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Whatever it takes!
- Everyone needs to find their own road! Step forward and be the best YOU that you can be.So, without saying I have the answers here, or any revelatory answers I try to advise all students to try to start developing a clear message in their music, remaining focused and true to that message they want to convey to provide skills that enable them to work while their true passion develops and hopefully is recognized. Lean to thrive and survive.This is what we do, for better and for worse and make it a point to...do whatever it takes.
Music is the glue that holds us all together! Without music...the TV world couldn't sell a can of beer. Music is the ultimate and the most important. NOW- If you've noticed...I put a bunch of pictures of saxophonist Paul Gonsalves on this blog. Go to you tube and listen to him ok? He was one of the real amazing innovative tenor soloists in jazz...and had one of the most modern sounds ever.
Being a good musician is a life-long endeavor, and I’ve committed to spending many hours of each day working on this craft. What makes one a good musician is dedication, hard work, attention to detail, and tenacity. Also-knowing your roots and who made certain things happen in the music your involved in- Paul Gonsalves is that guy to check out this week. Do it! 
- For the playing side, try playing the blues in Db concert. Learn a few heads and melody's to get you into this key. Db concert. Get away from the same old kets and work at playing and HEARING some new keys. Can you play the melody to Body and Soul ? Without music and doing all the chords in root position? Try that to start learning a tune that EVERYONE has to know.
 TILL NEXT WEEK....Eat some healthy salads, drink plenty of water and work hard at what you love...Tim Price
We as a music community ( jazz, pop, classical, students, rock, indy etc etc) need to get out and start supporting each other more. One of the most fascinating dimensions of this music, today is all the people involved in it. But, when I attend a concert, club gig or student recital, it's very shocking to see the empty seats. In the last few weeks, I noted with great interest that this was evident.
In short, people need to start to support each other more. From within the ranks. We are creative people, stepping out to hear a friend or a person who's trying is an asset to all of us. Listen to what the music does, not what it doesn't. We as a music community need to demonstrate that through support of arts and culture we also invest in the art form's economic well-being. Show up for a few sets.Buy the Cd's.
Take note that we need a collaborative approach to make this successful.I believe strongly that if diligently and judiciously executed,it would be of mutual benefit to everyone.Strengthen the music field and effectively recharge it from within the ranks.This is very important ! The music will grow- the musicians will foster more gigs and the scene will get stronger.
A lot of us from my generation,when we were young musicians, there was an idea that we would be playing this music,or at least some of us would be playing this as our principle means of support. Now the "night club circuit" can no longer support us
( read that as "any of us" ).
Education is the big portion of our income. We all do clinics, residencies and all the other educational components , let alone the high school or college positions or straight up private teaching. As a young player I would go to my mentors gigs and check out how he dealt with the reality of PLAYING. Even as a teenager, when I studied with my local heros like Joe Miller and Sam Correnti I learned a lot about the reality. At that point the reality was learning transposition from Joe and Sam. Joe would give me fake books to transpose, there was no REAL BOOK then, so it was good ol' VOL. 1. Plus other" bop" or swing books. Through doing that with Joe, I eventually learned to transpose at sight as a teenager. Yes Joe Miller, he was the best local jazz saxist I could of dreamed of as a teacher. He played King Super 20 saxes and had a great sound on alto and tenor, and he played RICO reeds! He turned me on as a kid to RICO brown box reeds on my Brillhardt mouthpiece. Joe was hip to Art Pepper and Bird and the cats.The baddest player in my home town-bar none for jazz. But the reality was , he also made a living playing dance gigs. He was great at it ! They played my high school prom. They played a few pop tunes " of the era" but mostly standards for dancing.
Ok- From those relationships I would know what a jazz musician was. Later with guys like Charlie Mariano, Joe Viola and Andy McGhee at Berklee School as well, and years later Sal Nistico, Stitt and Don Christlieb etc.
This is why I tell my students to attend gigs, buy Cds, listen and form bands to jam. Make it happen! Jam more, session on days your off, form "head bands" and just play.
I do tell students of the "reality in my heart and spirit" but if they don't experience it it does not mean a lot. People need to play together, get into the basement and jam!! Look at each other and say yea.
REALITY LESSON !!! Knowing_MELODYS_so people could identify and dance. A life lesson there dear reader! Knowing how to play a dance gig and survival chops to make money. Joe always said, " It beats putting cans on the wall in the supermarket ! "....I never forgot that. Plus as I said, he could blow. We did the old play alongs ( before Aebersold !! ) with the Mal Waldron trio playing those blues heads Gene Ammons recorded. Joe knew the real deal, and as I said, was the best jazz saxophonist in the city. Plus a teacher of reality. His karma paid off too, years later he won the lotto. When I came in with Charles Lloyd records trying to copy the heads like " Sombreo Sam" Joe never flinched. He was that cool.
Now Mr. Correnti, taught me flute. Another lesson in itself as today, the flute double is non-existant to a large degree. This was when I was in 10th grade in school too. Sam was cool, always dressed in a hip coat and tie. An old school swing man who knew a lot of the major players , and taught Gerry Muligan when he lived in the area. We used to get the David Gornstein books right from David, as Sam knew him. Sam also made me aware of being dressed right. I always was aware of the clothes a musician wore. REALITY of a very important kind. Plus- flute. Lots of lessons NOT in books.
That's a lot more those days of "learning vocabulary". I think that was a better way but it is not today's reality.When I started Berklee I was prepaired from Joe and Sam. Friends I met from the beginning in Boston, like Joe Lovano, Roger Rosenberg, Ross Konikoff, Jeff Lorber, Scofield, Hal Grossman/ Saxist Steve's brother, Arnie Krackowsky and Rick Wald all shared this sympatico. We could play a blues without music and also play Basie charts. THINK ABOUT THAT REALITY. ( 1969! )
This is why I tell my students to attend gigs, buy Cds, listen and form bands to jam. Make it happen! Jam more, session on days your off, form "head bands" and just play.
I do tell students of the "reality in my heart and spirit" but if they don't experience it it does not mean a lot. People need to play together, get into the basement and jam!! Look at each other and say yea.PLAY!!
Players used to network on bands and at clubs neither of which exist to any degree. Turn the TV and computer off and get in the life lane! Clubs and concerts are in need of people in the room, and listening to the music.Go and enjoy, I say " Listen to what the music does, not what it doesn't ".
It is very important that we, as musicians, come out and support each other on the scene as much as possible. I try my best to mentor my students, and anyone else in the music who approaches me with questions. It's important to also encourage students to attend their peers recitals/gigs. I did that ALL THE TIME when I was in school, that's when you actually have the time to do it! We all have a responsibility to keep it going, creating, and putting postive energy out there. I am hopeful that the economy will bounce back and we will start filling seats again too!
It's time for stronger community and a vibe that transcends money, politics, ego and anything else. This is art!
Reality. Reality can change,MUST CHANGE, that's what I'm talking about. We establish ourselves in a consciousness of perfection to step forward, not be stuck in the mud.
Musicians are _supposed to be_ connected to inner wisdom and peace.When you live with optimism you achieve optimal results
Purpose is something greater than your self. It changes who you are into who you are in to!
Motives is your destination driving wheel- this is 2012- not 1959 !
If you will it... it will BE
If you see it... you can do IT
if you hear it... you can express IT
MUSICIANS ARE CREATIVE PEOPLE TOO. MUSICIANS HAVE A HIGHER CONSCIOUSNESSES....Think about it. See ya'll next week....Support comes from within'...TIM PRICE
Getting a vertical edge to your harmonic playing.
IF YOU WANT TO GET A MORE VERTICAL EDGE TO YOUR IMPROVISING...in fact angular and full of harmonic ideas, preferring wide intervals check this link below. It contains 13 studys I wrote on chords and intervallic ideas to open your harmonic ideas.
I did not dispense with chordal improvisations - BUT A logical way to enhance them.
http://www.timpricejazz.com/lessons/...izesOnIIVs.pdf
Tim Price Bloggin' For D'Addario Woodwinds -
Creative thinking is the process which we use when we come up with a new idea. It is the merging of ideas which have not been merged before. New ideas are formed by developing the current ones within our minds. This evolution HAS to be brought on by practice.Ongoing creative thinking is the continuous investigation, questioning and analysis that develops through education, training and self-awareness. Ongoing creativity maximizes both accidental and deliberate creative thinking. It is a quest for improvement which never ends. It is an acceptance of and a looking for continuous change that differentiates between ongoing creativity and mental inflexibility. Ongoing creativity takes time and practice to become skillful. Ongoing creative thinking soon becomes an attitude not a technique.The first step to take is to learn the creative thinking techniques so that you can use them deliberately to come up with new ideas. You will then be at an immediate advantage to those who do not know how to use them. You should then practice them to increase your skill at ongoing creative thinking. With practice you may even find it unnecessary to use specific techniques because you may soon have too many ideas without using them at all.
 
Creativity is the bringing into being something which did not exist before, either as a product, a process or a thought. Right? So let’s apply this to ALL levels of saxophone playing, thought and improvisation.
You would be demonstrating creativity if you:
· Played something which has never existed before.
· Reapply an existing lick or concept into a new area musically.
· Develop a new way of looking at something (bringing a new idea into existence).
· Change the way someone else looks at something.
We are all creative every day because we are constantly changing the ideas which we hold about the world about us and our relationship with it. Creativity does not have to be about developing something new to the world, it is more to do with developing something new to ourselves !!
When we change ourselves, the world changes with us, both in the way that the world is affected by our changed actions and in the changed way that we experience the world. It’s a thought process. It’s past a mouthpiece change..it’s a MIND SET.Some, call it conception!  
- The above picture- Is myself and Ed Berger at the Artists Quarter...in Minneapolis Minn- Ed was one of real masters and unsung. A great voice.
~2013 has come and gone rather quickly, and is the culmination of a year starts to show it's end, the year wasn't bad at all, not to shabby,numerous writing and playing projects went great, and the challenge of balancing travel/performing with teaching. This week I’m able to wind it all down with family and relaxing and catch my breath before things heat up again.The year was a good one. My band Jazz-A-Delic played Berks Jazz Festival..The band has never sounded better. Several of the members are out and about working in the greater Philly area and beyond. Mark Ammett, Randy Sutin and Sean J. Kennedy are world class players, and great friends, they all have done a wonderful job. Google their names if you will...they are not people who invented themselves when Facebook started or for the cheap thrill of seeing their face in an endorsement- they as I said- are world class musicians.
The challenge, as is always the case, was to find the meeting place between jazz and groove music and show our roots in many musics, it is working and I am enjoying it. To me, it is one of the best bands I've lead recently. where all the genres are acknowledged in a respectful way. We will see how it all develops. We'reavailable worldwide..contact me for bookings.
~ I've also started to play with drummer Bill Goodwin in various projects.We did an excellent concert duo series at Michiko studios, that my friend Roberto Romeo produced. Roberto set this series apart and has booked some of the most unique and fresh sounds to hit NYC in a long time. Each band was different, each band carried a different message in the music. ALL...were duos.The concert at Michiko Studios was beyond words for me. To be able to be myself & create with the legendary drumming of Bill Goodwin in a environ of positive listening, attention and knowledge inspired me deeply. I'd like to thank Bill Goodwin, being the person he is. We've played in some very cool gigs together, and this one really had both of us thinking that we need to do more of this. And we will! You are a beautiful soul Bill & someone I always look forward to being in the music with. Thank you Bill. Also- huge thanks to the guys at Robertos for their tech help, assistance. Luke, Alberto ya'll rock hard- thank you. Of course the man himself Roberto Romeo. THIS CONCERT....and the duo series that is going on here is totally about the music. Which is the WAY IT SHOULD BE. Roberto knows as I do ( and hopefully you too) that the music is bigger than all of us. That's what's on my mind! Bill & I had a great time- and the vibes in the notes & tones for David S. Ware & Bert Wilson were there. Thanks to all who attended and showed real support by being there and...listening.
~ I'm also playing on a new cD with this amazing band with Sean J. Kennedy.On this new CD by Sean J. Kennedy....you can buy it at CD Baby. It has great tunes, players who are world class & I'm proud to be associated with. Check it out.The front line featured on HEY! WHERE'S MY TUX?! http://www.cdbaby.com/seanjkennedyband — with Erin Stroup, Mark Amentt, Dave Champion, John Stenger, Tim Price and Bob Wagner. Some of the best cats and great people, Sean's charts and the music is inspiring.Please check it out.
~ Also-Ernie Watts came by my home to hang in the start of October.He comes here a lot- we play music, listen to music and talk about music. I'm a lucky guy. I live in Reading, Pa- and he rents a car- when he's close and comes by.
This time he brought his sister Theora and his wife Patricia. We had some amazing spinach pies I brought from NyC, and some Italian soup I made special for the day. Inspiring and for real. as I said..THIS..Is why I play music. It's all about the music too, anything else is just...anything else. We're here to play music, keep the brotherhood going and further the music as much as we can. I've known Ernie about 28 years and we always hang like this when we are near each other. Like I said- It's about the music. 2014 STARTS THIS SATURDAY WITH... Saturday January ....1/4/ 14 ; The Lafayette Bar/ Easton, Pa-Easton, Pennsylvania 18042 ..Tyrone Brown is the bassist, and I am very fortunate to have guys like him and Bill Goodwin & Randy Sutin to inspire me in the music we play. As many might recall Tyrone was the bassist with Max Roach for the last few decades, and someone I loved on early Pat Martino records too. Add Bill Goodwin drums & Randy Sutin on vibes, Tibetan nipple gongs and the cool vibe & food at the Lafayette Bar along with my man Tunsie Jabbour great vibe and healthy food- I might play all night.....Looking forward.And...there you have it. Ciao 2013...YO 2014! Forward motion for sure! Paix et amour to everyone. ~ Tim Price...
The saying "Making Spirits Bright" this Christmas season is my vibe here.Here's a suggestion that won't cost you a penny but will certainly be appreciated by the recipients. Be nice to your loved ones and those in contact with you! Now I know you may think this is a silly thing, but how often do we take husbands, wives, kids, parents for granted? Wouldn't it be nice if, instead of getting them something they don't want, you actually did some things they would appreciate?
I'm not talking about anything elaborate here, just those little everyday things that might make life easier for your loved ones. Husbands & wives, how much do you think your spouse would appreciate you doing some of his or her chores without being asked to help out? Kids, how much do you think your parents would appreciate you doing your chores or helping around your house a little extra? These are the kind of things that can really have an impact on the recipient and "Make Spirits Bright" this Christmas. Check it out.
 ..... I'm reading a great book-The Boston Jazz Scene- By Richard Vacca. This book is an amazing read, and a must for those who know about the hub of jazz that Beantown has turned out. It is a must.
The music I'm checking out is Birth of the bebop Bird on Tenor 1943, I finally found a vinyl copy on Stash records- So far I have yet to see one on CD. But to hear Bird on tenor....well...you just got to hear it. It's a lesson.
Also- Bird in Time 1940-1947 [Box set] on ESP recordings. Bird in 1940 through 1945 was something unique- so much there to enjoy and learn from.The music on here is the pinnacle of of the absolute best.Find it and listen to it. You'll love it!
~ I wish you all Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Make a spirit bright and spread some goodwill too. - Tim Price
BE YOURSELF – music is a language.
Do you know that out of 6.6 billion people in this world, nobody looks alike? Even an identical twins have different thumbprints. Not only humans, but also plants and animals differ from each other. Isn’t this amazing? Do you think this is merely a coincidence? Absolutely not… Existence has purposefully made us different from each other – but why? Because no other joys are comparable to the ones by being your own true self. Only through your own originality, you can experience the eternal joy of life.But the question is if there is so much ecstasy and joy in being oneself, then why cannot we be so? What are we so afraid of? What is keeping us from this source of ultimate blissfulness that could flow into our lives any moment? First, you need courage. Yes, a tremendous courage to fight back and resist those factors that have been prohibiting you from becoming your own person or simply being yourself. Yes, you need to stand up for your rights and protest against all the impediments that have been posing threats to your growth. You need to act on your own. Don’t think that someone will come and rescue you. You are your own messiah. You have to show tremendous courage to make your own decisions. You might be condemned, you might be ridiculed, you might be threatened – but you should not give up your fight. You are fighting for your own inner freedom; you are fighting for your own individuality, and your own originality. Be a rebel and start your inner revolution before it is too late. Your original self is the most beautiful, highest and eternal gift that has been given to you by your own existence. So don’t give up, and don’t compromise for something lesser and temporary.
Second, you need to drop your fear. Society has been instigating fear among people for centuries, and so far, has succeeded in creating a wall between you and your growth. It’s about time that you bring that wall down. This can only be done, when you are not afraid. Yes, you will face challenges. Yes, you may be mocked, you may be rejected, you may be condemned. Others and society will do all their best in preventing you from achieving your mission. They will keep creating a wall of guilt and fear in you, but you shouldn’t be afraid anymore. Remember, you have already begun an inner revolution; its fire will conquer all the hurdles in your path. Don’t surrender. Face all the insurmountable difficulties with great courage. Others may try to bring you down, run you over, and topple you, but be strong. You have to be as strong as the trees that do not fall in a heavy storm. The trees which fall in the storm are themselves responsible for their death as they were too weak to face the strong wind. Yet, the wind wasn’t strong, instead the trees were weak. So drop you fear and be ready to face any storm in your way in being yourself.
Third, is by accepting your responsibility. Yes, this is a very daring step. All the problems, all the source of our misery, is our own incapability to accept the way we look, act, and represent ourselves. The moment you accept this, you become responsible. By accepting yourself, you have embraced this responsibility, and you have given birth to a deep love for yourself. Once you start loving yourself the way you are, joy will shower you from everywhere. You will feel happier and blissful. Only then growth will blossom in your soul, and you will become the flower of your own self. A flower that radiates with its original fragrance that lives in freedom, and dies in utter satisfaction and glory…
Fourth, awareness is needed. People have to become aware of a fact that every individual is unique and he/she has is meant to grow differently than others. Society, the parents, religion, politicians, and the educational system should be conscious of this fact, and allow freedom to every individual to choose their own path, support and motivate each individual to become their own flower. People should be provided enough love and nourishment to fully develop to their enormous potential. The individual should not be imposed, threatened, and swayed to become somebody they don’t want to be, as we all know the negative impacts of this approach. The child could have been a great poet, but his family forced him to become a doctor. The child could have excelled as an actor, but he was persuaded to become an engineer. This is why the child remains unhappy all his life – because he is not what he was supposed to be.
Remember that a lily seed can only produce lily flower, not marigold no matter how much you wish or try. Similarly, you can mold a child to become the way you wanted, but you cannot mold his inner self, instead you make his life miserable when it could have been utterly joyful.
To those grown up unconscious individuals brainwashed by the media and the pop culture, who want to look young forever or look like somebody else, open your eyes and peek once into your inner being. Do not waste your precious life in plastic hopes, be conscious of yourself, it is the most beautiful gift. Don’t be persuaded by people who simply want to exploit your vulnerabilities. Be strong, and learn to accept the way you are. You are already so beautiful. Only once you start loving yourself, you will be loved by everybody. - Enjoy your holidays...and really enjoy being YOU. - Thanks- Tim Price
This will help woodwind focus, and it’s easy too. Each day of the week choose
one subject and work on it all day long. Pick your weak areas. A typical week
might look something like this plan below :we want to equip ourselves with the
right outlook. Write down realistic plans to improve your goals. This will
develop a focus on what you are trying to accomplish. No matter what level your
at as a musician.
Monday: Just play, all day. Letting go, feeling your way up and down the sax,
checking out the sound. Have fun and listen to your strong points. This usually
starts out being abstract and works its way into more melodic playing. Doing
this all day gives us plenty of time to really get the idea of the exercise.
Write down notes to yourself on what you want to work on that week; then during
the week approach your ideas one by one.
Tuesday: Melodic playing. Today start to put two or more notes together that
sound 'pretty'. Take a look at your REAL BOOK/ or any book of songs, and notice
how some of the great tunes are made up of simple intervals. Some of them are
short scale passages. This gives us a clue that it does not take much to write
or play a good melody. Write at least one idea down a day, and it will help you
to think melodically and will add more substance to any style.No matter what
level your at.
Wednesday: Quality over quality. What do you feel you need to make stronger?
Take today and study it. Make friends with the area of your playing that needs
more focus. As your thirst to improve grows add this Wednesday topic to your
other days. Practice scales, licks, study other players styles on CD's.
Thursday: New melodies and new chords. This day we take some of the melodies
created on Tuesday and put them together. Don't judge your new pieces but keep
trying until you find something you like. Remember you have all day to come up
with something that makes you feel good. If you write two bars you are a big
winner. Also, try to take the new chords and use them in some of the tunes you
know. Or make up your own progressions with them. You are being creative this
day. Be yourself, not someone you read about.
Friday: Listen to music all day long, new and old CD's. Get inspired and make
notes of the players' style, how they phrase, keep time, how they let space and
silence become part of their solos. Can you remember a few ideas that you can
play? Be eclectic! Listen to rock, jazz, classical, world music or spoken word.
Be inspired this day. It's your day!
Saturday: What caught your musical ear? Was there something this week that made
you think differently? This is the day to investigate further and go deeper
into that . Try to understand what moves you. If it caught your fancy, stick
with it until it reveals itself to you. This day may change your life! Document
this feeling you have. It is important for your future.
Sunday: Review in your mind,think about the week of practice. Review things
slowly- listen for improvements. Remember, intuition is your very best friend.
Listen to it and be ready to act on it. If it sounds good, remember how you
worked and focused on it to get it to that point.
Arrange your seven days your own way. Add subjects that you love. Add new
directions from time to time. Go slowly, enjoy the journey and grow within your
own ideas. It helps to have a plan for the week, keep it loose like this so it
can grow-for you. It will take a certain amount of pressure off and allows you
to relax as you practice. Focus today so tomorrow your closer to your goals.
Thank you and hope this helps everyone- Think creative. Tim Price
Tim Price - Professional musician- educator- author -recording artist.
In addition to giving private studio Tim has taught students from Tokyo and
Texas to Tel-Aviv using on line instruction via SKYPE.
One of the most in demand educators in New School University and New York Jazz
Workshop.
He is in the vanguard of education, in demand clinician, author and one of the
innovators of jazz bassoon. www.timpricejazz.com
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Whatever it takes!
- Everyone needs to find their own road! Step forward and be the best YOU that you can be.So, without saying I have the answers here, or any revelatory answers I try to advise all students to try to start developing a clear message in their music, remaining focused and true to that message they want to convey to provide skills that enable them to work while their true passion develops and hopefully is recognized. Lean to thrive and survive.This is what we do, for better and for worse and make it a point to...do whatever it takes.
Music is the glue that holds us all together! Without music...the TV world couldn't sell a can of beer. Music is the ultimate and the most important. NOW- If you've noticed...I put a bunch of pictures of saxophonist Paul Gonsalves on this blog. Go to you tube and listen to him ok? He was one of the real amazing innovative tenor soloists in jazz...and had one of the most modern sounds ever.
Being a good musician is a life-long endeavor, and I’ve committed to spending many hours of each day working on this craft. What makes one a good musician is dedication, hard work, attention to detail, and tenacity. Also-knowing your roots and who made certain things happen in the music your involved in- Paul Gonsalves is that guy to check out this week. Do it!
- For the playing side, try playing the blues in Db concert. Learn a few heads and melody's to get you into this key. Db concert. Get away from the same old kets and work at playing and HEARING some new keys. Can you play the melody to Body and Soul ? Without music and doing all the chords in root position? Try that to start learning a tune that EVERYONE has to know.
TILL NEXT WEEK....Eat some healthy salads, drink plenty of water and work hard at what you love...Tim Price
