Activity – Learning Saxophone

Location – Westgate, school

I decided to learn the saxophone over the previous summer. The reason for this was the music I was listening to. I was listening to Dave Matthews Band, and the saxophonist, in every song, was making such amazing sounds. The music was just so good that it enticed me into wanting to play the saxophone. I take lessons once a week for 30 minute. Usually I feel an improvement every lesson. However, there was one time frame for about four weeks when there was an inability to maintain lessons. One week the instructor was sick, one week I was sick, and the other two weeks I was on school trips. During this time I declined in my abilities.

            Throughout my time learning saxophone I have greatly increased my ability. I went from having no ability at all in any aspects to taking steps towards becoming an intermediate player. I can now read music (however slowly and only with about 75% accuracy, and 50% accuracy when trying to playing along with the notes, I need to read the note and then play it), I can play a number of beginner level pieces, I have become more able to control my breathing while playing, thus giving smoother notes. However, due to the four-week time without being able to take lessons (and minimal practice as home due to school work) there was a decline in my new abilities. However, with practice and regular lessons it will be very possible for me regain and improve on my new abilities.

            In order to stay committed to my new instrument I practice at home, I don’t have a set time frame for personal practice. Due to school and other extracurricular activities I just practice when I can. This is part of the ethical considerations of learning a new instrument. Personal practice, personal engagement and interest are mandatory to succeed at learning anything. I feel like I could have more personal engagement however, time is limited and it is more likely that during a free time span, very likely over the summer, I will practice much more and therefore increase my abilities by more than I have throughout the year. I believe it is all about experience, I love to learn by trial and error, make a mistake try again, keep going till I get it. This requires time, and lots of free time will mean that I can practice more and take a firmer hold of the musical concepts than I already have. I hope to improve to a solid intermediate level by the end of my IB program.