Tim Price Bloggin' For D'Addario Woodwinds- Keep an open mind- be vigilant.

My philosophy about personal musical growth is that musicians should learn how to think, listen and talk about music. Likewise, I pass this on to my students of all ages. IT'S WORKING! If your in 5th grade or a Doctor studying jazz clarinet with me for fun. There's something we all have. It's this criteria: brain, ears, and voice. Naturally, these three are interrelated. If you think about music, then it follows that you can easily talk about it. Listening is the most important part. Without ears, music would not exist. If I had to pick the most valuable musical tool for shaping musical growth, it would be personal taste. Always visualize only favorable and beneficial situations.Music helps with this.Try to use positive words in your inner dialogues or when talking with others. Once a negative thought enters your mind, you have to be aware of it and endeavor to replace it with a constructive one.Persistence will eventually teach your mind to think positively and ignore negative thoughts.It does not matter what your circumstances are at the present moment. Think positively, expect only favorable results and situations, and circumstances will change accordingly. It may take some time for the changes to take place, but eventually they do. A student once asked me if a particular note "worked" in a particular setting; my response was, "only if you like it". Take it a step further Bob Dylan plays the same C7 chord that Pat Martino does. Same 4 notes, likewise when Sonny Rollins hits a D minor 7th, it's the same chord that Jeff Beck might play or Keith Jarrett. It's how YOU deliver it. Lots of cooks use tomatoes and basil you dig? Same deal.Keeping a open mind can create a path for a student. There's a big difference between Bud Powell and Duke Ellington. But they both have a message. Think about it.Personal musical taste expands infinitely. This allows for musical evolution. Just live it. Go for it. Play it. Write it. Above all, use your own personal, ever growing, musical taste. Hence, music is the real teacher. Share the music and propagate it as much as you can. As always,strive for tone and help your school music programs, in every way you can.


For the shed; I have some very interesting concepts here, and things that are fun and provoke some fresh ideas on II-V. II-V-I Patterns: Starting on the Tonic of the II Minor 7 Chord.
This lesson in seven parts: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 , August 2002 This is a very clear and useful lesson using II-V. Lots to play/study. http://www.saxontheweb.net/Price/II-V-I-Patterns1.html I've taken a basic study and then moved it through six steps. Then I included one of my own based on a variation of some of the first six. I think it's always good for all of us to go back to a basic pattern study to clear our ears and refresh our chops. Look at all six shapes. As you start to hear the line, go back and write something of your own based on mine. Minor 7b5 to Dominant 7b9 August 2001 http://www.saxontheweb.net/Price/Aug01.html 2 Bar II-V Phrases - via Entire Range of the Sax.http://www.saxontheweb.net/Price/Sept01.html This is designed to assist you in using your saxophone fully! Full range! HAVE FUN.
This might help add some new ideas to your playing and keep your shed time fun. Enjoy~

On You Tube- There is so much great music out there. I recently heard Henry Grimes, Andrew Cyrille and Paul Dunmall taking it all the way out. Saxophonists NEED to listen to Paul Dunmall- he is fantastic and just a joy to hear.Wonderful!

Till next week, Keep an open mind.

BE VIGILANT! Think about others more than yourself!

Enjoy- Tim Price