20 Minutes of REAL Practice (What I Do & Why)

[@bobreynolds]

Download my practice notes from this video: bobreynoldsmusic.com/practice-notes-Bm7-Am7

[@WillBrown3]

For all of you who hire a musician or band and second guess the price… this is what you’re paying for! The time and effort it takes to get on stage and sound great!

[@alejandrogasconpena4346]

Actually what their paying is for the result, just like everything else in this world. A lifetime of work is not what sells something.

[@WillBrown3]

@alejandrogasconpena4346 You missed the whole point! A musician doesn't become great without practice... There is no way around it, and that takes time!

[@alejandrogasconpena4346]

@@WillBrown3 No man, I know, I am one. Im only saying that, if someone pays me to play, they dont do it because of the work I put in it but because of the result, that is, beauty, good music... Same reason because someone would pay for any other thing: shoes, a house, a movie...

[@Eldorias]

As a pianist I think it's so inspiring to see musicians of your level work on fundamentals at a very slow tempo, it really seems to be the best way to work on technique

[@maxmeszaros9527]

I wish there were more videos like this out there. Being able to see, uncut, what amazing musicians actually practice, especially with explanations of what they're doing and why is so illuminating. Thank you, Bob!

[@codfather6583]

I wish more professionals would upload their practice sessions. I watched and listened to it all!

[@AdreinMatthews]

I’m a guitarist. Self taught. I have no way to express how useful this video is. It gives me a new dimension to add to my practice. I am grateful. All the best.

[@bobreynolds]

So glad to hear that, Adrian! 🙏

[@mgbasinski]

@@bobreynolds Another guitarist here, thanks for posting this - great stuff (and even for those of us not wind players, working these ideas is super productive)

[@mslourenco100]

finally, a practical video for beginners (and not only, obviously). Thnks

[@TheSkinDoctorCSGO]

Your vulnerability and willingness to share the realest of the real raises my respect for you even higher than it already was! Thank you for all you do!

[@Xavia_Dimoff]

Thank you for showing us real practice without pressuring us to follow it. So many times I see people make practice guides where they sound as if they are saying they don’t personally waste time practicing and that you NEED to do what they say or else you are wasting your time. I have felt so close to doing what you show here, but never quite sticking with it because I would get it in my head that I’m wasting time and should be doing something else. You played one idea in one key.

[@jakecrowe3797]

Oh, this is so incredibly useful. I always thought it would be great to just watch my teachers practice. And feel free to pop up these kinds of videos whenever content ideas run dry!

[@oscargill423]

Keeping the fingering going while taking a breath is revolutionary for me. I'll be coming back to this for sure.

[@47mikep]

Best 20 minutes I've spent in a long time. It takes a lot of discipline to play slow and methodical, Thanks for reminding me to slow down and get the fundamentals under my fingers,

[@garyharrismusic]

My thoughts exactly! I was trying to find words to describe how I felt about this video. You did it perfectly. Off to work I go. 🎷

[@nafawi7965]

Thanks for your feed, Bob. I’m so glad to see this one. I’ve played sax for 30+ years and I feel like this granular, detailed practice is where I spend lots of time. Getting fingers synched…making each note to sound when,how and where exactly I want them to land. Color, attack, release and burying the sound,of a phrase in my biochemistry..in my ear. The practice of art..music..is one phrases at a time. Just get one phrase. One interval to feel solid and controlled…like telling someone my name…or counting to 10(at 30b-m 😂) No wonder your sound and playing are so consistently clear and well-stated.

[@DavidBeecroftMusic]

Thank you for your honesty. The how is so very important.

[@Northernbreed1738]

This is the best video I've seen on KZbin in a long time. I've spent hours and hours of practicing alone in a room, doing many of the same things you're doing, thinking, listening, feeling, watching, and for so long I've asked myself "Is this the thing I should be doing? Is it the right way? Is it really this boring at times?". Now I see it is, even for someone at your level. It's like you've pulled the curtain back and shown me that yeah, it's really just work and focus and repetitive and thinking and listening, and it's practice not performance, and all the rest I've learned to do when practicing, but was never really sure great players do it too, or if it was right or normal. Wonderful - thanks for posting this.

[@ekesamuel8795]

MAnnnnnnn I do not even know what else to say. This is actually the real deal right here. This gets you far and beyond as a musician; sadly, we don't get this on youtube or anywhere, especially the commentary you put up alongside the video. Thank you so much for this video.

[@awkwardshapes7072]

This is phenomenal. Very helpful to see how in-depth practicing on little things like this can be used with incredibly advanced players like yourself!

[@wyndhl8309]

It is greater than the best practice approaches given on KZbin to date👌 👍 😍 Some of what I have taken away from Bob's exercise routine: Plan with purpose and structure; demonstrate patience without speeding; repetition of phrase and/or passage; concentrate on sound being produced; pause a little, stretch body and fingers, as well as breathe as seen fit; pay attention to rhythm (and timing); a few long tones in the mix, of course 👌 Had I done this, I would have found saxophone playing less challenging. Certainly, I would have been a better instrumentalist on saxophones, flutes, and clarinet. Yet another master video! A million thanks, Bob.

[@1.nf674]

Stumbled onto this technique on my own. (on a MUCH smaller scale) I thought I might be wasting time.... going too slowly. I was on the right track, now I will shed like crazy. Thank you!!!

[@stack80]

This was so dope, thank you so much for this insight! My son and I will work on this. Please make more videos of this, straight practicing. I have never seen a video like this out there 🙏🏽🔥

[@Orlando-wn4uc]

This is a great video. I always learn so much from watching professional saxophonist's hands. Their economy of motion is incredible. This is super helpful. Thanks again, Bob!

[@MikeSmith-go8wk]

I love this video. Honestly as simple as it is I have found it invaluable. I didn't understand that someone as good as you could be so focused on a small element

[@veeps1817]

Breaking it down to an eight note line is great. It's interesting how doing one little pattern and burning it into the fingers and mind can translate to having the coordination for transposition to all keys and all patterns in that same key. Also, I find it's relaxing and a relief to focus on one thing and pick it apart like you do , always conscious of a tempo and rhythm. A long time ago Jerry Bergonzi told me that he taught because he could either hide what he knew or share it and he wanted to share it. I'm glad you are sharing your knowledge in a compassionate and deep manner.

[@Osnosis]

Jerry was the first teacher I had (45 years ago!) that knew so much he didn’t need to hide the material. While he showed me the trailhead, I still can’t see above the clouds!

[@davidmojel2358]

Thanks for choosing to upload this.

[@adriancoulson]

Wow, incredible patience and concentration. I always move on to trying to play in different keys or improvising rhythmically. You really lock in and focus!

[@mickmann6779]

Very inspirational, just gettin it out of the case and putting the mouthpiece in my mouth EVERYDAY makes my day.

[@LennyPrice]

Wonderful content, Bob! Sound is actually job ONE! Combining melodic/harmonic work with long tones is a great way to kill two birds with one stone. Bravo! 🎷

[@aaronkohen9994]

just a truly fascinating window into the art of practice. to be a fly on the wall i tell my students...so i will be sharing this with them (high school and middle school instrumentalists need to see this!!). thanks so much bob!

[@bobreynolds]

Thank you, Aaron, and yes, please do share with them! That’s partially the audience I had in mind for this.

[@saxaphoney]

its comforting to know that me pacing around my kitchen flubbing over a note and then taking 10 minutes to analyze it with long tones is more normal than I thought.

[@masterllama321]

Trusting the process is hard but yields great results. Thanks Bob!

I'm from Brazil and I play eletric guitar, but I loved this video! I got so many informations for application to the guitar!

[@HelioCoelhoJunior]

cool ! I got completely in the zone repeating the phrase with the video... amazing also to hear the notes and adjusting them in realtime to match ! Thanks Bob.

[@koegon]

This is exactly what I needed to see today. Thank you

[@jimspake]

This is a great help to me. I can get so distracted~ especially at practice. Very inspiring.

[@DineshBhadwal]

The biggest hurdle is no doubt to get that instrument out of the box! Thank you for posting this. Very helpful.

[@thomasjones2071]

I can really appreciate the time and study, that you put into your craft.

[@KristianJacksonmusic]

I’ll add another vote for short, focused practice sessions. In my case, my ability to shed on sax the past few years has been limited due to time and noise issues so I pivoted to my guitar playing. I literally sneak in 5 mins every day, focusing on a singular skill over the course of a few days/week. No overarching plan, just identifying areas as I go. I started around Christmas 2020 and it’s been transformational. My studio should be soundproofed by the end of the year so am looking forward to doing the same with my sax again.

[@musicmanson]

Just straight up raw shedding. I think this is what we all needed. Thanks, Bob!

[@mrtdmccollum]

Wow... now I don't feel so weird about what I practice. I totally thought I wasn't doing enough. Thanks for sharing. It was very encouraging for me. I'm super shy and private when it comes to practicing. I'll get over it one day 😅. You are a brave man and one of the best I've seen on Tenor.

[@olivierherment1188]

it's such a pleasure to listen to a musician practice... My turn now

[@rtraill1]

Watched the whole thing Very worth while Transmissional Thanks so much Bob

[@heinzstebe1675]

Hi Bob, nice info to practice. Just one note, to dry the key pads and tone hole- use coffee filter paper. Cut it in different sizes so it fits to the different tone holes. After each practice session i dry all the upper key pads.

[@bobreynolds]

Coffee filters! 🤯 Gonna try it. Thanks

[@music4all252]

Wow! Who knew, a Master Class inside of a regular practice session. Thanks for taking the time and the risk. Great information that I will use for inspiration!

[@LennyPrice]

Thanks for sharing this, Bob! I'm getting back into shape during recovery from a #kidneytransplant. Now that I've re-established my sound, it's time to pick up the harmonic content work. Bravo! 🎷

[@DinoSoldo]

Boring is the new awesome. This is what KZbin needs. Absolute reality. I love it.

[@pascalrichard4280]

Thanks Bob. Been struggling recently on how to do some focused practice rather than just noodling, and this video was EXACTLY what I needed to get me back on the saddle. 🎷

[@bobreynolds]

Awesome, Pascal! I think I mentioned this video for you as I reviewed your video in the studio yesterday!

[@jacobjammin7693]

This is very interesting. I definitely need to write notes out and make mental notes while playing. Thank you 🙏

[@simulizizadudumizi8417]

Thanks a lot for such a wonderful video. Now I know what to practice.

[@sauxphilippe]

great chalenge ! Thank's Bob !

[@clarinetninja]

I have been watching your vidoes for a long time - don't know if I ever commented. I went to hear you play (seems like another lifetime ago) at 55 bar in the village (it was prior to 2010). I dreamed of being a tenor player...but ended up a orchestral clarinetist instead. It is great to hear somebody expose the framework of improvised music the way that you do. I try to teach many of the same concepts with the clarinet - with the idea that music needs to be heard first in the ear before the notes are produced. Classical musicians often have great ears, but forget to teach what is so obvious in improvised music. I could drone on for hours, but reading youtube comments must get boring for you! To make it short.... I am a huge fan of your playing and even a bigger fan of your teaching. It's all inspirational and a real asset to the music community

[@bobreynolds]

Thank you! Not boring at all, and I appreciate you taking time to share this with me.

[@georgehiggins1320]

This is like the most entertaining video I've ever seen.

[@bobreynolds]

☺️

[@pneptune5851]

Good points you made with this vid. And I also think is good to throw in other tools of reference to monitor your progress, and make it more interesting. For example you’ve already a metronome constraint. So then - I would also add a tuner constraint. And a room locality constraint to find the best resonance. -A harder than normal reed constraint. I would also work with octave constraints, trill constraints , and dynamic constraints. And I see that you discovered the overtone constraints. Thanks for this because we all need to realize that we aren’t alone in our practice apneas😂😂

[@bebopisthetruth]

Yes, this is real practice - I’ve always enjoyed hearing musicians practice, making decisions in real time about when to repeat when to move on, what problem they are trying to solve. Additional suggestion - keep a practice journal. I played saxophone for years and am now studying guitar. I have been keeping a journal for several years - what I’m working, struggling against, and what challenges I’ve overcomed. Sometimes it’s as basic as notes and reminders on a particular hand or finger postion. It’s a great resource for future reference.

[@bobreynolds]

bobreynoldsmusic.com/practice-journal-20-years-ago/

[@bebopisthetruth]

@@bobreynolds Thanks for the link - this is great! I left out a key piece that your articles covered - using a practice journal to capture goals and evaluate progress.

[@soulfireblue5721]

This is my favorite video. Thank you!

[@vincescuderi]

Thanks for all your down-to-earth videos. Another reason I think we, or I, procrastinate with regard to practice is that many times the stuff you practice deserts you on the gig. I realize much of that can be remedied by repetition of your ideas and after that, more repetition. Thanks again for all the great content. Gotta go practice now ;-)

[@HB-ve4wi]

This is absolutely invaluable. Thanks for sharing! 🙏🙏🙏

[@danielryanmusic]

Bob I loved the honesty of this video ❤❤ thank you always ....Dan

[@leange04]

Thanks, i needed some new ideas to practice … this is a great way to stay totally focused and in time! Perfect video

[@garaumoris9893]

Bob Reynolds un incroyable saxophoniste qui partage ses connaissances , quelle chance nous avons de vous suivre et pouvoir pratiquer notre passion du saxophone avec vos conseils .. un grand bonjour amical de France 🙏

[@saxman3336]

More Vids like this Bob, watching the professionals practice.

[@barrypsax]

Great video, and you know exactly why: the tendency is to try to do too much too fast. Really nice to see not just what you’re practicing, but how you practice it - this really will affect what I do in the practice room.

[@bobreynolds]

Thanks! 👍

[@matheusamaral3440]

Awesome content! I don’t understand much about the notes you made, but it’s good to listen and practice together!

[@casbont]

Music is such a daunting endeavor, it's nice to see that top caliber musicians deal with the same bs as everyone else. I read Michael Brecker's bio, and there was a quip about him trying tons of mouthpieces for his friend, and his friend was telling him they all sounded great!! Even Mike Brecker was unsure of himself, keep on keeping on, thanks for sharing!!

[@zecastello]

One of the BEST videos you put out here! Thanks a lot, man!

[@mpbraendle9621]

Impressive. And without using a tuner. You inspired me to rethink my practice routine.

[@randygeorge]

refreshing video. Thanks for sharing a bit of real life. I bet there are people who don't know this is how the magic is made... I got a kick out the slow repetition of single intervals. the slow practice brute forcing the synapses into alignment.

[@bobreynolds]

That’s exactly it: brute forcing the synapses! Great way to describe it

[@FlitchMcGlitch]

Fantastic Bob

[@GustavoMaciel27]

Thanks for this content. It’s gold

[@saxulaylee]

I’m doing this exact practice routine now but with all 12 keys and I think that will be golden!

[@DiegoErnestoGarcia]

This video is pure gold, man, you are always so inspiring!

[@darkcanyonprospecting1148]

Great video as always, Bob. You are such an inspiration.

[@riccitone]

Unless!!…So succinctly overviewed what I so often want my students to try: set the heavy goals aside, pick up the horn and just address those almost mindless small things, and stay in a daily groove ❤🙏🏼👍🏼

[@tomrees4812]

This is why I soundproofed my garage so I could practice stuff like this without driving my neighbours nuts - or convincing them I was nuts😊

[@aguzman11189]

Wow it’s really cool to see that you even write goals not related to the music itself, like looking in the mirror to see if your fingers are always on the pearls! Great video :)

[@garyharrismusic]

Thank you Bob! 🙏🏾

[@yoelhooper-antunez1016]

This is sick!!! I’ve always wanted to see a video like this

[@frankversteeg8107]

very interesting to watch, to see, how a pro is practising, allmost 3 years on my sax yourney now

[@squeeps78]

I love how you illustrate just how much you can get out of focusing on a very specific section. How do you think practice sessions like this, focused on a very specific aspect of your technique, translate to other areas of your playing? A lot of the time I feel like I have to hit it all in one practice sessions if I want to make steady progress in all areas.

[@tien.viet.nguyen]

Thank you so much, this was exactly what I needed. ❤

[@robstevens9590]

What patience and persistance!

[@robertomacheda592]

very nice man

[@leanmchungry4735]

Great stuff, the arpeggio motif reminds me of the fist bar of Joe Hederson's Lush Life, from his Strayhorn album.

[@bobreynolds]

Joe did this (2 m7 chords a whole step apart) a lot. Played rapidly (like I do at top of video) is kind of a signature Joe Hen thing. Good catch!

[@Orlando-wn4uc]

@@bobreynolds Mind blown... I'm totally going to practice this now...

[@CassStevens]

This is like Shaolin monk level practicing.

[@chaselaro1444]

​@@Zxx459 Whys that?

[@jackjackdaw5065]

I love practicing. ❤

[@zan77460]

This inspired to use a metronome after a long time practicing without it.

[@oscarwisnia375]

This is an awesome resource. Thank you for posting. I was curious how much of a role routine plays in your practice? During your heaviest practice years did you have routines, subjects you always came back to? I’m always worried about the skills I practice deteriorating if I don’t keep up with them.

[@noelmesta3313]

Así práctico yo tengo que practicar más y más,mucho más!!

[@GDM223SR]

I get it. I totally get it. Thank you!

[@bobreynolds]

Awesome. Glad it resonated, Steve. 👍

[@lukamacinnes-cann3665]

Fascinating video Bob! I have a few questions, just wondering how you came up with this specific idea to practice. And along with that, what was the main goal with practicing this, and how would this in-turn affect your playing. Thanks for the video!

[@MrGeolm]

I wish I could practice like that, just focusing on rhythm, tone, fingers, and so on... but I got so little time per day (30mn) to practice that I need to work on tunes for the gigs and I get just 10-15mn to work on licks and technique (although I do it at 60 bpm)

[@Dionpr1]

Love it. I do something similar but in the open air. I live on a farm so 'noise' is not an issue. Curious about your m/pce reed set up? Sounds great. thanks a hundred times.

[@trawomov]

Hello Mr. Bob Reynolds, thank you for this great lesson!! I also like this metronome click. Which one do you use? Best Regards

[@dougpluta1140]

Very interesting video... enjoyed the content. Liked the hockey goal horn at the end! Lol...great work.

[@bobreynolds]

☺️🥅🎷

[@JeffreySaxophoneTallNewton]

The current hardest part is that I live in an apartment for the first time in my life - no house to play in. I'm in LA and houses are 1 million for a shack, unlike my native suburban Detroit where they are affordable. I'm looking at renting or buying a mobile in a park (a nice one). Maybe s Whisper Room? In my otherwise misspent youth, I practiced all day. 8, 10, sometimes 15 hours a day in music school (OK, that's bananas...!)

[@wdh120]

I like your approach to fundamentals and repetition; however I would have been tempted to play your pattern in different keys, like moving up one half step? I'm learning how to improvise still, and would really appreciate your response! Thank you

[@markfretless]

After about 20 minutes, that B sounds less honky. Love the attention to detail, the focus... REAL PRACTICE🤗Glad that you shared this!(yep, I watched/listened to the whole video.) Btw, have you seen Chuck Sher's Brecker Practice Notebooks?

[@bobreynolds]

Thanks, Mark! You're still with me after all these years (recently came across a comment of yours on my old blog on my website from 2014!) Haven't seen the Brecker books, but I've heard about it.

[@markfretless]

@@bobreynolds Yes, been following you longer than that. Found you many moons before that via Janek. Keep going, and thanks for the music!

[@okanepara159]

I finally found what bugs loud radio players in subway :)😂 this is an amazing sound that I use when they play loud music around me. That really kills them :) thank you thank you thank you for introducing this buggy for me.

[@bobreynolds]

😂

[@lincland3867]

Do you ever do this with a drone note as well? As centered as your pitch is, how do you know if you’re actually in tune? Isn’t there potential to develope muscle memory in your embouchure that’s out of tune if there is no pitch reference?

[@bobreynolds]

yes. i'd say it's most important early on, when you're developing that sense of pitch "center" and less so once you have that internal pitch compass. that said, i was doing longtones with a drone yesterday, but more so to feel intervals against a single pitch.

[@saxontihum]

hey Bob! wonderful video that really helped me, just wondering, what do you think about “knowing exactly what you play while you play it”, like being able to know, sing, and repeat whatever you improvise on the spot? (minus licks/quotes obviously)

[@yuyu_skaholic]

Same concept to clean sticky pads, in myself I do ang money bill then put some a little baby power for the pads