Musical Ambitions Aged 8

Musical Ambitions Aged 8

On my school report, which I wrote when I was eight, I mentioned how I couldn’t wait to begin learning the saxophone. Looking back at it now, aged twenty-six, I have no idea where the compulsion came from. Why on earth did I have my heart set on playing the saxophone when I was eight?

The truth is I really don’t remember why I wanted to play the sax, and I don’t think it really matters. My desire to play it has never gone away. When asked if I would prefer flute or clarinet lessons in Year 4 I asked which was the nearest to the saxophone. The answer was the clarinet, so this is what I learnt along with electric organ until I was thirteen.

Throughout this time I tried the saxophone and I just couldn’t get on with it. It felt too big, too heavy, and the keys were too far away from each other. This is something to be remembered when children begin to learn the saxophone- it is only possible if they are comfortable.

I got my hands on a saxophone at the age of thirteen. I had been waiting days for its arrival and it finally got delivered to my school. I got to go and try it out during registration and I was thrilled. By this time I was more than big enough for the sax, and I had developed a fondness for the tenor saxophone. This along with the fact that the school jazz band had a distinct lack of tenor saxophonists swayed my decision to begin on the tenor. I could immediately play some tunes on it using my clarinet skills. I was my school’s first tenor saxophonist!

The enthusiasm and encouragement I received at school was superb. Finally I felt I had found my niche. I had saxophone lessons, played in the school Jazz Band and also a local amateur band. I got to go abroad for the first time with the school Jazz Band. This was one of the most memorable experiences of my life.

The thing about music is that it opened up so much for me in my life. I was a fairly self conscious child and lacked confidence. Through a desire to play the saxophone I found friends and something to focus on.

This isn’t to say some things didn’t go wrong. My first performance on the saxophone (aged fourteen) was at a school cabaret night. I got up to serenade everyone with ‘Nights In White Satin’ and my saxophone didn’t work. Instead of walking off the stage and sorting it out I was so nervous I struggled through the whole tune and ran off stage in tears! Luckily that wasn’t it for me. No more messing up. I quickly learnt to warm up properly before a performance and I’ve never gone THAT wrong again. Touch wood.

In Year 11 I heard an ex student mention his desire to work on a cruise ship as a musician. This, I thought, was a fantastic idea. Sail the world and earn money whilst playing the saxophone. What could be better? The idea never went away.

I experienced more extraordinary teaching at Sixth Form College. I consider myself very lucky. These teachers were paramount to my success. I soaked up all the information given to me because the teachers could put it across in such a simplistic form. This is how I endeavour to teach now.

I successfully gained a place at a Conservatoire (Music College) at eighteen and continued to improve my saxophone playing. Music College is a strange institution full of musicians wanting to be THE best in whatever way possible. In some ways I regressed and lost the confidence I gained whilst at school/college.  It took a while for me to find my feet. To begin with I was like a sheep, following other musicians around and sharing their opinions on music. I slowly came to realise that my thoughts, ideas and opinions were just as valid as anyone else’s. Once I had realised this I knew that I could really achieve and move forward in the time I had there.

By the time I left full time education I felt I had a fantastic grounding in music and the saxophone. I passed my cruise ship auditions and have since travelled to twenty two different countries. I’ve experienced different cultures, met fantastic people, sipped cocktails at sunset and played fantastic shows in stunning venues, all because I play the saxophone.

I still thank my teachers for the time they gave me over the years. I realise now that the desire to play the saxophone is what kept me going more than anything else. Without that my teachers and parents would have had a constant battle to get me to practice. That’s not to say I didn’t find scales boring and had days/weeks of being lazy. I always got back to it though.

I am lucky to have ‘known’ that I wanted to play the saxophone from such an early age. Some people don’t realise until later in life but I would urge anyone with the ‘I wish I tried…..’ attitude to get on and do it. You don’t know what you’re missing!