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| Can You Really Teach or Learn Jazz Improvisation? |
Yes! We already improvise freely with our speaking voice - music is no different. The challenge is to become proficient treating single notes on a musical instrument in exactly the same fashion as we already treat the spoken/sung words of our language. |
| I'm interested making a career out of music but have heard it's often difficult to earn a living from. Are there any tips for progressing down a successful music career path? | Music is one of the very few 'hobbies' that can pay it's own way and lead gently into a promising part-time or full-time career. For a great perspective of a 60 year professional music career, click on the link to hear Jazz Supremo DON BURROWS review his life in music, tracing the early years of Jazz in Sydney, Australia via a 15 minute ABC radio interview. |
| How much time do I need to spend practicing my instrument to become a good player? | Jazz legend CHARLIE PARKER's approach to practicing his instrument included 11-14 hrs practice per day for several years as a teenager! Clearly it depends on what your perception of a 'good player' is - but more is better than less. Click on the link above for a transcript from a 1954 interview with Parker and fellow sax legend, PAUL DESMOND of Dave Brubeck's 'Take Five' fame. |
| With the record charts dominated by pop vocal artists is there still room for instrumentalists to get their music heard? | It's a little known fact that throughout the 1960's trumpeter HERB ALPERT consistently out sold the Beatles in most countries around the globe with his Tijuana Brass instrumental records. Today, KENNY G sells over 70 million saxophone recordings in a market supposedly closed to all but the pop vocalists! Click on the links above to learn more about these highly successful instrumental recording artists. |
| When practicing alone at home I'd like to use some modern backing CDs to play a long with but the 'sax tutor' style material often seems quite dated. Can I use backing CDs for other instruments/singers to modernise my home practice routine? | Yes! A good instrumentalist should always strive to 'sing' through their instrument. For a vast catalogue of professional vocal backing CDs you can use to practice playing hit tunes 'by ear' with click this link to POCKET SONGS. |
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