob · Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2005 8:01 pm Post subject:

You need to be able to do something that no other player can do, or has done for that matter. You need to take risks in your playing, break out from the norm; become an experimentalist; innovate. Anyone can shed and play Bird licks like the back of their hand and whatnot, but it's another thing to develop a true personal style that can truely speak to how you feel, to the point that you feel a very strong connection to the music and your soul. One thing about the Greats that is so intriguing is that I can tell who the player is by a few notes hands down. Not many players nowadays can live up to that. Most saxophonists nowadays have the same style, same general tone, almost to the point of me being able to anticipate what they're playing.

Basically, digest to the Coleman Hawkins quote: "I don't play like no one, and no one plays like me."

THAT'S how you will stand out from the enormous pool of saxophonists around the world. It takes a lot of risk to be great, and not just "Good" at what you do. It's what separates a professional painter from Vincent Van Gogh.

You can't be shy about it. Treat music like it is the last thing you ever taste.
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Audio clips in link below-
http://www.myspace.com/jacobstickneymusic

altosax4ever · Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2005 9:03 pm Post subject:

None has shown me ONE talent that people have that can't be honed and practiced, whether or not you have a natural talent for the horn. The improvisation and tone requires imagination, so I suppose that narrows the field somewhat, but everyhting else can be practiced.
_________________
Music IS Life

(and the saxophone is breathing)

JPSaxMan · Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2005 10:53 pm Post subject:

I'm sorta sick of goin around in circles, I guess you'll believe whatever you want no matter who tells you what Confused

_________________
JP
Student of Saxophone
Music Education (BME) Major-2011
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

altosax4ever · Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2005 6:38 am Post subject:

Sorry JP, I just can't understand your point of view, I guess we'll agree to disagree on this one, huh?

I apologize if I said anything to offend you,

R
_________________
Music IS Life

(and the saxophone is breathing)

JPSaxMan · Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2005 3:51 pm Post subject:

Yep, we just don't see eye to eye on this one Confused

_________________
JP
Student of Saxophone
Music Education (BME) Major-2011
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

furtherdefinitions

darby dylan · Joined: 30 Jul 2005 Posts: 63

About being good or not doesn't go with pro or with it beign a hobby.
You know what i mean

dylan Darby