Start working on a goal today, and take action. This goal should be short term, something you can work on over a week or two.
Could be something like learning the three major scales, hitting your first three notes of altissimo consistently, transcribing a tune or solo. Depends on your level of playing. Someone who has been playing for a month probably will have a different goal than someone who has played for ten years.
Here are some steps that can help you get things done:
Step 1: Name your goal.
Step 2: List what you’ll do. One thing
Step 3: List how you intend to do it.
Step 4: List how much time you’ll spend on it daily and multiply that by 7 days
Step 5: What resources you have/ What help or information you need.
Step 6: Start date/finish date.
First thing, copy and paste the six steps above into your comment then fill out what you want to accomplish. I’ll create a page for you within Saxophone Tribe and post a link to it on this page. Don’t be afraid, everyone will help you with what you want to do.
Post an update daily on your progress. Everyone is here to support you with it. We’re here to help and encourage you. Think of this as accountability. Deadlines will help you focus on what you want to get done and get there.
In your daily posts you can have:
1) What I did today to work toward the goal
2) What I learned today as a result of doing it
3) My thoughts (on the above)
Bruce says
Step 1: Name your goal: Memorize Autumn Leaves, melody and chord changes
Step 2: List what you’ll do. One thing: practice both every practice session
Step 3: List how you intend to do it.: work in chunks with iReal pro on a loop at progressive tempos
Step 4: List how much time you’ll spend on it daily and multiply that by 7 days: 140 minutes
Step 5: What resources you have/ What help or information you need.: the primary resource is iReal Pro
Step 6: Start date/finish date. I’ve already started on the melody – would like to complete this in one month.
Neal says
Cool Bruce. Be especially aware of the timing.
Asha says
Step 1: Name your goal. I want to really understand chords;what it is, when a chord changes, how to change with it.
Step 2: List what you’ll do. One thing. Study definition of chords.
Step 3: List how you intend to do it. Listen to different chords, changes of chords. Play different chords and changes.
Step 4: List how much time you’ll spend on it daily and multiply that by 7 days. 30 min. a day or 3 1/2 hours.
Step 5: What resources you have/ What help or information you need. Music books and internet.
Step 6: Start date/finish date. 4/13 – 4-27, 2013
Neal says
Hey Asha,
To understand changes, you want to know the major scales, all of them.
Most chords you see are built from the major scales. And when I say major scales, I mean including the modes of the major scales.
How many of the major scales can you play comfortably right now?
Samuel Golden says
Step 1: Name your goal.
Learning ST James I. Satin Doll, and dabbing at Giant Steps.
Step 2: List what you’ll do. One thing
Intending apply Transcribe program aiding in Lindeman and other notes. also, metronome use, aiding in time association.
Step 3: List how you intend to do it.
Familiarize with transcribe program and songs with sheet music as well as by ear on occasion.
Step 4: List how much time you’ll spend on it daily and multiply that by 7 days
45 -60 minutes per day 7days.
Hopefully for one 2 hour session with new communication devise.
Step 5: What resources you have/ What help or information you need.
Upon use of song books, transcribe program, and laptop PC, and commination.
Step 6: Start date/finish date.
3/24—-4/4—–13
Neal says
Hey Sam,
Cool, I figure you have seen the critique of the Satin Doll first measure?
The transcribe program can be very useful, not only in slowing down, but also in looping. To loop you select an area and then play it, when it gets to the end it will automatically go back to the start of the section.
What’s commination? I thought you said domination at first, which I liked.
-Neal
KT says
Step 1: Name your goal.
ADD THE D ABOVE the Staff to notes that I can finger.
Step 2: List what you’ll do. One thing-
Finger that not without playing for a few minutes at start of each practice
Step 3: List how you intend to do it-
work on fingering in isolation then in scale
Step 4: List how much time you’ll spend on it daily and multiply that by 7 days- 10 minutes a day x 7 days = 70 mins next week.
Step 5: What resources you have/ What help or information you need-
scales and fingering chart/need to pay the note smoothly by 7th day…will record and playback
Step 6: Start date/finish date
Mon 3/25 – Tues 4/2 (day off for dental work adds a day).
Vijai Anand says
Step 1: Name your goal.
Practising Major scales – So far done C, F, Eb, G & D. so perfect this and learn 3 more(A, E & B)
Get the fingering better
Make St James & Careless whisper better
Learn intervals and more theory
Step 2: List what you’ll do. One thing
Follow the below suggestion
10 minutes on Lindeman(from step 5-7 & 8-12)
15 minutes on scales (the above list)
15 minutes on long tones & listen to ballads
20 minutes on songs you want to learn, focusing on the challenging parts
Careless whisper, St James
Step 3: List how you intend to do it.
Based on the list in above Step2
Step 4: List how much time you’ll spend on it daily and multiply that by 7 days
7 hours (an hour/day after work in the evening)
Step 5: What resources you have/ What help or information you need.
Follow your suggestion, which is listed in step2 and use information from saxophone Tribe
Step 6: Start date/finish date.
18-02-13/25-02-13
Neal says
Hey Vijai,
How is this going? And how have you approached working on intervals?
Gil Ross says
Thanks Neal
Gil Ross says
Hi Neal, I’m using a Meyer G mouthpiece, non
metal, spoke with neighbors will b able to practice
early afternoons, will b able to play louder now,
no problem, U want me to play ST James Imfirmary
When was that posted do I can play it again.
Neal says
Hey Gil, cool, yep, wise to be on good terms with the neighbors. It’s on the music page. http://saxophonetribe.com/saxophone-music-to-play/
It wasn’t very visible on the menu right now, I’ll move things around a little bit. Thanks
Gil Ross says
Today Oct 19th, I worked on Cmajor & Bmajor which has 5 sharps and worked on long tones with chromatic notes ended my practice by playing the song Misty several times to also improve my tone. What I learned that you can play with a low soft tone and still accomplish what your trying to do. The reason is I just moved into a Condo and neighbors next door sleep during the day, and have to be considerate of noise, Im still trying to work out the best time to practice, I may purchase a mute to put into my horn, well that about raps it up for today, take care everyone.
Neal says
Hey Gil, cool, keep it up. When you play softly like that, you may be getting a thing called ‘subtone’ which can be good, but isn’t what you want to do all the time. Using a metal mouthpiece or one that’s very open is going to make it hard to play softly too. What are you using right now for a mouthpiece?
Gil Ross says
Step 4. How much time to spend on=approx 1 hour day, broken down of 50 min on scales and 10 min on long tones’
Step 5. What rescources or Info or Help. Have downloaded Neal’s 12 scales to practice on.
Step 6. Start/Finish Date: Oct 19th to Oct 25th
Neal says
Hey Gil,
It’s good to know the scales, how long is your total practice session going to be in a day though? And are you playing music too?
Gil Ross says
Step 1. Name your goal= Memorize and learn all 12 major scales, plus improving my tone with long tones besides doing the scales.
Step 2. List what you’ll do=I will learn 2 scales per day and 1 on the 6th day and 1 on the 7th, plus incorporate some time for improving tone, with long tone session.
3.List how you itend to do it=by breaking it down by 50 min for scales and 10 min on long tones.
Ermel says
I am all over the place with practicing, but I really need to overhaul my alto, the Buescher Aristocrat 140.
I live in NJ, any advise?
Neal says
Hey Mel,
I’ve only been to NJ once, might be a good thing to check on Sax on the Web, they probably have some people familiar with repair people in the area. I know of Emilio in Boston, who’s one of the best, but that could be a little far.
I took my Buescher tenor (from 1924) in a few times to get small adjustments made. That will make playing go a lot better to not have to worry about these things. Have you gotten repairs done before on a sax?
KT says
Step 1: Name your goal= learn a new song, even if at slower tempo
Step 2: List what you’ll do. One thing= play that week’s song several times each day
Step 3: List how you intend to do it= divide practice into thirds…fingering, song, scales, song, a song I have learned, new song again.
Step 4: List how much time you’ll spend on it daily and multiply that by 7 days= 1hr total…10 to 15 on song
Step 5: What resources you have/ What help or information you need= music for a song a week
Step 6: Start date/finish date= Oct 20 to 27/28
Mike Solomon says
Step 1: Name your goal.
-get all major scales with arpeggios down, beat my fly-away finger syndrome and learn my solo for first submission
Step 2: List what you’ll do. No more than 2-3 things.
– Practice scales, arpeggios and 25 exercises daily, use Lindeman exercises and practice trying to keep fingers near keys and practice my solo slowly up to speed
Step 3: List how you intend to do it.
– 2 practice session per day minimum as time permits
Step 4: List how much time you’ll spend on it daily and multiply that by 30 days
2hr/day * 30 days = 60 hours (minimum)
Step 5: What resources you have/ What help or information you need.
– Have scales and arpeggios from here and ’25 Daily Exercises’ by H. Klose, Lindeman exercises from here and ‘The Opener’ with accompaniment from ‘Electric Jazz Jam Along’
Step 6: Start date/finish date.
8/8/2012 – 9/8/2012
Neal says
Hey Mike,
How is it going with the scales?
I’m modifying this section to make it a shorter time frame, should be easier to keep track of.
Thanks
KT says
Typo…that is improv. If my sax had auto fix like my iPad it would speed things up 🙂
KT says
Step 1: Name your goal.
Fingering with little movement and more control.
Step 2: List what you’ll do. No more than 2-3 things.
Sax tribe fingering page and poster I have.
Step 3: List how you intend to do it.
Play Lind. Chart beginning to end, then repeat problem areas. Extra time on palm keys. Refer to my poster if I happen to forget alternate fingering or newer notes -newer to me: some flats and sharps.
Step 4: List how much time you’ll spend on it daily and multiply that by 30 days
90 mins 4x a week…minimum
Step 5: What resources you have/ What help or information you need.
I find ending with a song using what I just practiced helps fingering, timing, and breath control. Also is encouragement to keep at it. Any song suggestions.
Step 6: Start date/finish date.
Neal says
Classical music can help work on different areas of technique. Something like Minute Waltz really helps with the transition from G#. I can post some classical pieces.
I would suggest working on the Lindeman Exercise itself 5-10 minutes a day. It’s helpful, but not all that exciting. Working on it consistently will show a very clear progression though.
KT says
So right. Lindeman is very helpful and doesn’t take a Lot of time. I usually do altissimo next trying to keep my fingers close and smooth. Then I play short pieces from a beginners book. I end with improve….then watch a video of some sax song or read a section of SaxTribe site.
I am not at my 90 mins anymore…heat wave. I sweat like Louis Armstrong. Have to close doors and windows to play. Apt life.
I am using a finger exerces thing from my guitar playing. My pinkies were letting up too soon and the sound was off.
Neal says
Interesting about the guitar exercise, how does that work?
Michael Sojka says
Step 1: Name your goal.
To be able to play the 12 major scales by memory
Step 2: List what you’ll do. No more than 2-3 things.
Spend a little time each day practicing the scales, focusing not just on the scale but on producing consistent sound. Looking at the notes of the major scales and remembering the note of each.
Step 3: List how you intend to do it.
Post the notes of the scales on my wall next to my other charts and mnemonics for school so that I can see them when I start day dreaming.
Step 4: List how much time you’ll spend on it daily and multiply that by 30 days
I try to practice an hour a day, but usually only get 4 days a week to practice. So it’s more like 20 hours in the month.
Step 5: What resources you have/ What help or information you need.
I have the 12 major scales and their fingerings printed out from the website. I need 26 hours in a day.
Step 6: Start date/finish date.
Started June 20, Finish by July 20
Neal says
Hey Michael,
Good plan to get those down. How many major scales can you play (from memory) right now?
Thanks
-Neal
Michael Sojka says
6 of the 12, C, G, D, A, E, and B. I hope to have the rest down in a week or two. Sometimes I find I have too much time one day to practice and then no time at all for a few days. So each time I start, it feels like I’m having to relearn some things.
Samuel Golden says
Step 1: Name your goal.
continue practicing 12 major scales, learning riffs, and developing an alto sax solo.
Step 2: List what you’ll do. No more than 2-3 things.
1. learn basic tunes and and rhythm
2. practice tempo
Step 3: List how you intend to do it.
1. Develop good long tones , articulation, embouchure, finger control, and posture.
Step 4: List how much time you’ll spend on it daily and multiply that by 30 days
30 minutes per day for 30 days or 900 minutes.
Step 5: What resources you have/ What help or information you need.
Alto Saxophone
Step 6: Start date/finish date.
1. 2/26-7/26
Neal says
Hey Sam,
How is this going?
Samuel Golden says
Step 1: Name your goal. Learning a music piece as in a solo/ Song, ST James Infermary or Misty ect.
Step 2: List what you’ll do. One thing Must spend more time on song as in practice to learn with dead line.
Step 3: List how you intend to do it. Practice extra time over and over as in repetition.
Step 4: List how much time you’ll spend on it daily and multiply that by 7 days Practice 1- 1.5 hours per day by 7 days avg. for 31 days we have 31 – 47 hours or 7- 10 hours per week.
Step 5: What resources you have/ What help or information you need. Only need to stay motivated and practice on time.
Step 6: Start date/finish date. New date 12/1/12 thru 12/8,15,22 and 12/31/12. up- date each week. Sam Golden
Shingi says
Step 1: Name your goal.
Learn and be fluent in all 12 major scales
Step 2: List what you’ll do. No more than 2-3 things.
practice fingering on the instrument with/out sound; listen to demonstration Neal sent, practice on keyboard.
Step 3: List how you intend to do it.
Daily after work or first thing in the morning
Step 4: List how much time you’ll spend on it daily and multiply that by 30 days
1.5×30=45
Step 5: What resources you have/ What help or information you need.
Church hall for loud practice, keyboard; training and eating well
Step 6: Start date/finish date.
17/01/12-17/02/12
Neal says
Cool, sounds like something you can do.
I created a separate page for this:
http://saxophonetribe.com/shingi-learn-and-be-fluent-in-all-12-major-scales/