Play sax with feeling

From a question to a lesson: Norman’s journey into playing with feeling

Recently one of my clients, Norman, asked me a question that I’ve heard many times before, but which always carries weight: “How do you play with feeling on the saxophone?”

It’s the kind of question that seems almost philosophical.

We’ve all heard people say that a musician “plays with feeling” - but what does that actually mean in practice? What are the nuts and bolts of that? Is it something you’re born with? A special gift? Or is it something you can learn?

When Norman asked me, I started making some notes, determined to break down what it really means to bring emotion and expression into your sound.

What began as a few notes on some paper soon grew into a full lesson - and eventually, this video.

Breaking down the mystery

The truth is, playing with feeling isn’t magic. It’s not reserved for the lucky few who are “naturally expressive.” It’s a combination of knowledge, awareness, and practice.
In the video, I show Norman — and you — how dynamics, articulation, rhythm, tone colour, phrasing, vibrato, and even silence all play a part in shaping the emotional impact of your playing.
Once you understand these elements, you can choose to play with tenderness, excitement, intimacy, or power. It’s about being deliberate.

Why this matters

For Norman, the lightbulb moment was realising that “feeling” wasn’t some unreachable mystery. It was simply a set of tools he could practise. Once he started to apply them, his playing immediately gained depth and personality.
That’s the beautiful part — anyone can do this. With a bit of guidance and some mindful practice, you can transform your sound from mechanical to truly expressive.

The result

The notes I wrote for Norman turned into something bigger: a complete lesson that I’m now sharing with the whole saxophone community.

Alongside the video, I’ve created a free backing track and a free PDF guide so you can work through the same material yourself.

Norman’s question reminded me that sometimes the most important breakthroughs come from the simplest of ideas. “Playing with feeling” isn’t about talent you either have or don’t have. It’s about learning to use the tools at your disposal to make every note mean something.

Anyone can do it. Including you.

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