You should learn another instrument. It’s not only important to have at least some skill on different instruments, one of the most fun things to do at the end of the day is to jump on an instrument you know you suck at and just have some no pressure, no expectation, time making music for the hell of it. You might even discover an instrument that you love almost as much as your main outlet for musical expression.
Of course, as a saxophonist, I’m required to be somewhat of a multi-instrumentalist. Playing clarinet and flute is a must for any saxophonist who wants to work on a regular basis. I have come to really love these other instruments. Flute, in particular, has become a part of my daily practice regimen and I REALLY have come to respect amazing flautists. That is a freaking hard instrument to play well!
In addition to saxophone and woodwinds, I love playing drums and piano. I’m much better at the drums than the piano and have even done some gigging on the skins, but I know it will never be my main axe and I’m cool with that. I can play piano enough to teach, arrange, and compose and that’s all I need for my purposes. I feel like learning these two other instruments has made me a much better saxophone player. The unique challenges of playing an instrument as tough as drums and piano makes my brain work in a different way. This different way of thinking can be brought back to my saxophone explorations and has significantly benefited the way I play and improvise.
There’s nothing better than sitting down at the drums at the end of a long day and just messing around. It has become a release for me and reminds me that music is supposed to be fun more than anything. If you aren’t having fun while you’re playing music you might want to reexamine why you’re doing it. I know there is an instrument you have always wanted to try. So get on Craigslist, find the cheapest working one, and revel in how bad you sound. But also realize that sounding good isn’t the point, feeling like a kid picking up an instrument for the first time is.
Talk Soon,
Nick
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