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Popular Music Does it seem like there’s always way too much to practice?
Practicing Sponsored
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Everywhere you look there’s an exciting new concept to work on that
Reeds will make your next solo awesome if you can just master it. Not to
Resources mention all the half-finished things that you keep meaning to come
back to but somehow never do.
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Overviews
If you have a nagging feeling that you’re missing something, but you
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can’t quite put your finger on what it is, then read on. We’re going to
Saxophone Parts look at how to move towards a better way of doing things.
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Tone Production
For most musicians, whatever level you’re at, the key to rapid progress
Transcriptions is to get out there and make some sort of music in the real world
Video NOW.
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Yes, you need some other elements in there too. It should make up
part of a learning cycle that includes reflection and practice as well.
But the trap that I see most musicians fall into is that they get suck in
the practice room far too much. It’s a totally natural and
understandable habit to fall into. But it’s not helpful.
Even though it feels like so many other musicians are way ahead of
you.
It might feel as though the practice room is your ticket to reaching that
level where you’re finally satisfied with your performance. Actually,
spending too much of your playing time there could be what’s holding
you back.
It’s easy to lose sight of the big picture in the practice room
Pulling phrases and concepts apart and focusing on the detail has
some huge advantages, but it can also distort your thinking. When you
spend a stretch of time entirely in a practice mindset then this starts to
shape your perception of things.
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Getting out and playing in the real world gives you immediate
feedback on what’s working well enough. It brings into focus which are
the really important things and what’s just nice to have.
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RECENT COMMENTS
It also gets you playing with and listening to other musicians – a great
Larry Weintraub on How Did “Licks” Become a Four
way to develop your language and interaction skills. This can also be an Letter Word?
invaluable source of inspiration and motivation.
Jamie Dech on The Reason “Licks” Became a Four Letter
Word
In short, when you base yourself mainly in the practice room, you don’t
Jamie Dech on How Did “Licks” Become a Four Letter
get the right feedback and you don’t get it frequently enough. It’s hard
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to get a clear view of which are the top priorities which will REALLY
improve your playing if you work on them. Eddy Bourjolly on A Killer 12-Key Workout Using
Coltrane’s “Countdown” Transcription
The musicians who make the fastest progress do so not because they Martin on Is it Worth Buying a “Pro” Model Saxophone?
work harder than everyone else, but because they’re laser-focused on – Part I
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Sponsored
If you’re like most people, then you can accept the theory behind
putting yourself out there when you don’t feel ready, but you still find
it daunting in practice. Here are a few quick tweaks you can make to
your mindset that should make it a bit more approachable and
enjoyable.
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It’s easy to think that there’s some level you’ve got to reach before
you’re ready. But the truth is that there’s always further to go.
If you don’t feel ready yet then you’re in good company – no serious
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musician ever gets to the point where they feel they’ve finished. For
example, Stan Getz is reported to have said on his fiftieth birthday, “I
think I’m finally learning how to play the saxophone.”
In fact, the more you learn and the more progress you make, the more
possibilities for further progress open up in front of you. See this desire
to keep reaching higher levels as proof of your dedication to achieving
musical excellence, but don’t let it stop you performing.
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Put the need to be “ready” when you perform to one side, and view
getting out there and playing as an essential part of the journey
instead.
It’s easy to be up there on stage, feel that you’re not playing well, and
think that’s all there is to it.
But did you know that your own judgement is extremely unreliable in
that situation?
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It takes a huge amount of your brain power to play music. The physical
movements required to play the saxophone are complex enough, but
then you have to add in more. The need to keep making these
movements in the right order and at the correct tempo. To sync up
with the other musicians. To remember or sight-read the music itself.
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It turns out there simply isn’t enough bandwidth left over in your brain
to listen properly to what you’re playing at the same time.
It feels like you get an accurate picture of what’s going on but that’s not
the case at all. If you’ve ever listened back to a recording of a
performance later and discovered that it was actually much better (or
worse) than you remembered, then you’ll know what I mean.
Although this can go either way, it tends to leave you feeling that
things are worse than they really are. We’re programmed to notice bad
things more than we notice good ones. And you forget that the
listeners will be hearing your playing with fresh ears. You may think
you’re being uncreative and uninspired because you’re repeating the
same ideas that you always play, but it sounds new to them.
You don’t give yourself enough credit for what you can
already do
It’s very easy to forget the long hours that went into acquiring all the
skills that you now take for granted.
Your brain tends to make judgements by looking for the first example
to hand and then assuming that this is a good overview.
In the case of musical skills, the first example that your brain finds is
almost always how it feels to do then skill now.
This means you rate skills that you can already do as much easier than
they really are. You forget the hard work that went into developing
them and just notice that they feel easy and natural now.
And you also rate skills that you CAN’T do yet as harder than they
really are. You just notice that they feel difficult and unnatural now and
ignore the fact that they would feel easy to you if you’d practiced them
enough.
And that musicians who you think are on a higher level will rate their
own abilities lower than you do.
Moving forward
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I know it can feel difficult and uncomfortable to put yourself out there
before you feel ready.
The great musicians got to such a high level, though, precisely because
they were willing to take the uncomfortable steps. To do the things
that others don’t want to.
If you can drop the comfort blanket of always wanting to get things
perfect in practice. Of learning just one more thing before you’re ready
to put yourself out there. Then you put yourself in a position to get the
vital feedback that can catapult your playing forwards.
And the more you do this, the easier it gets to do those uncomfortable
things. And as you see the results you’ll find it easier to resist the need
to practice every enticing new exercise.
You can just get out there and play music instead.
Are you out there playing music as often as you should be? Is
there something holding you back from doing this? Let me
know in the comments below.
Your mindset and mental skills are some of the key aspects which
determine how well you play. But, if you’re like most musicians,
then you’re way behind in this area compared to where you are with
technique and theory.
What we’ve covered here gives you a place to start, but it only really
scratches the surface. Explore the articles at
https://playinthezone.com to find exercises that will take you
further. There’s even more material and guidance available if you
sign up for the free email lessons.And if you really want to go deep,
then I’ve got a course launching shortly that guides you through my
complete system. Find out more at
https://playinthezone.com/unlock-your-performance/ (and make
sure you sign up to be notified when it goes live so that you don’t
miss out on your chance to grab the limited-time launch bonuses).
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INCLUDED WITH SIGNUP: FREE 3-part audio master class series with
Bob Sheppard, Tim Price & Ricky Sweum
Mark Morley-Fletcher
I’m a jazz guitarist and educator who specializes in training the
mental skills that produce outstanding, enjoyable performances.
When I’m not on the tennis court honing my ability to raise my
game under pressure, or out exploring the beautiful Scottish
countryside, I help musicians tame performance anxiety and play
to their full potential when it counts. I believe that your hard work in the practice room
deserves to lead to consistently great performances – visit https://playinthezone.com
to discover all the resources that I’ve put together to help you.
→ Mark Morley-Fletcher
« How to Turn Four Notes Into Using Bigger Intervals for Better »
Nearly Infinite Musical Solos
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13 Comments
REPLY
Anne
AUGUST 9, 2018 @ 1:11 PM
Thanks, this is very timely for me. I’m playing at a Jazz and Blues
festival tonight, with a song I learned last night. Just going to get out
there. I am learning not to be such a harsh critic of myself by taking on
board audience appreciation.
REPLY
Mark Morley-Fletcher
AUGUST 9, 2018 @ 2:28 PM
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and playing.
REPLY
Hans
AUGUST 10, 2018 @ 9:08 AM
That’s a great read Mark. It’s exactly what I did. Started learning the sax
at 61. Three years of lessons then threw myslelf into the deep end.
Started going to all the jams I could, l played in a Blues band for 12
months in my 5th year doing regular gigs and have not looked back.
Best thing I ever did. Is just get out there and do it. It tasught me so
much and now I am comfortable sitting in with any band. Playing with
other musicians in a band eviormrnt with an audience has been
invaluable and made me a better musician.
REPLY
Mark Morley-Fletcher
AUGUST 10, 2018 @ 12:53 PM
REPLY
George H White III
SEPTEMBER 1, 2018 @ 6:28 PM
REPLY
Mark Morley-Fletcher
SEPTEMBER 2, 2018 @ 10:39 AM
Hi George,
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REPLY
David
SEPTEMBER 1, 2018 @ 6:53 PM
REPLY
Norman Walsh
SEPTEMBER 1, 2018 @ 7:32 PM
REPLY
Mark Morley-Fletcher
SEPTEMBER 2, 2018 @ 10:42 AM
REPLY
David
SEPTEMBER 1, 2018 @ 8:42 PM
REPLY
Don
SEPTEMBER 2, 2018 @ 9:48 AM
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Why you should stop practising now (and what to do instead) » Best. Saxophone. Website. Ever. 4/7/19, 8)06 PM
will get me off the dime and out of the basement. Thanks.
REPLY
Gene
OCTOBER 24, 2018 @ 1:14 PM
Mark
I feel like you wrote this article for me. I think i have learned more from
my Thursday night jams than I have from the hours of practice. And
every time I get up in from of an audience, out of my comfort zone, I
gain a little more confidence.
Cheers
REPLY
Mark Morley-Fletcher
OCTOBER 25, 2018 @ 2:56 PM
Glad you liked it, Gene. Yes, it’s amazing what you can
learn from playing live that just doesn’t come up in the
practice room. And great attitude about consistently
getting a little bit out of your comfort zone – that’s how
you grow!
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