We all find ourselves in those situations where we see something fun or cool happening, but we keep ourselves out of it for whatever reason. Couple of questions come out of this.
1. What's something you've always wanted to get into but just haven't?
2. What have you dived right into straight away, and really gotten something out of it?
1. Dungeons and Dragons. That's the first thing that comes to mind for this question. Looks like fun, but I can never pull myself to play it. I always feel "fake" and weird when even coming close to the game. It's similar with acting. I've acted in a few plays growing up, and always felt weird/icky when doing it. But D&D looks like a lot of fun if I could get over that. 2. Programming. Did it when I was a kid. I just loved the idea of making my own video games, so I just dove in. Found some tutorials online and went to work. Ended up making a game a few years later (even though it was really fan boyish and crap). A few years after that, I've finally published my first "real" game. And I'm planning on going into the field for work.
Tabletop roleplaying games are crazy fun. I grew up playing them with a good group. To this day, a couple members in my group are ashamed of it, and don't like to bring it up in mixed company. It's a damn shame. Me, I created my own. I used a pen name, but that's mostly because I publish for my day job. I am a proud gamer. Congrats on #2. Post your game.
1. I've always wanted to play the saxophone -I don't own one and even if I did, I wouldn't have the slightest idea how to begin. 2. Tennis. I'm sure everyone on Hubski is sick of me talking about it, but it's something I jumped in to out of nowhere and just began doing. I love it so much that I played last night at 8:30 in 20degree weather.
saxophone is actually super easy! i don't own one either but my little sister plays and i bought my own mouthpiece so i could mess around on hers every once in a while. It's much easier than something like a trumpet or trombone (in my opinion) because the notes are more intuitive and it doesn't require crazy strong mouth muscles. if you every have a chance, you should definitely get one. Once you get your lips in the right place so you actually make noise, it's just a matter of memorizing the scales.
Scales are easy, but getting a good sound is not, especially the subtone (that kind of breathy sound-- think Stan Getz). Building up the diaphragm to move enough air through the horn can be hard for some, especially on the tenor and the larger saxes, (and also against harder reeds). Actually, soprano requires quite a bit of air too. Anyway, alto tends to be the "default" beginner sax because it is easier to achieve a nice tone and the size is manageable for just about everybody. A good embouchure can also be hard to develop. There is the very basic embouchure, where the lower lip curls over the bottom teeth and rests against the reed, but jazz players experiment with these as well. For example, one might curl the lower lip over the teeth and then roll the inside of the lip out to rest against the reed for a brighter, more open tone. This embouchure requires a lot more control from the cheek muscles though.
You're absolutely right, and im certainly no saxophone expert =). But judging from my experience i'd say as an instrument it has a more forgiving learning curve than other winds/brass. A lot of the challenges the saxophone has and the things you pointed out are things you don't really need to worry too much about until you're making the transition from "i'm learning the saxophone" to "i play the saxophone". Getting a good sound and good embrouchure (couldn't remember the word earlier, thanks) is an ongoing process. But to just, for example, play along with a 12 bar blues, thats something i think you could learn in no time.
I just need to get one. A decent one would run me a few bucks though and I'm not even sure what to get. I literally know nothing about the instrument. It's good to know that they're not that difficult to get the basics on though, thanks for the encouragement.
You might be surprised actually. There are plenty of decent saxes just sitting around, tarnishing. You might get lucky at a yard/garage/church sale, or even a local dump might have a swap shop. You could try craigslist too. Another place you might look is the music department at a local university. People there are bound to know where to get decent stuff for a decent price. For a first sax, a couple of dents on the body are ok, as long as the metal is intact and the tube of the bell isn't deformed. If you get a used one, go and get the pads replaced and have it cleaned up and have the guy make sure that the cork on the neck is ok and that all the little bars and springs are doing what they're supposed to. It looks really complicated, but it's pretty easy to know when something isn't working on a sax. Basically, the keys that the pointer, middle and ring fingers can naturally reach on the left and right hand should close valves, while the keys pressed by left thumb, the palms and the pinkies, should open valves and no valves should be flapping around.
Rapping. I love slam poetry and have been into hip hop for years but I just don't know where to begin with making music. I don't have a rhythmic bone in my body in terms of making beats, and I haven't found anyone to work with. Writing. Ever since I was a kid I have been writing stories and plays. I finally completed my degree in English with an emphasis in creative writing last year and it was such a fulfilling experience in my life. I finally finished my first novella last year, it needs severe editing and expansion before I would even attempt publication, but knowing I can complete an extended work is an extremely gratifying feeling. I know it is hard to get a job with this degree, but I am just trying to subscribe to the Alan Watts school of thought, in that following your passions will lead to a more fulfilling existence.
1. Relatively recently: western martial arts. Like longsword fencing and such. It's so awesome and uncommon, and there's some rich historical background and participation in it. There's a gym for it maybe 20 minutes away, but really it'd be tough for me to make a commitment to taking it on now. Most likely a bit too much time/distance for me to actually stick with it even if I went for it. 2. Bass. Freshman year of HS I got the unusual idea that I wanted to be a bass player. Within a month or two from the first time I had that thought I got a bass and taught myself to play. It's been a big part of my life ever since and was totally worth it.
On 1: I've done martial arts for about a year (kyokushin karate) and what I've noticed is that you can often take a tryout lesson for no (or a small) fee. No commitment necessary, they are often very hospitable to potential members. Maybe send the gym a mail to ask? Can't hurt much, and martial arts are really cool.
1. Writing. English was my worst subject at school and I never really enjoyed writing short stories for my assignments. I've basically never written fiction or non-fiction for my own enjoyment. c_hawkthorne mentioned /r/writingprompts so I'm going to check that out. I've also always wanted to write non-fiction. Being able to put forward an opinion or explain something in a way that is easy to understand and persuasive sounds really good. Again this brings to mind GCSE English exams where I've had one and a half hours to write a persuasive letter on how the imaginary sports centre should not be built as it will yadda yadda rule of three yadda yadda adjectives zzzzzzzzzzzzz. 2. Music. Playing guitar is fun, playing piano is fun. I wish I hadn't stopped piano lessons after secondary school. The instant I can afford a place with enough space (i.e. when I graduate), I am getting a piano and going to start playing again. I play piano as much as I can when I'm at home with my family.
You know how in some sciences, like bio/genetics for example, they teach you something, and you're like "Oh it really is that simple!" and you master it? Like let's say Mendel and the pea plants? Then if you like bio you take another year or two of it and they're like "AHAHAHA just joking, this is really how genes work" (in other words they start demonstrating to you the more complex genes that are determined by more than a simple 2x2 grid, like I don't know eye color - I don't know enough bio to actually know these, I just know they're more complex than what they teach students in an intro class). Then you take even more bio and at some point half of the concepts you learned in your original biology class have been completely overturned in your head as you have learned more. That's kind of like the rule of three. In English and in writing teachers drum the rule of three into students' heads because it gives them structure, and if you can think of three points to prove something, you're probably on pretty solid ground. But when you're being persuasive in essays, you don't really need three points. My favorite essay form became a good ol' 4-pager, with two main paragraphs addressing the needs of my "thesis." Moreover, each paragraph doesn't have to be a boring "THis is another reason I'm using to convince you" format - again, that's just what teachers use to get students used to the format of the essay. Often I would collect reasons and then slap them together in a paragraph by "type." Like, "Environmental effects" or "economy effects." Then you can count multiple reasons within one paragraph as long as they are looped together under your topic sentence. I guess I wanted to let you know that there is a lot out there beyond the mold(s) that you've been taught. If that is what you find constraining about writing - chuck 'em to the wayside. And fast.yadda yadda rule of three
Yeah, essays for me don't really follow the old PEE and rule of three structure but they're still useful. Another example of what you explained with biology is chemistry. You get introduced to atoms, then atoms being made up of protons/neutrons/electrons and then you learn about ions and electron 'shells' which are explained to you by saying that certain electrons orbit the nucleus at a 'further' distance. (this is about where my education in chem stopped) Then you learn that it's not actually about distance or energy levels or something like that? Every level of complexity tells you something useful but there's usually another one just beyond it. I did a course in my first year of Computer Science which was a combined cognitive science and writing course. The idea was that we would learn about cognitive science and then write essays on it (three 1000 word essays), but also that we would learn how the act of writing is in fact very similar to other creative activities such as programming or invention. I wonder if there is a difference in how different sorts of programmers write. Java programming and Haskell programming are very different experiences, maybe the different habits you pick up bleed over into other areas.
1. I've always wanted to get into hiking. I hiked a bit of the Appalachian Trail a few years ago, if I recall correctly it was around 30 miles in 4 days, and it was a blast, but I don't really have the means to go out hiking anywhere near as much as I would like to. 2. Baking and writing. Over the past few years, I have made countless cakes, cookies, puddings, and so much more. I have learned a lot about baking, and I think it has helped me grow a lot as a person, not just in circumference (another reason why I want to get into hinking...) In terms of writing, I started frequenting /r/writingprompts more often. While I don't write as much as I would like to, when I do, it feels great. I love having these two things in my life. I feel as if it really helps me express my creativity I've had bottled up in my all these years, and It's so much fun to just let it all pour out.
1. Programming. I know some Visual Basic and MATLAB, but I would love to learn a lot more than that in my free. 2. Putting on concerts. Anything from booking to helping to promote other concerts, it's a great feeling when a lot of people show up and an even better feeling when the bands are having a great time. It could be anything from a 500 person show to a 20 person basement show, if it goes well it feels great.
what is your relationship with improv?
Let me try that again. I started improv workshops back in the 00s. Hugh, the improv guru who wrote this ran free drop-in workshops. Improv builds confidence, helps with social skills, teaches you to think on your feet, teaches you to see humour anywhere, and on and on. You?
My family is friends with another family, the "Johnsons," whose son is in the other improv group in town. When tryouts were held for my current improv group, the Johnsons' younger son decided to audition. I've always had a witty sense of humor; my mother encouraged me to audition with him just to try it. I made it on the team without any previous drama experience and have loved it since. Improv has definitely helped with my social confidence and has given me a more positive outlook.
1. Playing Guitar, DJ'ing, producing music. 2. I've wanted to spin Poi for a few years and give people light shows and the such. I was recently gifted LED Poi and Sock Poi for practice and it seems like I'm picking up the basics well.