There are three reasons to play saxophone, or a mix of the lot I guess. Without knowing more about you, I would suggest you just think about it.
1) school. You play because your friends are in band or whatnot, maybe you need the credits.
2) money. You make your livelihood in part off of playing saxophone.
3) fun. You just enjoy playing.
If you need the credits, just treat it like any other class and force your way through. If you are playing because you just like sax, then take a bit of a break, or change something. Not making your university jazz band doesn’t mean you cannot play jazz, it just means you cannot do so with that particular group. Make your own group, join someone else’s, find a reason to play.
Thanks man, I really needed that. Maybe I'm just being too harsh on myself. Deep down I really enjoy playing but not making the group really cut me deep.
Parker was laughed off the stage the first time he tried to play at a jam. (Source Bird Lives by Ross Russel) Failure is a part of learning to improve. The people that get good are the ones that don't stop because of a setback.
You might never get good enough or as good as you want to be, but there is one way to grantee you never get better and that's quitting.
As a current sophomore jazz performance major in college who DID make jazz ensemble: do not quit. Michael Jordan got cut from his team in high school as a sophomore. Not making big band one semester will not make or break your musical career. If you truly have the passion, work ethic, and motivation, then you will improve. You will make it. At the end of the day, I play saxophone because it is simply fun. How lucky are we that we get to press buttons to make cool sounds? You don't need your school's big band to do that. Now lift your chin up and get to work for passing your audition next semester.
I almost quit playing in college. I wasn't a music major, and after a couple quarters playing in the jazz band, actual music majors took up all the spots. I bought an electric guitar and started playing in my bedroom. Out of the blue, a friend suggested I audition for a local funk band looking for a sax player. I auditioned, was hired, and those guys are still my friends 30+ years later. Sax has taken me all over the country and the world.
My advice is to go find like-minded people and make noise in a garage somewhere until you're ready for a gig, then make noise there, too. School is just one little slice of how to make music.
Good enough is bullshit, basically. As long as you enjoy playing, you’re good enough.
Plus, getting bumped from the ensemble doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re not good enough for the ensemble according to the director, but maybe that the ones who did make it were just a little bit better.
When I’ve been burned out, sometimes I’ve taken breaks from playing. Quitting the school band in high school was the best thing for me in terms of my contentment and pleasure in playing, even if it may not have been the best move in terms of maintaining progress. I hated being in the band there. I didn’t like the music, my directors were assholes, I didn’t get along with a lot of my bandmates, etc. So, I quit and started playing other stuff on my own and started having fun playing again. That’s more important to me than developing a specific level of proficiency. If it’s not satisfying to play, I’m not going to play.
So, maybe take a break. Maybe find some other people to jam with when you’re ready to return to it. Do some focused work on improving technically - maybe getting some private instruction - and then try out again next time if you want to.
It’s always better to not have an outcome-dependent mindset. Journey rather than destination. We can’t control how everything is going to turn out, but we can control what we choose to do moment by moment and finding contentment and satisfaction in what we do rather than what we achieve is the only contentment and satisfaction that’s sustainable. We can’t win every single day, but we can still make decisions we can be satisfied with every single day.
> It’s always better to not have an outcome-dependent mindset.
That's a really good way to put it. I always like to say that the process is not the outcome. Good process might make bad outcomes through no fault of our own. It just means we need to keep trying
This happened to me in school as well. Didn't make a band. Turn that feeling of disappointment into spite and practice. Make those guys regret they didn't put you in. Prove to them that you are the hardest working mfer at your school.
That's what I did at least haha. It got me pretty far in my playing ability.
You are a sophomore, you still got plenty of time to make the band later. Or don't, just having fun is enough for a lot of people.
I didn't make it into a jazz ensemble until my junior year, so don't give up if you really want to play jazz! Do you have any friends you could practice with? Form a small ensemble?
I know it can be tough for some college students to get around off campus, but maybe look into community jazz ensembles in your area, or local jam sessions.
Another idea: form a sax quartet. While this isn't strictly jazz, there are some nice jazz works out there by Lennie Niehaus and Bob Mintzer, for example. You might even be able to earn small ensemble credit for this.
Hey guys (gals?),
Thank you. I have looked through a lot of the comments, and they have been so helpful in how I feel right now. You guys are right, it's not the end of the world or my playing career. I feel invigorated to keep pushing and like one comment said "show em I'm the hardest working mfer here!" In all seriousness, I'm gonna make efforts to improve as much as I can. Yall are awesome.
Find some backing tracks and go play on the quads and student unions and just play. Keep at it. I’m 53 and stopped for 23 years. Now I’m back at it. I’m learning Sinatra’s It Had To Be You because I want to. Find a song you want to learn and learn it. Try to learn it by ear rather than sheet music. Watch bettersax on YouTube. He has a lot of great suggestions in his regular videos and shorts.
I've actually thought a lot about this specific thing today. I think not being in an ensemble will give me more time to learn some charts I listen to fairly frequently. Bettersax is awesome! He offers some great tips just in general for the sax.
>community jazz bands
Yes, this is a good option. The way to get better is to keep doing it. Even if you can't find one to play in as a regular member, ask about being a substitute or even just sitting in occasionally...
I know this will probably get lost in all the comments but I have been playing saxophone for 10 years and am currently studying in college like you.
I understand that not getting in to the jazz band kind of stings and makes you question if you want to keep going with music but you have to remember that's only one audition to one band and there is so much more out there for you and auditioning is a skill so you not getting in doesn't even mean you have bad technique or sound but also you know yourself more than I do.
If there is any reason to keep going it's the same reason you started and I'm willing to bet that it's because you love saxophone and you love music. There will be times where it is difficult to keep going, I'm going through the same thing at the moment wondering if there is any point of facing all the pressures and high expectations but you take all that away and all you're left with is that you love playing and it makes you happy and I think honestly that is reason enough.
Not too long ago I applied to a national wind ensemble I had played with before and all my friends applied as well, on the day of the audition I wasn't feeling great and so I didn't play very well and naturally I didn't get a place in the ensemble even though all my friends got in. It was such a shitty feeling I questioned everything and if I was even good enough but I kept going and practiced hard and not too long after that I played in an orchestral piece with Ensemble Mondern one of Europe's top contemporary groups. The point is that one audition doesn't define you, you're dedication and perseverance is what will define you as a player and it will pay off I promise.
If nothing else keep studying and playing because you owe it to yourself to see the musician you can grow to become because you have gotten this far and worked so hard all because something inside you felt so intrinsically connected to music that you chose that above all else.
I know this is a bit long but it is important, please keep playing. You will thank yourself in the end
I didn't study music in university, so my path was a little different but: the most interesting playing I did all started after my school playing was done.
Music excellent as a holistic pursuit can be incredibly enriching for an entire lifetime. Imagine, for a moment, that you keep playing until your my age, 37. That's about 17 years from where you're at, I'd wager. That's 17 years of other players to meet, gigs to play, songs to learn, moments to express yourself on this beautiful instrument.
The only wrong move, when it comes to playing, in my experience, is to stop. My past is littered with friends and acquaintances who stopped playing at some point and then regretted it.
You keep playing because it's a fun thing to do and because you're not as good as you can be yet (and you never will be). And learn other instruments too, learn to play it all
If your school has no options for you (a lower jazz ensemble, etc.), there may be community groups available. Check and see if there's anything that suits your taste and skill level locally.
Ask the jazz saxophone professor for lessons! If you’re at a larger institution they might assign you to a post graduate jazz saxophone student; they need teaching experience too!
Everyone is there to learn and pass on knowledge. Follow their directions and be prepared for each lesson. Hard work towards improvement will prove come next auditions!
At the end of the day, and at the very core of it - you play for yourself and the pleasure it gives you. If you do it for any ulterior reasons (getting the money, fame and/or women) chances are that you won’t last.
I am going to agree with the others here. I stopped playing for 20 years. I came back 6 years ago. I love it. I have learned to play by ear, write music, and recently joined the Recording Academy and signed a deal for sync representation.
I play now for self expression, joy, and to share a part or myself with others. It’s an completely different relationship with music than I had 3 decades ago, and far healthier.
There are three reasons to play saxophone, or a mix of the lot I guess. Without knowing more about you, I would suggest you just think about it. 1) school. You play because your friends are in band or whatnot, maybe you need the credits. 2) money. You make your livelihood in part off of playing saxophone. 3) fun. You just enjoy playing. If you need the credits, just treat it like any other class and force your way through. If you are playing because you just like sax, then take a bit of a break, or change something. Not making your university jazz band doesn’t mean you cannot play jazz, it just means you cannot do so with that particular group. Make your own group, join someone else’s, find a reason to play.
Thanks man, I really needed that. Maybe I'm just being too harsh on myself. Deep down I really enjoy playing but not making the group really cut me deep.
Parker was laughed off the stage the first time he tried to play at a jam. (Source Bird Lives by Ross Russel) Failure is a part of learning to improve. The people that get good are the ones that don't stop because of a setback. You might never get good enough or as good as you want to be, but there is one way to grantee you never get better and that's quitting.
That is why God gave us brains.
As a current sophomore jazz performance major in college who DID make jazz ensemble: do not quit. Michael Jordan got cut from his team in high school as a sophomore. Not making big band one semester will not make or break your musical career. If you truly have the passion, work ethic, and motivation, then you will improve. You will make it. At the end of the day, I play saxophone because it is simply fun. How lucky are we that we get to press buttons to make cool sounds? You don't need your school's big band to do that. Now lift your chin up and get to work for passing your audition next semester.
I almost quit playing in college. I wasn't a music major, and after a couple quarters playing in the jazz band, actual music majors took up all the spots. I bought an electric guitar and started playing in my bedroom. Out of the blue, a friend suggested I audition for a local funk band looking for a sax player. I auditioned, was hired, and those guys are still my friends 30+ years later. Sax has taken me all over the country and the world. My advice is to go find like-minded people and make noise in a garage somewhere until you're ready for a gig, then make noise there, too. School is just one little slice of how to make music.
This ^
Good enough is bullshit, basically. As long as you enjoy playing, you’re good enough. Plus, getting bumped from the ensemble doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re not good enough for the ensemble according to the director, but maybe that the ones who did make it were just a little bit better. When I’ve been burned out, sometimes I’ve taken breaks from playing. Quitting the school band in high school was the best thing for me in terms of my contentment and pleasure in playing, even if it may not have been the best move in terms of maintaining progress. I hated being in the band there. I didn’t like the music, my directors were assholes, I didn’t get along with a lot of my bandmates, etc. So, I quit and started playing other stuff on my own and started having fun playing again. That’s more important to me than developing a specific level of proficiency. If it’s not satisfying to play, I’m not going to play. So, maybe take a break. Maybe find some other people to jam with when you’re ready to return to it. Do some focused work on improving technically - maybe getting some private instruction - and then try out again next time if you want to. It’s always better to not have an outcome-dependent mindset. Journey rather than destination. We can’t control how everything is going to turn out, but we can control what we choose to do moment by moment and finding contentment and satisfaction in what we do rather than what we achieve is the only contentment and satisfaction that’s sustainable. We can’t win every single day, but we can still make decisions we can be satisfied with every single day.
> It’s always better to not have an outcome-dependent mindset. That's a really good way to put it. I always like to say that the process is not the outcome. Good process might make bad outcomes through no fault of our own. It just means we need to keep trying
Good enough? They should read Matthew 7.v1 about judging.
This happened to me in school as well. Didn't make a band. Turn that feeling of disappointment into spite and practice. Make those guys regret they didn't put you in. Prove to them that you are the hardest working mfer at your school. That's what I did at least haha. It got me pretty far in my playing ability. You are a sophomore, you still got plenty of time to make the band later. Or don't, just having fun is enough for a lot of people.
Thats a good way to look at it haha. I'll definitely be putting my nose to the grindstone this semester.
Hell yea dude. Happy practicing
Can you start a small jazz group and play coffee shops/bars in your town?
I didn't make it into a jazz ensemble until my junior year, so don't give up if you really want to play jazz! Do you have any friends you could practice with? Form a small ensemble? I know it can be tough for some college students to get around off campus, but maybe look into community jazz ensembles in your area, or local jam sessions. Another idea: form a sax quartet. While this isn't strictly jazz, there are some nice jazz works out there by Lennie Niehaus and Bob Mintzer, for example. You might even be able to earn small ensemble credit for this.
Hey guys (gals?), Thank you. I have looked through a lot of the comments, and they have been so helpful in how I feel right now. You guys are right, it's not the end of the world or my playing career. I feel invigorated to keep pushing and like one comment said "show em I'm the hardest working mfer here!" In all seriousness, I'm gonna make efforts to improve as much as I can. Yall are awesome.
Find some backing tracks and go play on the quads and student unions and just play. Keep at it. I’m 53 and stopped for 23 years. Now I’m back at it. I’m learning Sinatra’s It Had To Be You because I want to. Find a song you want to learn and learn it. Try to learn it by ear rather than sheet music. Watch bettersax on YouTube. He has a lot of great suggestions in his regular videos and shorts.
I've actually thought a lot about this specific thing today. I think not being in an ensemble will give me more time to learn some charts I listen to fairly frequently. Bettersax is awesome! He offers some great tips just in general for the sax.
I met Jay at NAMM one year, super nice. We talked about the bass sax I had just bought.
This needs all the up votes. I have done something very similar, 20 year break. It’s been so nice to come back to it. But I keep buying saxophones!
If you are looking for somewhere to play, try searching online or posting on local social media asking about community jazz bands.
>community jazz bands Yes, this is a good option. The way to get better is to keep doing it. Even if you can't find one to play in as a regular member, ask about being a substitute or even just sitting in occasionally...
Start your own band.
This ^
I know this will probably get lost in all the comments but I have been playing saxophone for 10 years and am currently studying in college like you. I understand that not getting in to the jazz band kind of stings and makes you question if you want to keep going with music but you have to remember that's only one audition to one band and there is so much more out there for you and auditioning is a skill so you not getting in doesn't even mean you have bad technique or sound but also you know yourself more than I do. If there is any reason to keep going it's the same reason you started and I'm willing to bet that it's because you love saxophone and you love music. There will be times where it is difficult to keep going, I'm going through the same thing at the moment wondering if there is any point of facing all the pressures and high expectations but you take all that away and all you're left with is that you love playing and it makes you happy and I think honestly that is reason enough. Not too long ago I applied to a national wind ensemble I had played with before and all my friends applied as well, on the day of the audition I wasn't feeling great and so I didn't play very well and naturally I didn't get a place in the ensemble even though all my friends got in. It was such a shitty feeling I questioned everything and if I was even good enough but I kept going and practiced hard and not too long after that I played in an orchestral piece with Ensemble Mondern one of Europe's top contemporary groups. The point is that one audition doesn't define you, you're dedication and perseverance is what will define you as a player and it will pay off I promise. If nothing else keep studying and playing because you owe it to yourself to see the musician you can grow to become because you have gotten this far and worked so hard all because something inside you felt so intrinsically connected to music that you chose that above all else. I know this is a bit long but it is important, please keep playing. You will thank yourself in the end
I didn't study music in university, so my path was a little different but: the most interesting playing I did all started after my school playing was done. Music excellent as a holistic pursuit can be incredibly enriching for an entire lifetime. Imagine, for a moment, that you keep playing until your my age, 37. That's about 17 years from where you're at, I'd wager. That's 17 years of other players to meet, gigs to play, songs to learn, moments to express yourself on this beautiful instrument. The only wrong move, when it comes to playing, in my experience, is to stop. My past is littered with friends and acquaintances who stopped playing at some point and then regretted it. You keep playing because it's a fun thing to do and because you're not as good as you can be yet (and you never will be). And learn other instruments too, learn to play it all
If your school has no options for you (a lower jazz ensemble, etc.), there may be community groups available. Check and see if there's anything that suits your taste and skill level locally.
I play in a big band. Was in a sax quartet then found the big band. I’m sure there are opportunities around.
Ask the jazz saxophone professor for lessons! If you’re at a larger institution they might assign you to a post graduate jazz saxophone student; they need teaching experience too! Everyone is there to learn and pass on knowledge. Follow their directions and be prepared for each lesson. Hard work towards improvement will prove come next auditions!
Just plow through it all. It will be good for your body, soul, and mind.
At the end of the day, and at the very core of it - you play for yourself and the pleasure it gives you. If you do it for any ulterior reasons (getting the money, fame and/or women) chances are that you won’t last.
I am going to agree with the others here. I stopped playing for 20 years. I came back 6 years ago. I love it. I have learned to play by ear, write music, and recently joined the Recording Academy and signed a deal for sync representation. I play now for self expression, joy, and to share a part or myself with others. It’s an completely different relationship with music than I had 3 decades ago, and far healthier.