Learn to easily improvise through any chord changes with this FREE masterclass: ►www.davepollack.com/freemasterclass
@ProvenGroove
Жыл бұрын
My favorite is stop being a hater (goes along with not comparing). My addition - find a way to connect with others thru music - I'll remember someone if they're talented but even more if they're funny, nice or humble.
@Rockplayer01
Жыл бұрын
Great video Dave, the point that means the most to me is probably “quit comparing myself to others”, it’s really a huge waste of energy, the day I decided to just step back and play for the enjoyment of playing was the best day of my musical journey thus far.
@DavePollack
Жыл бұрын
I'm so glad to hear that!
@evanmisejka4062
Жыл бұрын
#3 is very important for trumpet players as well. For example, if you keep switching mouthpieces for "easier high notes" it is going to be much harder to be better musically. It's best to stick to what works until you are absolutely sure something else works without damaging something.
@DavePollack
Жыл бұрын
I love that!
@evanmisejka4062
Жыл бұрын
@@DavePollack I'll be honest that I've learned some things the excruciatingly hard way, but I've had amazing mentors guide me to where I am now and I am happy with where I am now. If there was a #6 I'd say utilize private lessons if you can afford them.
@RevEdAyers
Жыл бұрын
WOW! Of the gazillion sax “instruction” vids out there - good, bad & “are you serious?” - this is outstanding. Encouraging, positive, respectful, mature, sane, & spot on. I wish I had heard this 70 years ago when I started playing sax. Thanks very much!
@DavePollack
Жыл бұрын
Thank you SO much for those kind words! 🙏
@rhowebassoon
Жыл бұрын
Really well said Dave, especially number 5! Too many Haters out there vibing and being JIV positive
@AaronTMartin
Жыл бұрын
Great video, Dave...thank you! Regarding number 3, so true! Three years ago when I got back into playing after a 16-yr break, I wasted thousands of dollars on gear and countless hours of potential practice time on "researching" said gear. Ugh. However, lesson learned. I've since settled on a setup and I am sticking to it, 100 per cent. Regarding other potential items for the "stop" list, I would add, "Stop thinking you need to practice X minutes/hours per day in order to really improve." If you're focused, methodical, organized, and consistent, productivity soars and you can accomplish much more in a shorter time. I get more done in a 40-minute session now than I did in 2+ hours as a music student more than two decades ago. Thanks again!
@DavePollack
Жыл бұрын
Absolutely! Focused practicing is key - NOT just the total amount of time. So many people waste time when "practicing" and just like to say how long they "practiced" for.
@DomPalombiMusic
Жыл бұрын
PREACH THE TRUTH BRAH!!! This stuff is so easy to get caught up in, which blocks us from actually doing the things that's important, and just. make. music!!!
@DavePollack
Жыл бұрын
Yes sir!! 100%
@DionteGeorgeMusic
Жыл бұрын
Dope video as usual. If I had to add one that kinda falls in line with the 4th advice is listen to music outside of the genres you study/normally listen to.
@DavePollack
Жыл бұрын
YES 100%!!! Absolutely agree - we are the combination of what we listen to, so branching outside the “same old” genres is incredibly important.
@omarortiz5487
Жыл бұрын
Great advice man! I think for me when I started in music school there was a lot of comparisons between the students from one teacher and the students from other teachers. A lot of envy, and a lot of this plays better than you or I play better etc. so there was always this dynamic where it was kind of toxic in certain way, but when I got to college the environment was so different. I think it was at that moment where I stopped comparing myself with others and like you said is good to have some sort of a benchmark but every musician is in their own journey. Again great advice, much respect!
@ivrz
Жыл бұрын
Don't compare. Ur sound can change. GAS. Listen to everything. B kind. Thanks
@JanvanKnip
Жыл бұрын
Great video, especially #4. As a saxophone player (amateur), I do not listen only to saxophone players (although I didn't do that consciously with the aim of my saxophone playing) but here are some of the other instrumentalists and vocalists I like listening to: Miles Davis, Chet Baker, Bill Evans, Billie Holiday, Cesaria Evora, Lady Blackbird, Maria Callas, Toots Thielemans, Astrud Gilberto, Ana Moura, Amalia Rodrigues and so on (the list is endless, of course)
@bluessax5089
Жыл бұрын
Totally agree, how many times did John Coltrane change his sound? Sonny Rollins? Joshua Redman? I must’ve change the foundation of my sound concept three or four times. It is our journey and no one else’s.
@DavePollack
Жыл бұрын
Absolutely!
@crazychessy6499
Жыл бұрын
Thank you for this, I feel less alone. Although, there's one thing that's always on my mind. I just got out of school and wanted to develop my contact list for gigs and to know other musicians in my area, and the thing we always say to me is : ''Go jam in a bar. The more the better.'' So I did, a couple of times ! I did have more contacts, but the problem is that I get SO STRESS OUT... I get super nervous just thinking about going on a jam, I have so much bad thoughs like ''I didn't practice anything new since last time'', ''There's so much people I don't have my place there'', etc. I always feel like someone's judging me because there are ''jazz rules'' that everyone's expected to know, and since I don't always know or understand those signs, I'm always anxious that I'm doing something ''wrong''. Is it okay to be reserved as a musician and not go out in bars ? Can I still make it without going out ? Is this the only way ? Thanks to everyone who read me !
@thepianokid27
Жыл бұрын
Love this :) Get the ego out of the way, and also the inferiority complex, then we will be able to truly be set free through music :)
@DavePollack
Жыл бұрын
Yes!!
@robstevens9590
Жыл бұрын
I really like your list! (4) I like to listen to musicians who are not saxophonists, but not nearly as much as I should. (3) It is always a temptation to change gear, but I have the "good fortune" of not being able (financially) 😊 to change as often as I think it would make an improvement.
@DavePollack
Жыл бұрын
Thanks!
@capsaxcat
Жыл бұрын
Dave, I agree with all five. #3 brings up a specific "gear" issue. Not horn, not mouthpiece, not reeds, but NECK. Necks all over the place - all saying they're going to transport my playing to the next dimension. Many say it's the most important element of your sound production chain...more than mtpc, reed, or horn. And, of course, you got bronze, silver, platinum, etc. Is this a lot of marketing ballyhoo?
@DavePollack
Жыл бұрын
While the neck does make a pretty decent impact on sound, I think the mouthpiece/reed combo matters more. I once again would focus on just a standard "middle of the road" setup that is comfortable, then adjust from there.
@emmarawiczsax
Жыл бұрын
You are the best!
@DavePollack
Жыл бұрын
Thanks so much! 🙏
@ilachow
Жыл бұрын
Great advice! Thank you.
@DavePollack
Жыл бұрын
You're welcome!
@divotcollector
Жыл бұрын
Yes! bonus is that these things require so little effort!
@DavePollack
Жыл бұрын
100%!!
@AMARMusicSax
Жыл бұрын
Well said! Really needed this right now. Thank you!
@DavePollack
Жыл бұрын
You’re very welcome! Glad you dig it 🙏
@BrianBurgess-jg6bs
Жыл бұрын
Superb content Dave; very much appreciated cheers
@DavePollack
Жыл бұрын
Thanks so much!
@renatogoyzuetasaenz
Жыл бұрын
All the points . I Say yes !!! Thanks!!!
@DavePollack
Жыл бұрын
You're welcome!
@neilmartinsaxophone
Жыл бұрын
Love this video Dave! Going off of the listening to musicians on other instruments part, do you listen to any other genres of music that help with your improvisation?
@DavePollack
Жыл бұрын
Oh absolutely. I could/should have included that - listening to other genres is a GREAT way to expand your musical knowledge and ability. I love listening to various styles of music, and it definitely influences how I play.
@animefury22
Жыл бұрын
I really had a problem with #1 when I was younger and more competitive (I only play casually now in a community band) back in High School. I wasn't the best technically so I had an inferiority complex with the top players. As I mainly play clarinet ( I am learning trumpet for fun and used to play saxophone a little in High School) my interest in jazz was kind of frowned upon by a lot of people (I wasn't allowed to join the jazz band unless I played sax and would have to compete against the sax mains) and the other clarinets thought I was weird figuring out how to do techniques not used in classical music (especially vibrato). I still get weird looks from other clarinetists when noodling for fun to this day 😅 I kind of always did #4 though. Since clarinets are not used too often in modern jazz (from what I was told and can observe) I often listen to trumpeters or saxophonists when listening to jazz. Interestingly enough in High School after giving up joining the jazz band I fell in love with Power Metal (especially fast and melodic bands) so I had a lot of exposure to guitar solos and vocalists from there. I used to have a problem with #3 when I was still in Intermediate/High School. Once I found my (completely unordinary) current set up I stopped playing around with equipment and liked my sound (only changing my ligature after trying my section leader's one which was a HUGE improvement) on clarinet. Definitely great tips! If I stopped comparing myself to others I might have gotten better than where I am now (having clinical depression issues and always comparing to people better than you isn't good for improving) as I pretty much stopped improving by the end of High School due to always feeling inadequate to the few others better than me in my section.
@larry4589
Жыл бұрын
well said thanks!
@DavePollack
Жыл бұрын
You’re welcome!
@etowahjazz
Жыл бұрын
Bingo!!! and try to always play with people better than you are!!!
@DavePollack
Жыл бұрын
That's a great one! "If you're the smartest person in the room, you're in the wrong room." Applies to music as well!
@ChefBlurry
Жыл бұрын
I'm not so sure about the hating one. Sometimes Hating something is the most loving thing you can do. Letting people know when they aren't getting it is very valuable especially if you are sure you know better. There's a video of Branford Marsalis in a session one of his brothers was leading. Branford refused to play what his brother asked him because Branford thought it was whack. He was very blunt. It sounded incredibly harsh. He made it clear he hated the idea, but in the end Branford probably knew what was better for the recording, and his actions led to better music.
@javierquesada798
Жыл бұрын
I only do that as a test but I never compare myself
@patrickthames8853
Жыл бұрын
#1,#1, #1,#1 Say it louder for those in the back! I appreciate all of your points but #1 spoke volumes to me!
@DavePollack
Жыл бұрын
🙏🙏
@shawnmones8823
Жыл бұрын
is it worth spending the extra money to buy the bettersax alto over a jean paul as-400?
@DavePollack
Жыл бұрын
I say yes - the bettersax is just a better (no pun intended) horn in every way
@stewartwforbes
Жыл бұрын
So much common sense here !
@DavePollack
Жыл бұрын
I appreciate that!
@djmileski
Жыл бұрын
Word. I play the acoustic guitar and only transcribe horns lol
@DavePollack
Жыл бұрын
Awesome!
@bassax7045
Жыл бұрын
Amen ! although youre cheating point 4 since all instruments are YOUR instrument ,even some non existent future created ones 🙃
@DavePollack
Жыл бұрын
😂 🙏
@c.l.4895
Жыл бұрын
I seriously thought #1 would be “stop spending so much time on KZitem/SM and practice”, and then you stop the rest of the video.
@DavePollack
Жыл бұрын
I really missed an opportunity here...
@brendanmorales4504
Жыл бұрын
To ALL musicians: stop telling yourself that you suck.
@noahtruth6554
Жыл бұрын
I am a hater. I hate that I can't play as well as players that are being hated. I would be elated if I gain enough talent to attract listeners that followed just to exercise their hate. Haters can make you better as they get worse. lol!
@DavePollack
Жыл бұрын
😂
@bluessax5089
Жыл бұрын
I sold someone a “Chad LB” model mouthpiece. He wanted a refund because he said he didn’t sound like @chadlb! 😂🤣😂
Пікірлер: 68