Candy Dulfer

For female players looking for a role model, Ms Candy Dulfer.

Epic Sax Guy

There's a recent viral phenomenon of a talent show contestant (who didn't win, who came from Moldova, who was a 6-piece band and who I'm not sure what they're names are) that has had a huge number of following and video remixes. Courtesy of 1 member playing his saxophone....and some hip movement (some also said because of their 'gay-ness', meaning 'very very happy' lah).

Song : Fly Away

Band : SunStroke Project

Origin : Moldova

Performed at : Eurovision Song Contest

When : 2010

Saxophonist : Sergei Stepanov

Nickname : EPIC SAX GUY

The rest : I don't know and I don't care...

This is their original video at the Eurovision competition :

This is just one of the numerous remixes:

And this was their music video, predating the competition :

Other passionate saxophonists

Along the journey of my discovery, there have been some very encouraging and thoughtful emails and posts from new friends I've met online. Though a few keep blogs, there are also some who are without (or at least not that I know of).

Below are a few friends whom I hope my advice proves useful in their quest to start or continue their plans in pursuing a saxophone as a hobby/career/entertainment/skill/etc. As and when there are new friends, I'll try to update them. Its somewhat a motivation to keep going, and not give up.

Ms Spartanbabe

http://spartanbabe.wordpress.com/

(started with a saxophone)

Mr Tempus

http://whatsinthebinn.blogspot.com/

(currently awaiting arrival of new saxohpone)

And here's a blog by my previous tutor, with some helpful pointers about the language of saxophones.

http://www.saxmalaysia.com/

My current tutor doesn't have a blog, so can't show much. He charges higher in fees (~RM100/lesson), but provides really useful knowledge for my next level in practice and then performance.

Circle of 5ths

The above diagram (by Johann David Heinichen, 1728) shows the correlation of related keys and their # (sharps) & b (flats). Its called the CIRCLE OF FIFTHS, and is a good way to learn your major and minor scales.

Some people may find it boring to do scales, but I found it quite fun because initially you'll be remembering what keys to press, and somehow after mastering them your fingers run on auto-cruise all by itself. That's a satisfaction I enjoy, knowing that I'm doing things more natural and less thinking.

I start each practice session with major scales (the outer circle), as follows;

C (no sharp, no flat)

G (F#)

F (Bb)

D (F#, C#)

Bb (Bb, Eb)

A (F#, C#, G#)

Eb (Bb, Eb, Ab)

E (F#, C#, G#, D#)

Ab (Bb, Eb, Ab, Db)

B (F#, C#, G#, D#, A#)

Db (Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb)

(the above can also be done by running through all the # scales, then proceed with the b scales. but i prefer alternating. meaning adding 1 sharp, then 1 flat to each major scale)

After completing the major scales, next up is the minor scales (the inner circle).