So you’re a talented saxophone player who’s not quite making ends meet… No, this isn’t the beginning of a cheesy commercial, please hear me out. :) Today I’m going to share with you an alternative way to make a living as a saxophonist. As the post goes on I’ll show you the kind of money [read more…]
Introduction As we come out of the first year of a historic global pandemic, I am glad to say that many musicians have adjusted and come out with creative ways to release and promote their existing and new music, as well as simply survive. One such musician is renowned saxophonist, Tim Garland. I am very [read more…]
There seems to a be a common idea that improvising in odd time signatures is hard. When I come across a new time signature, I remind myself that it isn’t difficult – it’s unfamiliar. If you think 4/4 is easy, that’s likely because you’ve spent significantly more time playing songs in four, making it familiar [read more…]
Introduction If you’re looking for another smokin’ alto player to add to your list of people to check out, Nick Biello is your guy. Besides being as a top-notch alto player, Nick can also be seen playing bari, tenor, and soprano in various groups. I first saw videos of Nick playing alto saxophone when I [read more…]
Introduction The following article is a mini-lesson that incorporates an etude from Little Leaps and Sounds, which is my latest book geared towards the intermediate level and includes etudes written over twelve common jazz standards. After releasing Volume 1-3 of Leaps and Sounds between 2018-2020, I saw there might be a need for etudes written with [read more…]
Introduction I strongly believe that transcription is the key to learning jazz improvisation. This certainly was the case for me and for the numerous jazz musicians that I have performed with over the years. I do not believe that I have met a great improviser that claimed to have never transcribed. For me, a light [read more…]
How can you improve the essential elements of your improvisation? Follow the advice in Sy Oliver & Trummy Young’s song: “It Ain’t What You Do (It’s the Way That You Do It).” Great soloists play interestingly and confidently. As listeners, we perceive that as charisma. In jazz education, there’s a lot of focus on what [read more…]
Lately I’ve been asked by other saxophonists how I am able to play notes below the normal range of the saxophone, which, as just about anyone reading this would know, is the low Bb, below the staff – especially since there don’t seem to be any keys on the instrument which would appear able to [read more…]
The saxophone can be a very rewarding instrument to learn how to play. You’ll be able to use it in dozens of genres from jazz and blues to pop and rock. However, picking your first saxophone can be very intimidating. You want to make sure that you get something that will be able to last [read more…]
Introduction As many people know, becoming a full-time musician, is no easy feat (with or without a global pandemic). It has become increasingly difficult for even somewhat-established artists to maintain a steady stream of income due to fewer jazz clubs and heightened competition from other musicians vying for a smaller pool of gigs. Although jazz [read more…]
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