How, and what, to practice

So, you've been eagerly anticipating getting home all day to spend some quality time with your beautiful, shiny saxophone. You've got an hour ahead of you, and you're determined to elevate your game, enhance your skills with this gorgeous instrument, and have some fun. But now that you have the saxophone in your hands, what exactly should you practice to make the most of your time and effort? Sometimes, having so many options for what to practice can be overwhelming or confusing.

Having a clear strategy or plan for how to best utilize your time will help you develop more rapidly than if you just "wing it" for the whole hour. This blog will provide you with some good ideas on how to make the most of your precious practice time.

The phrase "divide and conquer" comes up often in my lessons. It's an exceptionally effective strategy for learning just about anything, including structuring a practice session. If you divide your practice into three sessions of 20 minutes each, this will give you the opportunity to focus on different areas of growth and strike the right balance between challenging yourself and enjoying the process.

Here's a plan designed to ensure significant growth in your saxophone abilities, regardless of your current skill level.

First 20 minutes: warm-up & scales

The initial step is to warm up the saxophone and moisten the reed to produce the best sound possible. This can be accomplished in various ways, but it primarily involves blowing long notes. I recommend starting with a mid-range note like "G" without the octave key and sustaining it for as long as possible. Variations on this warm-up include blowing long notes above and/or below "G" or modulating the volume from quiet to loud and back down. Experiment with these ideas during your warm-up, which should last three to four minutes.

Next, here are some ideas for how to spend your three sessions of 20 minutes once you've warmed up. You can tackle these in any order; these are just three suggestions, though there are countless things you could practice. I've selected these because, from many years of experience, I know they're virtually guaranteed to foster growth.

Scales serve as the solid foundation upon which all music is built. It's essential to continually develop your ability to understand and play them fluently. Whether you're at the beginning of your saxophone journey or have been playing for years, dedicated saxophonists recognise the immense growth potential in becoming as familiar as possible with scales. Major scales, in particular, are crucial. Here are some key questions to ask yourself:

• Do I know all my major scales? If not, focus on the ones you don't know.
• Can I play them without looking at sheet music? If not, work on internalising them.
• Do I know the chord tones of the scale? Can I reliably hit those notes?
• Can I improvise using one or more major scales?

Once you're comfortable with major scales, you can explore minor scales, Dorian minors, harmonic and melodic minors, and more. Start with majors and minors, then progress to other scales based on their usefulness and relevance to your repertoire.

Second 20 minutes: tunes

Ultimately, the saxophone is an instrument for playing tunes. It's essential to spend time working on tunes, divided into different categories. Include well-known tunes that people will instantly recognise and enjoy hearing, such as "Summertime" or "Over the Rainbow." These tunes not only sound cool but also garner positive feedback and support, crucial for your development and motivation. Additionally, work on more challenging tunes and those required for specific musical engagements.

Developing a repertoire of tunes that you know well is crucial. Here are some questions to consider:

• How well do I know the tunes I'm working on? Can I play them by heart?
• Do I understand the chord structure and harmony underlying these tunes?
• How many tunes are in my current repertoire? Keep learning and expanding your tune database.

Third 20 minutes: improvisation

Many aspire to pick up the saxophone and play along with a band or backing track, expressing themselves freely through improvisation. Developing improvisation skills is invaluable for any musician and worth dedicating a third of your practice time to. Improvisation primarily involves creating musical phrases using major and minor scales, mixing notes, and hitting chord tones. Start with minor pentatonic scales, which are easy to learn and make improvisation accessible. Here are some points to remember:

• Improvisation is a skill that can be developed through practice; it's not magic.
• Every note played during improvisation should have a purpose and contribute to the overall musical expression.
• Contrary to some beliefs, improvisation can be taught and learned through dedicated practice.

In summary

Music offers infinite possibilities, and it's unlikely that we'll ever know everything there is to learn. Approach music like a language—start with the basics and build your skills gradually. Regardless of where you are in your saxophone journey, there's always room for growth. Take one thing at a time, focus on it, and over time, you'll be amazed at how your musical skills develop.

And remember: Divide and conquer!

Lynden