How I PRACTICE (with my new favorite app)

[@BeconHillJazz]

As a 78-year-old sax player, I thought I had heard it all. Your suggestion to set the pulse of the metronome on 2 and 4 has challenged me once again and returned joy to my practice routine. I would like to take this opportunity to tell you what great pleasure I get from your videos. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

[@bettersax]

Thanks for this kind comment. Glad you enjoy the videos. I’ll make more.

[@rickspyder6159]

Try it on 4 too ....it teaches you to hear syncopation at faster tempos

[@apinakapinastorba]

2 and 4 sounds a bit more like a drummer, cool :)

[@stopitshutter]

go marty!!!! inspiring

[@makar1999]

J

[@robertgalardi3731]

as an 85 yr old active sax player i just want to thank Jay Metcalf for teaching me so many things that none of my many sax teachers ever taught me ... You are the best Metcalf . cant thank you enough.. wish i had discovered a teacher like you 65 yrs ago.. bobby G..

[@claudyalie3519]

I totally share M. Galardi’s comment and appreciation. Many many thanks to Jay Metcalf. Claudy

[@nickmartorano6766]

Fantastic tutorial, as always Jay :) BTW, 2 Android Apps that together can achieve something similar to the App you reviewed are 1) Tonal Energy (for drones and metronome) and 2) Chordbot (for chords). Hope your App gets ported to Android soon! :)

[@chriselston7046]

The drone feature of this app impresses me more and more. If you set the pitch to change randomly every 12 seconds (say) you can match your pitch and play a good tone then, when the new pitch starts, without looking at the screen you can try to name the pitch or find it on your instrument. So it's good ear training as well. And 'theory': if you hear the pitch go down by say a major 3rd you have to know instantly what a major third below the note you are playing is. And if you keep playing the old note over the new pitch your get to hear what the interval sounds like played together.

[@chriselston7046]

You've really hit the spot with this one, Jay. Just playing over the drones is worth it for me. I can feel my embouchure improving just to stay in tune with the drones. The app is much better than finding a KZbin drone that plays a single note for five minutes.

[@sharisax]

Chris, I assume you selected CLARINET -- as Jay suggested -- What do you select for Hz?

[@chriselston7046]

@@sharisax I went for 440. It was set to 442 when I opened it for the first time but I'm an A440 king of guy ;)

[@DAlex2025]

Perfect timing, was wanting to change up my practice routine!

[@Yourbosskid]

Three minutes in and I bought it already 😂 I have been tortured having to search for backing tracks for chords and progressions. This app is a godsend

[@Nickins]

Hi Jay, I know it's unlikely you'll see this comment, but just in case I wanted to thank you for your videos! Your presnetation, style and enthusiasm made me take the leap and I just got my first saxophone, along with all of your courses. Keep up the good work!

[@bettersax]

Thanks Nikita! Glad to hear it.

[@MrGuto]

I’ve been using this app for a year+ as well. It’s excellent and he keeps always improving it big time. It’s great to work patterns over.

[@Jwellsuhhuh]

*fun fact* : when doing drones, you can tell the exact frequency that you are off by, by listening for a so-called "beat frequency". Listen to 3:38, and you will hear a subtle pulsing sound caused by the interference of 2 waves of close but not exactly the same frequency. The frequency of this beat pattern is going to be the SAME frequency that you are off by in your note (slower pulsing sound means you're closer to the correct frequency)

[@BrianJoeSandy]

TE tuner. Had it for a while and just discovered it can do drones and chords too!

[@francogiardino1]

Jay once again making awesome content with great tips and ideas for all of us. Thank you very much! And keep it up! 🎷👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@robstevens9590]

I like the idea of playing long-tones along with a drone (but no visual tuner) and the metronome skipping some beats. Both good tips to internalize tone, pitch and rhythm. So nice that you were able to produce your own sax and mouthpiece!

[@juanmiguelorrego7271]

Always watching your videos Jay as it's time we'll spent for me.. Many thanks for your efforts

[@richardm1]

Wow! This app is simply amazing! So many possibilities.

[@toaster7884]

I've actually been messing with drones in my practice as well. I find it really fun to just pick a note on my keyboard and play it across all octaves with the sustain pedal while i improv over it. Since I don't necessarily have a tempo or time signature, most of what i play is slower, so it doubles as a tone exercise

[@mazelon]

Love the videos! Decided to rekindle my early years and start playing again 20 years after I put it all down. Just picked up a Yamaha 62 Tenor and am looking forward to running through your vids to get my skills sharpened back up!

[@mileswhite4329]

I bought a new iPad just so I could download this app. Now I have the app. Ready to jump into it. Thank you.

[@ismoknuutti]

I hope that the iPractice app comes soon to Android and I wait also that mouthpiece to Europe. Thanks for the videos.

[@kmay3935]

What A great App, I only have an android phone. Would actually rather have this on my laptop. Will be watching comments to see if there is another similar app mentioned.

[@thomascarter8833]

Tonal energy still does the drone you just have to manually turn it on and off

[@andrewcapper5219]

Incorporating how to get the most out of the various apps during practice is super helpful. Would love to see more videos like this!

[@GetYourSaxTogether]

Yeah! Feeling the jacket man. Gawd, I need to smarten up my image, you and Wally Wallace are putting me to shame. 😂 That app looks great. Might have to five it a whirl. Love this content btw - super valuable. Listen to Jay everyone!!! 👍🏻

[@frankzona9867]

Yes, I want to know where Jay bought that jacket !!

[@MaDwillster]

Just from the intro I’m already hooked in 😆

[@kwootamuckbear9294]

I pre-ordered the “burnin” mpc to help support you for your continued time and effort you put in on your videos to help others.👍🏽 On another little tid-bit: I’m still playing on the Bettersax alto I purchased when that first came out. I have number 10; and most recently I had the low Bb pinkey key-screw come out on me. I put a little locktite on it. I’ve also noticed a few sharpe edges(very sharp) that should be checked and possibly filed down before shipping to customer. And, on my Sax I have 3 screws that are not seated flush. This is another thing that can scrape a bit of skin off if you’re not aware they are there. I’m still very much enjoying the horn and have been playing it 3-4 hours a day and have become quite comfortable playing it. It’s a “Bettersax” than I had anticipated at such a great price. My comments are respectfully submitted as you suggested to keep a update. I’m anticipating my “burnin” mpc👍🏽Thanks again for all you do✌🏽🎵🎶🎷

[@oreodog]

I always want to pickup my sax again when I watch/listen to Jay :,)

[@bill9786]

Would really like to see an android version . Meantime I'll change my practice with Tonal Energy from visual to aural reference. Thanks, Jay

[@picolobato]

Thanks Jay for sharing these ideas so generously

[@markmontaquila3098]

Just bought the app. I’ll try it today. Thanks

[@ObeytheRussianBlue]

Thanks for great suggestions as always Jay! 🙏🚀

[@Thewriter1947]

Great app. Wow! Didn’t even know it was out there…….Thanks. Also your breathing tips/reminders. As a former taichi/yoga teacher i know how important it is in most physical practices but so easy to forget when playing the sax. Crucial! Thanks again

[@medicussapiens]

Great video on a great App! I just got a mail from Steffen Weber: A version for Mac OS Catalina is already in the works. Thanks Jay and all the best from Germany.

[@paulfairchild3461]

Excellent excellent great lesson thankyou , very informative ,I’m going for the app as well as👍

[@2D2Productions]

Okay that app is cool! I just downloaded it and can’t wait to hit practice with it tomorrow. Thanks for the heads up on this !

[@txsphere]

So nice. How old am I? Remember that old Don Sinta vhs where he put a piece of paper behind the key on an electric keyboard to make a drone to play to. Technology can be nice.

[@drwallysax]

"Sinta on Sax"! He also marks his reed with black ink to show where it meets his tongue! Great video.

[@keithridenhour7033]

Jay you sound and are teaching great. IM proud of you . K

[@jeffreyharrison4045]

Thanks Jay! I’m getting ready to purchase some of your courses. I can’t wait!

[@SAXloungeEF]

Your overtones WOW! 👍👍🙂🙂

[@PaulSmith-pe6ev]

So impressed with the app. Well done and thank you for sharing

[@HB-ve4wi]

Love the app! Thanks for the tip Jay!

[@positivelyprogressing]

Jay, you just absolutely crushed it on this one! Thanks for the insight and for the wisdom. You are an amazing human being 😁🙌 take care!

[@bettersax]

Thank you Chris.

[@DavidD-bp6oy]

I have a collection of Android metronomes and chord progression apps. Each one has strengths, weaknesses, and unique features. Mostly I use my Windows PC. I use the score editor _MuseScore,_ which is a free version of the expensive editors like _Finale_ and _Sebelius._ I will write out exercises from Jay's courses, and with the ease of an editor, transpose them to all keys. I can add chord names and have the editor play the chords back. Or I can add a part to the system to play drones or other things (drones are tied whole notes with your choice of instrument sound). I can easily change the tempo. I can turn a metronome on in the editor, but it only plays on Beat #1. (Some of the Android metronome apps though have very sophisticated options, such as playing the tempo in one ear and a complex rhythm in the other ear, or gradually increasing the tempo as you play). There is value in writing out the music that you play. It adds another dimension, understanding and perspective to what you are doing, and additional ingraining into the neural circuits in your brain. It helps ear training also. You get to know which notes you are hearing in your head, and what patterns you are playing. When _iPractice Pro_ becomes available for Android, I will certainly add that one to my collection.

[@frankzona9867]

Great, great video Jay. I'm sharing this link with my students. And btw, I downloaded the app. 6 bucks well spent.

[@saxyrep1]

Wow ! Loads of great valuable informations in this video. I'm very grateful. Wish you were around when I started 26 years ago... Thanks, that'll help.

[@ekaufman4800]

Everything you play sounds SO DAMNED GOOD! (At least one of us sounds good🤣)

[@didouram_music]

Very inspiring way to share your practice, thank you Jay !

[@felixsteinkuhl2450]

Wow fantastic, this app would bring my practise sessions to the next level. Is this App yet existing for Android as well? Or is there any way to run it on Android with some emulation software? Does anybody know? Greetings

[@user-iv7yb2ur5r]

I like you a lot. Love the way you explain things. Please do not stop💜

[@wildman166]

Thank you Jay . I just installed the app . Looking forward to using it . Just a heads up . The I practice pro has a KZbin channel with many tips . Jay you kick a$$ Sir ! I really needed the ear training, and this will be very helpful. Thank you again Sir !

[@martintodd370]

Martin Todd. Never heard overtones done like that before. You make it look so easy!

[@lifesummit73]

Loved this video, Jay. Definitely an app I’m adding to my practice arsenal. 👍

[@joaquinmendoza2306]

Thanks for the amazing video. Amazing editing skills by the way. Oh, and I plan on picking up the better sax BURNIN' mouthpiece soon ;)

[@bettersax]

Thanks for watching and nothing the details.

[@jimbob5848]

Wow. This is outstanding.

[@SAXloungeEF]

You are in a cool and relaxed move in this video. Love it! 😉👍

[@joeblankenship377]

Jazz cigarettes. 😎✌️💨

[@menilmontant100]

...Jay.....!!!.....Exceptional practice...!!! ....and ...your alto sound.....magnificent...!!!.... ....what a woderful mouthpiece...!! ........better sax.....!!!!!!

[@wiejetze8397]

Very inspiring as always. Thanks! I'm very motivated. Could start instantly but it's far past midnight so the neighbours would kill me.

[@vincentgaglio5106]

Awesome. I will use it now

[@alisaam1]

I liked the app, but when will the Android version come out? Said

[@pokespencer23]

Awesome app . Thank you for sharing. You’re the best.

[@serzok1]

Thanks for the advices. I have picked up a few ideas. Great stuff.

[@juanmarinez4236]

Great idea, Jay, I like that app, hope I can get it.

[@trefordavies3670]

Woah ! This app is brilliant , will get to work on the easier progressions .. thanks for this great tip

[@dr.saxjorgepuerta]

Felicitaciones, eres un crack. años de dedicación. Buen vídeo

[@aristevons6389]

Awesome thanks for showing me this app !!

[@thiesvb3971]

great app i will try it out!

[@ellaf1841]

Awesome info! Thank you 💕

[@christophemagis9768]

Great App, thanx 4 sharing 👍

[@focusfernand0]

I’ve never been so excited to download an app

[@nickh-w1563]

the first minute hit different. I’ve been having a lot of trouble with physical and mental state while practicing

[@tonioarango5078]

Great video! Thanks a lot

[@bryandickerson5365]

Hey Jay, Your low concert Bb on Alto showed it’s true colors. As I’m sure you’re well aware, if the low G (on Alto) is played in tune too easily then there’s a good chance your high Gs are gonna be sharp. Another reason for band directors to not tune only to concert Bb. I like that app - I’m a Luddite but I’m gonna check it out anyway.....can I down-load it onto my rotary-dial telephone? ;^)

[@ELYAS5048]

Every thing.good to keep me at the best on my daily practice

[@T-Slider]

Wow!

[@elijahvaldivia3729]

10:53 the licc

[@HonestSaxSound-unEdited-]

Great video as usual, and Great app!!

[@eduardoromero2395]

Thanks yo show how use the app and tips!!👍🏼

[@tryggviorskarpheinsson2829]

For you Android users you can use TE Tuner for the drone and you can have a metronome at the same time

[@bettersax]

You can get the metronome with the drone on this app too select the chord function and then mute the other notes.

[@johnwade7430]

Love the overtone practise - John Coltrane........

[@lyntedrockley7295]

Great Video Jay. The app looks really useful. What is the neck strap you use on alto? Your info I think only mentions the Crazy strap for Tenor which is different.

[@bettersax]

Boston sax shop

[@juanpabloderose738]

Hi Jay! Greetings from Argentina. I really love your videos and I wanted to ask you a question, I recently bought your pentatonic patterns course. How do you recommend studying it, knowing that I only have 2 hours a day to practice. Should I play all the patterns first in C major and only later in another key? Alternate keys per month? (without having completed it with one) Or one key per week? I feel like it would take me an eternity :) That's why I ask you, to make the most of the course. Thanks a lot!!!

[@bettersax]

Go through it all in one key first. When you are comfortable with the exercises then start playing them in other keys. It won’t take that long if you practice every day you’ll see.

[@danielprasetyo5413]

Thanks for the amazing recomend app for practice everday. But i can't get this apk because i'm using android. Please someone send me the link for android apk thankyou😭

[@clementineb8352]

Tonal energy or chord bot as someone else said

[@robotripsenpai5028]

Didn't know if you were still making the mouthpiece VS series but I was wondering on your thoughts on the Jody Jazz Super Jet vs the Theo Wanne Mindi Abair custom? Been trying to playtest either but can't find many pieces in my area. They're both similar price point, bright and powerful contemporary pieces. Love the work you do and the channel!

[@bettersax]

They are both great. Can’t go wrong if that’s the sound you’re looking for.

[@korandaniels2250]

What is the mouthpiece and ligature your using Mr Metcalf....?

[@dcp8nts]

Hey Jay. Thanks for another excellent video. Your sound is so great. When i embellish, i just play what i feel sounds right. I would love to know if there are any particular patterns/ rules/ scales to play over a particular chord pattern. Simply, say. ll V l, perhaps, to make it more colorful, besides the usual. Make sense? Also.... how does your mouthpiece compare in brightness to a Meyer 5?

[@bettersax]

Good questions. My Harmonic Foundation course will help with that. The burnin mouthpiece will be brighter and more powerful than a typical Meyer

[@dcp8nts]

@@bettersax Thanks Jay!

[@everythingbeginsandendswit7391]

Hey can you review the Mendini by Cecilio E-flat Alto sax

[@davehummel7058]

I've got one, too - just bought it a few weeks ago...sure hope Jay reviews one. I've already seen his review of the Lade/Ammoon, and suppose that some of the things he said about it apply to the Mendini.

[@jazzsurgerytc]

Where is the link for the alto mouthpieces ?

[@bettersax]

bettersax.com/store/burnin-mouthpiece/

[@rafreyes4985]

Hello, I've just gotten interested in the saxophone. I'm not a beginner musician, as I am studying to be a classical singer in college right now, but I want to expand and play wind instruments. Unfortunately, being a singer and all that, I can't play an instrument that requires a lot of tension in the throat, tongue, stomach, etc, because that is counter-productive to my main proficiency. I know that such tension can't be completely eliminated, but on saxophone, can it be minimized? How tight is the embouchure on Saxophone? Is it as tight as a clarinet embouchure?

[@esfahan1961]

Is the sound in your AirPods that coming from your iPhone or do you play through another outside mic Jay? I usually practice without any return other than the accompanying track or the metronome. Thx

[@bettersax]

When I practice I have AirPods playing back from the app.

[@alexandercalder2143]

can you program your own chord sequences?

[@janerigan7445]

Hi i realy like your taechings but i have a question how do i improve my hearing and transposing music

[@thomaspresiche8766]

Hey I am a beginner saxophone player. Can you make a video on how to tongue and tune a saxophone

[@Rose-cx9iz]

Can you make a video of everything you do when you practice

[@Matthew-zk4qr]

Do you need a patch for metal mouth pieces I would be rlly thankful if you answered

[@bettersax]

I use them on all mouthpieces.

[@peterdrake5156]

Can you get iPracticePro for a Samsung phone please?

[@seciumnagapi5167]

Hey Jay, I'm interested in that mouthpiece but how do I know what "tip opening" is best for me. I'm still a novice so maybe that mouthpiece is too high level anyway?

[@bettersax]

It makes a great upgrade for a developing player. You should get the 5 if you decide to purchase one.

[@seciumnagapi5167]

@@bettersax Thanks!

[@RenzoTrisolini]

Hello Jay, when will it be available for Android?

[@user-oj6mw9gv8d]

Great lesson! Thanx! What is the name smartphone app )))?

[@sharisax]

So, Jay, I just bought the ipracticepro and am a world away from using all the features; however, the Drone section really interests me. QUESTIONS...(1) What megahertz [Hz?] do I select? (2) If I am playing sharp or flat, how EXACTLY to I get to be right on pitch? Thanks

[@bettersax]

You need to match the pitch and listen for the pulses. Get the frequencies to line up.

[@sharisax]

@@bettersax thx for the reply, but unfortunately that advice doesn't mean anything to me :-(

[@garthly]

When two notes are played close to each other, one can hear a pulse. As they get closer, the pulsing slows down. The slower the pulse the more in tune you are.

[@Tscharlieh]

What are „drones“?

[@BrianJoeSandy]

I like it but the arpeggios don’t happen just chord. Is it just mine?

[@reubenyahsrael346]

I have a question that's not related to this app although I just got the app. My question is what are your thoughts when it comes to practice when it comes to using certain horns? I have two student model alto's 1 I paid around 300.00 (ORPHEO) another by brother gave to me about couple months back EMPERA ES-403 I believe, the reason I purchase the ORPHEO is I use to commute on the train to work and I would take my horn with me because I had free time to play, but I had to walk through kind of rough neighborhood on my way back to catch the train and thought if I got jacked my 300.00 wouldn't be miss like my Selmer Paris. With that said, I have Selmer Super Action 80 and a Yanagisawa< I spend my practice time on the student models, my thoughts are I don't want to damage or scratch the pro models. Do you think this makes a difference? My Selmer has already been through hell just from falling from the stand and my case falling with the horn in it and horn slipped out. Thanks for any comment.