The Air Sax Ear Training Exercise - with Grace Kelly

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  • Опубликовано: 22 окт 2024

Комментарии • 256

  • @Spicy_Zach
    @Spicy_Zach 4 года назад +111

    WOW, I was just telling someone yesterday , “I can hear so many musical ideas in my head but can’t translate them well over to my sax.”... this hit right on the head

    • @jimmyb1133
      @jimmyb1133 4 года назад +4

      You are not alone, Zach ! I can hum or sing a tune or song but then I'm at a loss for playing on my horn .... it happens ....

  • @solunastra9497
    @solunastra9497 4 года назад +19

    I’m an small asian girl who plays alto saxophone. i’m so glad to have found such an inspiring girl. thank you for doing this interview!

  • @tmcunlimited
    @tmcunlimited 8 месяцев назад +2

    Really good interview and lesson ! Love you both .
    My first year of learning Sax I played in car parks in back of my truck at night for 1 year in the dark .
    By accident I ended up gaining the skill to play by ear meaning I can put down tunes structure of in one session .
    Now I’m on the uphill task of learning sheet music notation .
    Learning is so much fun and the journey is always better than the destination !
    Would like to have a lesson with You guys !

  • @dalemccullough5693
    @dalemccullough5693 4 года назад +36

    I recently just heard about Grace while looking for examples of improvising on Comin' Home Baby. She does an amazing job on that and is a terrific sax player.

  • @runandwrite
    @runandwrite 4 года назад +29

    Grace Kelly is one of my favorite sax players around today. I remember thinking she was around 17 and thinking she was amazing for her age. Now the "for her age" is no longer a necessary qualifier. I don't know if there's a saxophonist who has a better singing voice. If Phil Woods had broken her fingers, she could still make it on her voice alone -- but of course I'm glad he didn't!

  • @Skyhi106
    @Skyhi106 2 года назад +2

    My wife and me attended Grace's recent concert in Lexington MA (Oct 2022) and it was great. The combination of her singing and playing sax, along with her stage presence and movement, made it truly amazing. Solid backup trio. And her charming anecdotes! A night we'll remember!

  • @KeyLeaves
    @KeyLeaves 4 года назад +26

    This is great stuff. Thanks for the interview and slowed down detail. Grace is a stellar musician.

  • @jamesgutierrez5587
    @jamesgutierrez5587 4 года назад +56

    Hell yeah been waiting for this moment to happen for a long while now. Thank you Better Sax Thank You Grace Kelly. Now we need to pray for Leo P to be next.

    • @ebels3
      @ebels3 4 года назад +5

      I was about to say that. As amazing as they are, Leo is a monster on Bari.

    • @DEeMONsworld
      @DEeMONsworld 4 года назад +1

      yes but I'm not sure Leo can speak anything but saxophone riff.

  • @WJdad
    @WJdad 2 года назад +1

    Ha! Here I was, after thinking about your Leo P interview, and wondering if you’d ever interviewed Grace Kelly - who has a number of recordings with Leo P as they do public performances walking various famous Southern California locales - sure enough here it is! Thank you Jay! I am just learning the sax and pulled up sax solos on RUclips and discovered Leo P. Then found Grace on his channel, then spotted her on an episode of the Bosch TV series. The Bosch character is a jazz fan who plays recordings and mentions various jazz greats regularly. It added a whole new dimension to the show as I am getting an eclectic, unstructured, light form of jazz education. These interviews are amazing.

  • @lyecats
    @lyecats 4 года назад +4

    She's the real deal, we each headlined a night in a 3 day "Divas of Jazz" festival in San Antonio, Texas almost a decade ago along with Jessie J, another outstanding hard working talent. She is playful and sweet and plays so well. A real pleasure to see this interview. Love your stuff, Jay!

  • @theregoesmiller389
    @theregoesmiller389 Год назад +1

    ugh ! she would be a PERFECT teacher for me !
    her philosophy on how she plays is EXACTLY my approach !
    sing through the sax !
    or
    let the sax sing for you !

  • @Timelesshero1711
    @Timelesshero1711 4 года назад +103

    "Infinity war is the most ambitious crossover in history"
    Jay: And I.. am... Better Sax

  • @eworr
    @eworr 4 года назад +3

    This is definitely one of the most exciting videos you've done. That air-sax exercise just opened up a whole range of exercises that are actually really fun to do, as you're singing what you want to play and then trying to do it. I really enjoyed it and I'm keeping the exercise as a permanent part of my practicing.

    • @bettersax
      @bettersax  4 года назад +1

      thanks! Grace is awesome and the singing thing is so helpful!

  • @guywithdogs
    @guywithdogs 4 года назад +124

    If this video gets 10000 likes, Jay will give away Grace Kelly!!
    Seriously, this was a great interview. Lots of good stuff in a short time.

  • @javierm_uk1588
    @javierm_uk1588 4 года назад +2

    Didn't know about her! She's ridiculously talented! I'm speechless. Definitely going to follow her. Thanks for this Jay

  • @donmurphy2902
    @donmurphy2902 4 года назад +6

    I wish someone had developed this 60 years ago! I started playing when I was 12. Played in Jazz ensembles and bands through High School and into College. I could always hear what I wanted to come out of the horn, in my head, but could never figure out how to make that transition! This was like a bomb going off in my head! Too late for me but for other up and coming musicians I hope this helps!

    • @johnmarkconnolly6414
      @johnmarkconnolly6414 4 года назад +1

      Don Murphy - it’s never too late. If you’re now retired and still physically able, take the horn out, get it overhauled and just start slow. Or get an inexpensive used horn - doesn’t have to be a professional horn, but a step up horn if you’re on a budget. In reality, professional horns are amazing, don’t get me wrong. But 90% of the sound you get is decided before you stick the mouthpiece in you mouth. Also a great (for you) mouthpiece, reed and ligature will make an incredible difference on even the worst horn. @JayMetcalf even made a video on “too old too learn saxophone” if I remember. Check it out!

  • @Saxpilot
    @Saxpilot Год назад +2

    This is something that people get confused when George Benson scats while he plays. Most people think, "Oh, he's singing along to what he's playing on guitar." But it's the opposite, he's playing along to what he's singing in his head and through his voice. Same concept Grace is advocating here. Great video!!!

  • @blackcatwithahat4088
    @blackcatwithahat4088 4 года назад +7

    She has been a role model for me since i started to play the sax four years ago. Specially her embouchure and control is amazing.

  • @oboeash
    @oboeash 4 года назад +5

    I love this approach. I'll be sharing it with my students. Thanks for featuring one of the best musicians on the planet and giving all of us such a helpful activity!

  • @KadrianThomas
    @KadrianThomas 4 года назад +2

    OMG!!!!! I literally just told my wife about this concept of how I play my songs by ear and how I had those little elements and here I come see someone teach the same thing, indeed we are connected. This is such a great video. I’ve never gone so so deep but because I’m not a very fast sight reader I literally record with my mouth what I want to improvise in sections of a song I’m playing by ear, I then record it and play that from my phone. Omg!!!!! I’m gonna go more granular with this technique, this feels like dejaviu. Thanks for sharing this Jay. Great, awesome video.🇯🇲🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🎷🎷🎷👍🤜🏾🤛🏾

  • @pixamite1
    @pixamite1 4 года назад +5

    Wow I’m new to the saxophone and have developed a serious interest in Jazz. Another great video Jay. Daily I’m learning of new saxophone artist. The list is growing fast and I’m very excited about adding Grace Kelly to the list. Man she’s really special.

  • @vladpadowicz5946
    @vladpadowicz5946 4 года назад +1

    I also started sax in my early teens and did these exercises without realizing it was "ear training" as I was merely trying to learn how to play a song, like Happy Birthday for starters or a cool solo (doesn't have to be a sax solo ;)) I'd listen to the song repeatedly to really know it in my head, then sing/hum/whistle along with it so I could tell if I had it right. Then without the recording, sing it and play it on my horn, which, as a beginner I would often "hunt" for the right note until I had a match, and then the test of playing along with the recording and getting that rush of success and pleasure through effort and a rather high level of concentration ;)
    Eventually, after a few years of steady playing and seeking out songs and solos to learn, the process becomes second nature and you then play what you think, as easily as speaking.
    And a word to Jay, you are a phenomenal teacher, everyone following is receiving some of The Best advice and coaching from a Sax Master. I would have progressed so much quicker with you as a teacher. I learned in the highschool Jazz band, we were a Maynard Ferguson cover band, so we were really solid as we played the recorded melodies and could practice at home with the vinyl record and aiming at following perfectly, in other words, being an invisible member of the band.
    And I did say vinyl record, so imagine having to move the needle back to just a few grooves to work on a specific part, now it's just a-b repeat and you can even slow down a playback speed without affecting the pitch of the recording, unlike changing the speed on a turntable lol.
    And Grace is truly an exceptionally expressive soul who's playing is gift to the listener!! ❤️🎶🎷

  • @glencunningham5400
    @glencunningham5400 4 года назад +2

    This is a great exercise. It is similar to how I approach transcribing solos now. I used to think that transcribing was about writing everything down to analyze it, a very slow and intimidating process that kept me from doing it. But some professional sax players explained that it is more about the ear training aspect of it, and doing it in small pieces, not necessarily learning and memorizing the whole solo. You can listen to a solo in chunks (I use the Anytune app to stop/start/loop, slow down and pitch shift), sing and play it, then move on to the next lick and repeat. If you find a really cool lick you like, you can write it down, or at least stop and really focus on it (e.g.- play in all keys). But you don't have to write anything down, and instead spend a lot more time focusing on the ear training aspect of it, both copying a sequence of notes you hear in your head, and learning from the player's inflections, articulation, etc. too.

  • @fc1lyles
    @fc1lyles 4 года назад +9

    Love that exercise, learning what each key position would sound like before playing.

  • @doggnap
    @doggnap 3 года назад

    Seriously what i needed to see. I kind of gave up with the sax about 7 years ago as i could not play anything unless it was follow the notes in the book. I just thought i was dumb and the books got boring . I shall try again with this vital lesson.

  • @joeblankenship377
    @joeblankenship377 4 года назад +5

    This is definitely something I need to start practicing more. It would make transcribing solos so much easier.

  • @orlaspring363
    @orlaspring363 3 года назад +1

    I'm just now seeing this video and wow! Game changer. Thank you for this and as for interviewing Leo P., I second that emotion.

  • @michaeldean9338
    @michaeldean9338 4 года назад +1

    Grace is simply amazing! Thanks for this.

  • @njim9514
    @njim9514 4 года назад

    sax community is lucky to have you better sax thank you

  • @thomasfadden3394
    @thomasfadden3394 4 года назад +2

    Thanks for the memories of Phil as well as the great interview with Grace! Lots of memories of PW from the Celebration of the Arts (COTA) Festival in Delaware Water Gap PA playing with the COTA Cats.

  • @kpoudavoff
    @kpoudavoff 4 года назад +22

    I do always play air sax when I’m walking on the street , unfortunately can’t check if I’m correct haha. Thanks for this video , it’s awesome!

  • @johnmarkconnolly6414
    @johnmarkconnolly6414 4 года назад +2

    This is easily the best video of yours I’ve ever seen. I’ve always had a similar issue. Being trained as a legit player, I could sing/whistle a jazz solo that was at least the right notes and articulations, but could never get it to come out of my horn. Now as an adult amateur, my time to practice is severely constrained. I can see how useful 5 mins of this per session, 5 mins on overtones, and 5-10 mins on scales will really improve my sound, my ability to communicate thru the horn and overall dexterity. While I prefer a darker, perhaps more traditional big band jazz sound, the beauty of music is that we don’t all have to sound the same. It matters more what you are saying than your specific tone quality - bright, dark, sub tone or somewhere in between. Subbed and notified.

  • @stulast
    @stulast 4 года назад +5

    Wow! This is great stuff. I'll admit my mind's blown by this exercise. I'll be adding it into my practice routine.

  • @lisawanderess
    @lisawanderess 4 года назад

    She’s awesome! I came to sax from choir and theatre background too so maybe that’s why this is exactly how I learn every song I play. I listen to the song phrase by phrase, sing it, then play it back on the sax trying to make the saxophone “sing”. Very cool interview! Thanks Jay! 😍

  • @solomoncaraway7717
    @solomoncaraway7717 4 года назад +8

    Such a great video! Can’t wait to implement this into my practice sessions!

  • @etienneyitian
    @etienneyitian 4 года назад +1

    I have to try this with my clarinet. Thank you both for the tip 👍👍👍

  • @Mansax80
    @Mansax80 4 года назад +2

    Thanks for sharing this video Jay! Grace is a wonderful sax player as well as a great person!! Love it!

  • @JayCee-hw4zc
    @JayCee-hw4zc 2 года назад +1

    Great interview Jay, l just love Grace and her work!

  • @lisaferrara8120
    @lisaferrara8120 4 года назад +2

    This is such a wonderful post. Thank you for sharing your interview with this talented artist.

  • @bobbywhitney6262
    @bobbywhitney6262 4 года назад

    All this time I thought you teach sax techniques but interviewing other saxophone players too... The interview with Grace was A+ and I loved Grace's ear training and it is spot on to what I do as well and this works with beginners to pros like you Jay.

  • @gsco82
    @gsco82 4 года назад +2

    Jay--That was a great interview. Thanks so much for posting it. Grace has very good ideas for ear training, and she is a great sax player.

  • @mauriciogodoy8928
    @mauriciogodoy8928 4 года назад +2

    Excellent video

  • @jnaime
    @jnaime 4 года назад +2

    What a great interview and a cool exercice. Thanks to both of you, Grace Kelly is a great saxophone player and seems to be a great person too, she give smile everytime she play ! :) ... "You can get here (head) to here (saxophone)" !!

  • @ZappRoyce
    @ZappRoyce 4 года назад +1

    Interesting lesson, good thanks.

  • @TonyAguirreJazz
    @TonyAguirreJazz 4 года назад +1

    Alice said Coltrane would airplay constantly. Great video! That Yamaha she has was a limited run 82Z by the way, very nice

  • @michab.r.1854
    @michab.r.1854 4 года назад +4

    This is incredibly neat, I’ve been wanting to become better at understanding what’s being played and be able to relate it to my Sax playing. My only real question is how on Earth did she have a tone like that after only a few years of playing?

  • @sergej100qca4
    @sergej100qca4 4 года назад +7

    Never have been so early.
    Great video! I'm kind of on a tour, annoying people to make a video on bebop and learning a language in general. So.... if you don't have a plan for the next video, I would love to see something on bebop (btw I think Sonny Stitt is so underrated, to me he is the real bebop legend).

  • @marcushume2240
    @marcushume2240 4 года назад

    Interesting concept. Grace Kelly is amazing 100 percent of the time. I always listened to music and done this in my head. But doing these steps l think will help a lot. Thank you for sharing.

  • @eladgellert
    @eladgellert 4 года назад +2

    Its a great ear training exercise and i love the interviews you do you ask great questions and explain well everything thanks!

  • @saxprophetgh3185
    @saxprophetgh3185 4 года назад

    Mr. Jay, you really motivate me every video

  • @zanderpimenidis1139
    @zanderpimenidis1139 4 года назад +1

    Love that woman, also this channel. I'm so glad these two are in the same video.

  • @garrymangion3763
    @garrymangion3763 3 года назад

    As always, a very functional and stretching exercise.. Tk you. Great musician great teacher. ( not necessary that one followers the other) DISCIPLINE U R THE BEST!!! ❤️🎷🎤

  • @alisaam1
    @alisaam1 4 года назад +1

    Thank you (Grace and Jay) for sharing this knowledge with us.
    Said

  • @ignacioriosjr603
    @ignacioriosjr603 4 года назад +2

    GREAT interview, and another GREAT video Jay!! Grace is one of my favorite artists.

  • @bobpremecz5429
    @bobpremecz5429 4 года назад +5

    10:07 - "I had so many ideas up here and I couldn't get them unto my horn" Nothing beats working on a very effective solution to a problem, baby step by baby step. Start today. Repeat tomorrow. Time to start a trend, instead of air-guitar, let's make air-sax a thing! Especially with correct fingering!

  • @danielcohen9637
    @danielcohen9637 3 года назад

    I once tried learning overtones and altissimo in like 1 day and couldn't do it so I gave up. But then started learning it a little each day and have made a lot of progress.

  • @benjaminkaggwa5481
    @benjaminkaggwa5481 4 года назад +1

    Wooow i enjoyed so much this interview with Grace and I wanted the video to keep going because I have learned so much from this video. Thanks so much for bringing her. I want a plastic Mouthpiece that fits exactly with reeds number 2. The mouthpiece I have seem big so air licks. Hence makes it hard to produce sound from lower keys . Do you sell Reeds??

  • @StoneysWorkshop
    @StoneysWorkshop 4 года назад +2

    I will start this immediately!
    I have always wanted to play like I can sing!

  • @McGillMusicSaxSchool
    @McGillMusicSaxSchool 4 года назад +1

    Great tips here Jay! Grace is awesome.

    • @bettersax
      @bettersax  4 года назад

      yes she is. Thanks Nigel

  • @luxlikes
    @luxlikes 4 года назад

    Great practice technique. Steve Nash from the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra also uses this technique. Really makes you know your instrument like your own voice. Let’s you literally sing to yourself and be able to rip it out on your instrument.

  • @Mrtcoltpilot56
    @Mrtcoltpilot56 4 года назад

    Thanks for that. Fantastic Still struggling at 63 years old started at 14.

  • @richardcasey7521
    @richardcasey7521 4 года назад +1

    Excellent video. Love Grace Kelly!

  • @jarodunderberg8399
    @jarodunderberg8399 4 года назад +121

    Future interview. Leo P

    • @bettersax
      @bettersax  4 года назад +39

      we are working on it.

    • @CLMedia28
      @CLMedia28 4 года назад

      Better Sax yesssssssss plz I am such a big fan of him he made me want to play the bari sax

    • @joesgotnobeans3246
      @joesgotnobeans3246 4 года назад

      fuck yeah that guy is a legend

    • @mtbird117
      @mtbird117 4 года назад

      Absolutely!!!! He awesome.

    • @ezk_4777
      @ezk_4777 4 года назад

      Derek browns better

  • @dioxsis3887
    @dioxsis3887 4 года назад +2

    Grace recently came to Santa Cruz for a performance in the Kuumbwa jazz center. You should also come sometime!

    • @bettersax
      @bettersax  4 года назад +1

      would be a pleasure.

  • @vincentgaglio5106
    @vincentgaglio5106 4 года назад +3

    Wow, telling a story Do I even have a story, or what is my story, sing and try to play. Awesome

  • @rickstokes2239
    @rickstokes2239 4 года назад

    This was pure gold for those of trying to improve our improv! Thank you!

  • @lucioliranzop.a.realtortru3505
    @lucioliranzop.a.realtortru3505 4 года назад +2

    Amazing video
    Thank you so much!!!

  • @hecateswolf6007
    @hecateswolf6007 7 месяцев назад

    Superb lesson thank you!

  • @LoicBoussouf
    @LoicBoussouf 3 года назад

    Hi, I used to watch your vids. But this one was definitely inspiring. I will start practice this as soon as tomorrow, thanks !

  • @krakenlover318
    @krakenlover318 4 года назад +1

    Another great lesson thanks so much

  • @prosaxtips5007
    @prosaxtips5007 4 года назад +1

    Another phenomenal video! Thanks for sharing this :-) Grace is such a great player and teacher. Thanks for bringing this to the community :-)

  • @gabrielhammond5325
    @gabrielhammond5325 4 года назад +1

    I saw grace Kelly live and she was awesome :)

  • @joelrodriguez1232
    @joelrodriguez1232 11 месяцев назад +1

    I just came across this video. Very interesting!

  • @everettmusicdojo
    @everettmusicdojo 4 года назад

    She's incredible!

  • @cliveastle9372
    @cliveastle9372 4 года назад +5

    Jay
    Any suggestions on how to do this for both Alto and Tenor, given the same note sounds different? Practice first on just one until confident?

    • @bettersax
      @bettersax  4 года назад +1

      Do the exact same thing on both. Your starting note for all of these examples on tenor would be C.

  • @ubizmo
    @ubizmo 4 года назад

    This is a brilliant exercise. Do you think it's a good idea to play a particular exercise in all keys before moving to the next one?

  • @stevewidney627
    @stevewidney627 3 года назад

    Wow, great training exercise! You both rock!

  • @ronjaemusic7777
    @ronjaemusic7777 4 года назад +1

    Great interview

  • @mattfichter3044
    @mattfichter3044 4 года назад +1

    THIS IS SO WHOLESOME!!

  • @Lasalas777
    @Lasalas777 4 года назад

    Que buen video!!! Peladito!!! Gracias. Desde Chile con respeto. He visto muchos videos de tu canal, y son geniales. Eres muy simpático

  • @sandrochiara7103
    @sandrochiara7103 3 года назад

    Great lesson
    Thanks

  • @alejandropedreno9553
    @alejandropedreno9553 4 года назад

    Really good and interesting
    I think that it can help in your improvisations

  • @ericweber5268
    @ericweber5268 4 года назад +1

    Great video! Well done 🎶🎷

  • @eladgellert
    @eladgellert 4 года назад +1

    That’s a really cool ear training exercise thanks!

  • @spud1300
    @spud1300 4 года назад +1

    wow wow wow.... this is awesome.

  • @ebimiefagha
    @ebimiefagha 4 года назад

    Wow!!!! This is dope!!! Thanks for this lesson.

  • @paulrbottse
    @paulrbottse 4 года назад +1

    Thank you!

  • @DciMaluko
    @DciMaluko 4 года назад +1

    Really good exercise to play whatever comes to your mind whenever you want

  • @lippie71
    @lippie71 4 года назад

    love it! thanks. I realy like Grace a lot she is my examle

  • @colinsamuels3195
    @colinsamuels3195 4 года назад

    Really enjoyed this

  • @francispayad1452
    @francispayad1452 4 года назад +1

    It was a great interview!! I have learned so many things!

  • @konstantinmatyukhin9536
    @konstantinmatyukhin9536 4 года назад +1

    Thank you for this video

  • @68daking68
    @68daking68 4 года назад

    This was eye opening

  • @maxwellmckinley637
    @maxwellmckinley637 4 года назад +4

    This was great. Cool exercise. Too bad I'm a bari player and can't sing that low. You should try to get Leo P on sometime.

    • @bettersax
      @bettersax  4 года назад

      just sing an octave higher.

    • @maxwellmckinley637
      @maxwellmckinley637 4 года назад

      @@bettersax For some reason I didn't think of that. Thank you.

  • @xsmi
    @xsmi 4 года назад +1

    She's AWESOME! Great exercise. I've been doing it the last hour. LOL.

  • @mchachom8134
    @mchachom8134 4 года назад +1

    Nice video nice and easy exercise to try out

  • @elmelmon
    @elmelmon 4 года назад

    Nice explanation ! She is good.

  • @alexgoss4268
    @alexgoss4268 4 года назад

    This was actually really helpful thank you!

  • @Thrillrider10
    @Thrillrider10 4 года назад

    This is something I'm definitely going to try. I've always had issues translating the ideas from my head to my instrument, so I think this will really help.
    ps, Grace is an absolutely incredible player.

  • @AbouTheMagnanimus
    @AbouTheMagnanimus 4 года назад

    This is such a great video. Thanks for sharing this, Jay.