It's so cool to see the failures and progression live. It's feels so good to hear and see other musicians be as critic as we can be with ourselves. Seeing only the final productions all the time, you end up thinking it's never good enough. Thanks to you I realise that it's fine to mess up from time to time in live. Thank you so much for this video ! 🙏
Such brutal honesty! We really are our own best critics. 😅 My favorite part of this clip was your wrap up and explanation of your thought process. I have over a decade on you in my “music journey”, but I haven’t had a mindset of active study/learning (even just from myself listening to recordings) since my junior college days. Thank you for providing this insight and inspiration; I’m going to start with recording myself with the specific goal of review and constructive criticism like you did here. What’s your set up for recording during a gig like you did here? I play around a lot of Latin percussion, so being able to hear myself clearly is my only real need. Cheers.
Hey thank you so much!! I just use my phone which probably isn’t ideal😰 it’s alright if you keep it close to your horn. In the wedding band clips you can hear how quiet I am when my phone is further away. I’d just experiment with a few different angles to see what works best for you! I appreciate you watching🙏🏻
I photograph weddings and YES people love a good solo at weddings! Live bands are so fun, you get so much love and support. They are just there to have a great time. Thanks for sharing all this, I'm a sax player in another life 😅so it's fun to see you talking about my two worlds.
Thanks! Believe it or not, as a long time pro musician, I find your videos really motivating! I think you also have a really great sound, work ethic and dedication that is required to succeed!
So I just started watching your videos after a 3 year break from playing Alto/Tenor. I really enjoy your clips and playing styles. Regardless, we are our own worse critics, but you are killing it my man!
@@FoolishFrankie keep up the good work, I can hear your "difference" in sound and layers on every video I watched. What are you playing for horns? I am a Conn guy, but am extremely lucky to be the current caretaker of an unmarked custom Conn tenor that used to be owned by Cannonball.
Great video man, congrats for being so honest with yourself. I had a teacher that once told me "there's no wrong note, just remember it's your career" LOL. Keep it up.
Man you're sounding great! I can't remember who it's by but the 'four octave saxophone' book was a total game changer for me with altissimo and getting high notes to speak as well as getting intonation and breath control crazy secure - its basically long tones through the overtone series and then exercises based on playing saxophone like a trumpet. Its super hard at first but once you get it you'll be shocked!
This is so enlightening. I'm no musician, but it definitely works the same in any career. Self assessment and monitoring will help you reach new heights. And you're only 23! By the time you get to 30 you'll be a huge star. I just know it.
I find these kind of videos pretty interesting. I'm more experienced with singing than with playing any instruments what so ever. And because of this video, I just realised that I don't even know how a saxophone is supposed to sound? I mean, I know there are different music genres and different ways it can sound. But you could have played me some of those clips and I wouldn't even know something went wrong. Maybe it's worth remembering that, for someone who is very critical with themselfs :D
Frankie popped up in my feed again! Yay! As a jazz musician, or rather jazzy*, I’ve seriously never felt so related to. Hearing you talk about how people will tell you to play quieter HITS HOME. I get if it’s too much for the setting and it can* be totally understandable, but being in the background, I feel erased when they’re so persistent in how quiet it’s gotta be. At that point, what is the point of even having me if I’m just meant to be so meek? They don’t always want you for the sound, but rather the appearances. It’s like I’m a novelty, which I started to realize I sort of am the more people put me on the spot like a clown. When you essentially said, “Do you really* want me for the music?” Truer words have never been spoken even if it’s not exactly what you said. *Quietly plays a 7 chord. Major or minor? You decide.* THE LIKE COUNTER LMAOOOOOOOOOO, like, I liked that a lot. :)
STABLEMATES Also I feel you man, I absolutely hate my sound on tenor but I've had friends tell me I sound way better on tenor than I do on alto despite not playing it nearly as much 😅
This is awesome. You say you hope this will be useful for people younger than you, but I'm 40 years older :) and playing a mixture of jazz, rock and wedding type gigs. I find your playing to be beautiful on both horns and the way you break down your playing is awesome and so useful to me! Thanks, man
I have a friend who is on the same high level of pro musicians as you. Plays at weddings with elite musicians, in a salsa band, etc. etc. but doesn't really open up about it. I really appreciate you giving us a look into that world (and the others you interview and let you share about them I thank also). You are a super creative, adventurous, stellar player. Did I mention humorous :) The thing I really like though is how transparent you are about fails. Most people don't post, let alone point them out. Thank you. I think it gives us all a huge lift. I know it does me.
Wow, I've gone through this process of analysis/dissection a thousand times by myself. I've never seen a player do it publicly. I really enjoyed the video. You are a very talented sax player!
1:59 I feel this dude. I’ll play something in concert and people will come up after and tell me that it was fantastic when I was literally about to die of shame on stage. That little scoff noise is my entire existence when playing with any of the full ensembles my school has. (I’m the principal trumpet at a small school so the directors pretty much force me to play in everything except the freshmen quintets and stuff. I don’t hate it because I get to play more, but it’s a lot of music to keep track of lol.)
After listening to this video I see myself practicing different. I now understand the importance of performing regularily. One thing you mentioned that I totaly agree to is 'being messy infront of an audience is the worst thing we saxophonists have to endure😁💯'. It is for sure. Comment on behalf of many Kenyan saxophonists😁.
What fingering for high G? If your horn has an F# key (I think yours does), try the "Crunch" fingering if you're not. Basically Bis Bb and RH Pointer, Side Bb and High F# Key. Gotta love the Wedding/GB Life. I think it's a fun gig too-and they pay isn't bad compared to most other gigs out there.
2:30 Yes, this! Do you want live music or not? 😄 Aligning expectations can be difficult. I like to see this thought process for evaluating your own playing - it can be quite tough, and for some reason I personally find it harder to accept my mistakes with age. I find it helpful to remember, that rewinding and listening to the same mistake again and again (and would you know, it's still there 😅) is not representative for what the audience experienced when they heard it once. And in most cases didn't notice in the first place anyway. I think you have a great learning mindset about your review process, make sure to keep it 🙂
You must tune your saxophone higher so that you can relax your embouchure and you can support your tuning more with the air than with the firmness of your embouchure. Another exercise that can help you is to always practice playing completely straight without vibrato so that you know where the center of your pitch is. You have very good tone on your alto saxophone but you must work on your tuning. I think you use vibrato a lot because it makes it sound less pitchy.
As a bass trombonist (played trombone for 10 years 7 of those on bass trombone) The hardest part of being a musician is messing up for sure But my worst mess up was during a symphonic band concert at what trombone players are extremely good at doing which is playing loud and aggressive (we were playing bruckner 8 if you know you know) and I could not get a grasp on the constant time changes making my playing sound immature and not very good. It sucked but I played my jazz solo in jazz band the next day nearly flawlessly and my lessons instructor gave me a high five after jazz rehearsal which felt good to redeem myself Great video Love from Sweden
This is so weird. at 4.36 if I were to play it like that I'd be kicking myself and unable get it out of my mind but watching you play it is fine and feels like no big deal tbh haha. I guess everybody is their own worst critic
Agree about the intonation issues. Regardless, subjectively I think tone is way more important than intonation. It's like with singers. It can be "correct" but soulless, I'd rather I'd hear beauty and forgive some intonation. Of course in a section there's no forgiveness, but that's when there's usually parts written :)
Here’s the thing - from an outsider like me who knows nothing about music, I think you sounded great. I will also tell you that probably 95 percent if not more of the guests probably wouldn’t even notice. I think you’re too hard on yourself.
This was so helpful, thank you for sharing it! I'm learning the alto sax and the intonation when going above the first octave drives me crazy (Db is my nightmare). Could you share what do you practice when you work on that? Drones? Playing in front of a tuner?
I usually can pick out when something is out of tune, but it takes a minute to find, does this practically instant recognition of bad intonation just develop as you progress in musical ability?
When you say bad intentonation, I cannot hear it. Either I am not familiar enough with what it should sound like or you are just hearing small things to work on.
@@FoolishFrankiejust found it, thank you! I can’t roll my r’s either so I thought there was no hope for me but I’m glad to hear you have the same problem haha. Just gotta fine tune my voicing technique! Thanks again!
The intonation problems, especially on brief notes, doesn't bother me much. If I played them, I'm sure they world. But what bothers me here is the reversed videos!
It's so cool to see the failures and progression live. It's feels so good to hear and see other musicians be as critic as we can be with ourselves. Seeing only the final productions all the time, you end up thinking it's never good enough. Thanks to you I realise that it's fine to mess up from time to time in live. Thank you so much for this video ! 🙏
Ahh yeah it’s important to know that everyone makes mistakes and you just have to keep moving forward! Thanks so much for watching 🙏🏻
Such brutal honesty! We really are our own best critics. 😅
My favorite part of this clip was your wrap up and explanation of your thought process. I have over a decade on you in my “music journey”, but I haven’t had a mindset of active study/learning (even just from myself listening to recordings) since my junior college days.
Thank you for providing this insight and inspiration; I’m going to start with recording myself with the specific goal of review and constructive criticism like you did here.
What’s your set up for recording during a gig like you did here? I play around a lot of Latin percussion, so being able to hear myself clearly is my only real need.
Cheers.
Hey thank you so much!! I just use my phone which probably isn’t ideal😰 it’s alright if you keep it close to your horn. In the wedding band clips you can hear how quiet I am when my phone is further away. I’d just experiment with a few different angles to see what works best for you! I appreciate you watching🙏🏻
my first college concert is in a few hours, watching this is a good way to relax, you the goat foolishfrankie
That’s awesome I hope it goes well!!
i heard you mention you didn’t like your tenor sound as much, i literally love it it’s fantastic
Ahh well thanks so much I really appreciate that🙏🏻🙏🏻
Yeah I agree. He sounds 101 percent better than how I play lol.
@@FoolishFrankie how old are you?
@@FL-gg4dq he said it in the video
It's a good tenor sound!
I love this and do this too - cringing at my own performances!
I photograph weddings and YES people love a good solo at weddings! Live bands are so fun, you get so much love and support. They are just there to have a great time.
Thanks for sharing all this, I'm a sax player in another life 😅so it's fun to see you talking about my two worlds.
You’re a pro musician. You hear you playing flat or sharp. One is always very critical on our own playing. I enjoy your playing.
Thanks! Believe it or not, as a long time pro musician, I find your videos really motivating! I think you also have a really great sound, work ethic and dedication that is required to succeed!
Hey thank you so much!! I really appreciate the kind words and the donation🙏🏻🙏🏻
So I just started watching your videos after a 3 year break from playing Alto/Tenor. I really enjoy your clips and playing styles. Regardless, we are our own worse critics, but you are killing it my man!
Ahh I’m glad you’re playing again!! Thanks for the kind words and for watching🥺🙏🏻
@@FoolishFrankie keep up the good work, I can hear your "difference" in sound and layers on every video I watched. What are you playing for horns? I am a Conn guy, but am extremely lucky to be the current caretaker of an unmarked custom Conn tenor that used to be owned by Cannonball.
This was great. It's nice to know someone sounding the way you do has the same thoughts that I have while I'm playing lol
Thank you! It definitely seems to be a lifelong thing lol
As a non-musician, i am fascinated by band member interplay. Very grateful that this is posted here.
Great video man, congrats for being so honest with yourself. I had a teacher that once told me "there's no wrong note, just remember it's your career" LOL. Keep it up.
Ahh thank you I’m just trying to figure it all out! I appreciate you watching🙏🏻
Man you're sounding great! I can't remember who it's by but the 'four octave saxophone' book was a total game changer for me with altissimo and getting high notes to speak as well as getting intonation and breath control crazy secure - its basically long tones through the overtone series and then exercises based on playing saxophone like a trumpet. Its super hard at first but once you get it you'll be shocked!
Sirvalorsax?
This is so enlightening. I'm no musician, but it definitely works the same in any career. Self assessment and monitoring will help you reach new heights. And you're only 23! By the time you get to 30 you'll be a huge star. I just know it.
YOO I just came back to your channel man! I remember using your support a creator code back when you didn't show your face! I still do
Woooahh no way I remember you!! Thanks so much for checking out my channel again and for using my SAC code I really appreciate it🥺🙏🏻
I find these kind of videos pretty interesting.
I'm more experienced with singing than with playing any instruments what so ever. And because of this video, I just realised that I don't even know how a saxophone is supposed to sound? I mean, I know there are different music genres and different ways it can sound. But you could have played me some of those clips and I wouldn't even know something went wrong.
Maybe it's worth remembering that, for someone who is very critical with themselfs :D
So helpful to hear this deep analysis and honest critique. Much respect. Thank you
🙏🏻🙏🏻
Frankie popped up in my feed again! Yay! As a jazz musician, or rather jazzy*, I’ve seriously never felt so related to. Hearing you talk about how people will tell you to play quieter HITS HOME. I get if it’s too much for the setting and it can* be totally understandable, but being in the background, I feel erased when they’re so persistent in how quiet it’s gotta be. At that point, what is the point of even having me if I’m just meant to be so meek? They don’t always want you for the sound, but rather the appearances. It’s like I’m a novelty, which I started to realize I sort of am the more people put me on the spot like a clown. When you essentially said, “Do you really* want me for the music?” Truer words have never been spoken even if it’s not exactly what you said. *Quietly plays a 7 chord. Major or minor? You decide.* THE LIKE COUNTER LMAOOOOOOOOOO, like, I liked that a lot. :)
STABLEMATES
Also I feel you man, I absolutely hate my sound on tenor but I've had friends tell me I sound way better on tenor than I do on alto despite not playing it nearly as much 😅
Yes!! And dude yeah so weird idk why that is I get the same thing😰
This is awesome. You say you hope this will be useful for people younger than you, but I'm 40 years older :) and playing a mixture of jazz, rock and wedding type gigs. I find your playing to be beautiful on both horns and the way you break down your playing is awesome and so useful to me! Thanks, man
Ahh thank you, this comment means more than you know🙏🏻🙏🏻
I have a friend who is on the same high level of pro musicians as you. Plays at weddings with elite musicians, in a salsa band, etc. etc. but doesn't really open up about it. I really appreciate you giving us a look into that world (and the others you interview and let you share about them I thank also). You are a super creative, adventurous, stellar player. Did I mention humorous :) The thing I really like though is how transparent you are about fails. Most people don't post, let alone point them out. Thank you. I think it gives us all a huge lift. I know it does me.
I really appreciate the kind words🙏🏻🙏🏻
@@FoolishFrankie I also forgot to say you're a really good videographer / sound guy
Wow, I've gone through this process of analysis/dissection a thousand times by myself. I've never seen a player do it publicly. I really enjoyed the video. You are a very talented sax player!
Thank you so much 🙏🏻🙏🏻
1:59
I feel this dude. I’ll play something in concert and people will come up after and tell me that it was fantastic when I was literally about to die of shame on stage. That little scoff noise is my entire existence when playing with any of the full ensembles my school has. (I’m the principal trumpet at a small school so the directors pretty much force me to play in everything except the freshmen quintets and stuff. I don’t hate it because I get to play more, but it’s a lot of music to keep track of lol.)
After listening to this video I see myself practicing different. I now understand the importance of performing regularily. One thing you mentioned that I totaly agree to is 'being messy infront of an audience is the worst thing we saxophonists have to endure😁💯'. It is for sure. Comment on behalf of many Kenyan saxophonists😁.
What fingering for high G? If your horn has an F# key (I think yours does), try the "Crunch" fingering if you're not. Basically Bis Bb and RH Pointer, Side Bb and High F# Key.
Gotta love the Wedding/GB Life. I think it's a fun gig too-and they pay isn't bad compared to most other gigs out there.
2:30 Yes, this! Do you want live music or not? 😄 Aligning expectations can be difficult.
I like to see this thought process for evaluating your own playing - it can be quite tough, and for some reason I personally find it harder to accept my mistakes with age. I find it helpful to remember, that rewinding and listening to the same mistake again and again (and would you know, it's still there 😅) is not representative for what the audience experienced when they heard it once. And in most cases didn't notice in the first place anyway.
I think you have a great learning mindset about your review process, make sure to keep it 🙂
Love watching your videos and your a great player. Most people wouldn't notice. And you mean its not just me
Even geniuses are wrong. Very good video ^_^
Ahh I’m far from a genius but I appreciate the kind words🙏🏻
Loved this! Learned alot. Thanks.
So glad!🙏🏻
just the instant disgust of your own playing is incredible 😆
LOL😂
You must tune your saxophone higher so that you can relax your embouchure and you can support your tuning more with the air than with the firmness of your embouchure. Another exercise that can help you is to always practice playing completely straight without vibrato so that you know where the center of your pitch is. You have very good tone on your alto saxophone but you must work on your tuning. I think you use vibrato a lot because it makes it sound less pitchy.
I don't know if you know this but the streamer Destiny (Steven Bonnell II) has played/plays sax.
I get your self-criticism, but damn, you are a fantastic gig player. Don't ever discount that. Love your videos!
Much love🙏🏻🙏🏻
As a bass trombonist (played trombone for 10 years 7 of those on bass trombone)
The hardest part of being a musician is messing up for sure
But my worst mess up was during a symphonic band concert at what trombone players are extremely good at doing which is playing loud and aggressive (we were playing bruckner 8 if you know you know) and I could not get a grasp on the constant time changes making my playing sound immature and not very good. It sucked but I played my jazz solo in jazz band the next day nearly flawlessly and my lessons instructor gave me a high five after jazz rehearsal which felt good to redeem myself
Great video
Love from Sweden
Such a good video!
Thank you so much!
I used to watch your videos when you had less than 1k. Videos have improved a lot, great saxy content 👍.
Ahh thanks so much I really appreciate it!🙏🏻
9:20 was so inspirational
This is so weird. at 4.36 if I were to play it like that I'd be kicking myself and unable get it out of my mind but watching you play it is fine and feels like no big deal tbh haha. I guess everybody is their own worst critic
9:52 Stank Face rating 8.5/10, needs more full body reaction
LOL😂
Agree about the intonation issues. Regardless, subjectively I think tone is way more important than intonation. It's like with singers. It can be "correct" but soulless, I'd rather I'd hear beauty and forgive some intonation. Of course in a section there's no forgiveness, but that's when there's usually parts written :)
Here’s the thing - from an outsider like me who knows nothing about music, I think you sounded great. I will also tell you that probably 95 percent if not more of the guests probably wouldn’t even notice. I think you’re too hard on yourself.
Well I appreciate it! Just want to make sure I’m always improving!🙏🏻
Honestly...most listeners are not listening to your intonation...they are listening to your feel...and I think you have that covered!
Much love🙏🏻
8:14
From now on, on your live streams, when u play smth cool imma type "Owh owwwwwwhhhh!"
Lol😂😂
bless up
These things make me shart
Me too I always have to change when I get home from gigs
@@FoolishFrankie that’s a gas!
Doodoo is the worst
This was so helpful, thank you for sharing it! I'm learning the alto sax and the intonation when going above the first octave drives me crazy (Db is my nightmare). Could you share what do you practice when you work on that? Drones? Playing in front of a tuner?
I play with drones but my intonation is not great😅
We are our own worst critics, the audience seemed to enjoy it and yeah live is hard
I usually can pick out when something is out of tune, but it takes a minute to find, does this practically instant recognition of bad intonation just develop as you progress in musical ability?
I think it just takes a lot of time to train your ears to hear it yeah! I’m definitely still working on it lol
It’s still pretty good tho🙌
I appreciate it!🙏🏻
When you say bad intentonation, I cannot hear it. Either I am not familiar enough with what it should sound like or you are just hearing small things to work on.
It definitely takes some time to be able to hear😅
Do you play tenor or Alto? What’s the difference?
Alto mainly, tenor is pitched lower
What technique do you use to growl? Do you actually growl in your throat or do you do more of a flutter tongue type thing?
I have a tutorial on my channel!
@@FoolishFrankiejust found it, thank you! I can’t roll my r’s either so I thought there was no hope for me but I’m glad to hear you have the same problem haha. Just gotta fine tune my voicing technique! Thanks again!
Wow how long have you been playing sax, even if you dont love your tenor I do
9.5 years! Well thank you I appreciate it🙏🏻
The intonation problems, especially on brief notes, doesn't bother me much. If I played them, I'm sure they world. But what bothers me here is the reversed videos!
LOL these are old videos I changed the setting in my iPhone to flip the image back!
You are far too hard on yourself.. but then it's easy to criticize yourself ...
Hi how r u? I’m pretty good myself
Hey that’s great to hear! I’m doing pretty well:)
WHAT WE ARE THE SAME AGE???
It’s possible 😱
i was going to hire you but then I heard somewhere your intonation is a huge issue
It is, please don’t hire me
Don't obsess too much over intonation. Your band mates didn't seem to.
Just kidding. Not kidding. Is that what the kids say nowadays?...