I talk to so many people at gigs that come up and say, "Your band's really great - I'd really love to learn to play the sax". So I say "what's stopping you?"
The response is either 'not enough time', 'I do too much already', or 'dunno' really'. But whatever the excuse, ultimately, as already stated on the front page of this web site, the answer is......You!
As with anything in life, if you really want to do something you'll end up finding the time, making the time, or becoming more efficient with other things to make it possible.
And if you know someone else who's always had a yearning to try the sax but never quite got round to doing anything about it, why not surprise them with a lesson as a gift? You won't even have to worry about a saxophone as I have a spare alto that can be used for a first 'try out'. Email me with your details and let's see if we can turn wishes into reality...You might find it's the best present you've ever given!
I look forward to hearing from you.
And what about me?
I was lucky to live in a very musical household as I was growing up, with my brother playing just about every brass instrument and my mother and father playing the piano and singing - all to a high standard. My folks are still very involved in their music and also run a bed and breakfast business in the heart of the south Devon countryside (www.blacknesscottage.co.uk).
I studied piano to grade 8, oboe to grade 6 and dabbled with the violin and guitar during my formative years.
Now forty-something and based in Harpenden, Herts, I spent four years playing with Funkify - the area's premier function covers band - playing at corporate events, weddings and parties all over the country. I currently play with Faultline Jazz, a St. Albans-based African-influenced jazz group that plays in local pubs and restaurants. I have also played with local function bands 'Big Soul' and 'Shake, Rattle & Soul'.
As for the sax, I started playing in my early thirties and am largely self-taught, benefiting greatly from the music teaching I had during my school years and the various bands I've played and gigged with over the past few years. I teach all levels, from absolute beginners upwards - and from the age of nine upwards (I say the age of nine because this is about the time kids have grown up enough to be able to hold and play an alto sax). I have a dedicated music teaching room with the latest teaching and playing aids. The range of play-along CDs currently available is a vast and beneficial resource for music learning and this makes teaching and learning alike a pleasurable and fun experience. From film scores to chart hits, show tunes to jazz standards, there's a book for all tastes, all standards and all keys (specifically Eb and Bb for the saxophone family). Visit www.ackermanmusic.co.uk for a vast selection of music and play-alongs at reasonable prices. There's also some great computer software about to play along to and help you along the road to improvising and understanding more about chord sounds, changes and symbols.
But I also believe that music theory is paramount and this is also an area that I teach in the general course of lessons. And if you want to start on the route to the ABRSM exams I teach these also and have a 100% pass record with my students taking these exams. My costs are £10 for half an hour and £20 for one hour.
I try to make lessons interesting, informative, but above all, fun!
So if you live in the area of AL5 and fancy having a go - please get in touch via the 'contact' link below - let's start you on the road to all things sax!
Contact Bighorn: webenquiries@bighorn.co.uk
