HOW TO SURVIVE THE SAXOPHONE FAILURE BLUES

Crummy gig, practice going nowhere, stale solos, can't play as fast as you want...stuff like this got you down?

Sure, I've been there. We all have at one time or another.

How to get out of it?

Know, first of all, that it's temporary, whatever it is that is displeasing you about your performance. Someone wiser than me once said it best - this too shall pass.

Second, If you didn't nail it today, you have the next gig. And the next. And the one after that.

Third, everybody has days like this. It's one of the unwritten laws of learning to play a musical instrument. Even the greats: no, Charlie Parker wasn't born with talent, believe it or not. The legend surrounding him would make you think so but no. He earned his place, one sweaty lousy scale at a time.

Over a period of years.

They all did. Lester Young, Eddie Harris, Cannonball Adderley, you name it.

So, get back to making music. And remember -- if you're not failing, you're not trying.

Key words: saxophone practice, private lessons, performance anxiety