How to Develop a Practice Routine

Master saxophonist Ted Nash talks with you about how to develop a practice routine that you enjoy, that you can maintain, and that you can customize in order to meet your needs as a musician!
Learn more at the Jazz Academy by visiting academy.jazz.org
Ted Nash - Alto Saxophone
Eric Suquet - Director
Bill Thomas - Director of Photography
Richard Emery - Production Assistant
Seton Hawkins - Producer
Recorded May 29, 2013

[@doyourbest999]

inspiration to practice = the understanding that I need to get better on my instrument if I want to create and play music and connect with other musicians the way I want to be able to.

[@smartface02]

"Practice making music every time you play." Great charge from this video!

[@McNoiseboy]

Guitarist. Came for ideas, left with a subscription. Thanking you!

[@flightwithoutfeathers4682]

There needs to be more guitarists like you, hehehe.

[@wendbnew]

Same dude

[@Mehanaokala42]

Bass player here. Ditto!

[@pauldavies9360]

Same here Cornet player

[@pyannaguy]

Inspiration is for amateurs. When you're inspired, enjoy it and use that. When you're not? It's time to go to work.

[@reanimator9]

well said

[@jmob007]

Like any other worthwhile pursuit in life.

[@MagicCarpetRideShareProject]

Ugh, your right. I've been struggling lately to get back into musical habits and playing consistently. I feel like I might need to take up a new instrument to get back into it more fully. My mind doesn't want to be limited musically to one instrument.

[@lyndafoster9437]

That was inspirational. Thank you. 🎼🎵🎵🎷

[@g000glemaniam4]

I'm at the one year mark. I still can't play well but really enjoy practicing. It's the challenge that the instrument presents. Like someone said earlier its not work if you love it. This video gave me another approach to playing scales, arpeggios, etc. Thanks Ted.

[@u-isabeats3346]

how is it going now?

[@AMJazzy96]

Man, this is really helpful. I've always had a knack for procrastination, using lack of inspiration as an excuse, the first tip makes sense. Everything else after that just clicks! Thank you! ^_^

[@thechunkytrucker5111]

what inspires me is watching pros and young people doing it

[@alexwillats]

This is THE most inspirational video I've seen about practicing the saxophone. Thank you! I wish you were my mentor!

[@jasonpeppers4471]

looking at the sax as part of me and a means to express myself has changed everything for me. my tone and sound has gotten better. I'm adding vibrato, note bending and tremilos when practicing my scales and notes. I love it! I have been playing for about 8 months now. I practice about 1 hour a day.

[@antoniomontemuro9751]

what a great teacher! Thanks Ted Nash

[@7deepbreaths.sounds]

You tell'em Ted!! Who are these guys talkin about inspiration?? Nah but...seriously...There is sooo much to learn and master...there aren't enough hours in the day to fit it all in. My problem is not getting so lost in practice that I start neglecting my worldly obligations!!

[@viviskitchn]

I'm a violinist, but Leo P, a saxophonist is who inspires me more! Ricardo Herz too, which is also a violinist. I love how they can connect to other musicians and how they really made their instrument an extension of themselves! It's so powerful and amazing. I'm currently working on trying to develop this ability on my violin.

[@starros1]

What a great explanation and example on how to practice our scales and to practice creating music with it at the same time. How inspiring this would be to develop such a skill. Thank you so much for sharing this. I can't wait to see how I do with this new found understanding.

[@hanoapuaa]

I’m so happy I got a saxophone after 12 years. I take it out everyday and do exactly this!

[@theomarais8920]

Thanks Ted. This opened up scales for me. The most sense I heard in years! I can now become excited about scales.

[@yianbarrettaguero940]

It is so great to see you as a mentor. We first met at at Fundación Danilo Pérez in Panamá and it was great to interact with you guys. Excellent video! Thank you for the good vibe!

[@haithamkarajay2460]

What an awesome motivational video.. Thanks really for the great inspiration Ted !

[@franciscochiarino2403]

"You never judge yourself, you just play"

[@gjmenoni]

wow! such a great teacher and such a great sax player! loved it. thanks mate

[@clemsmith2253]

g melodic minor is what I practice 'wished I knew' when freddy hubbard is playing. the entire song melody is the scale, but he crushes it in such a way that it becomes a song. great practice song. thank you for the scale reference

[@paulfairchild3461]

Learn so much listening to you .

[@stanleyknife1967]

Excellent advice. It has given me some more ideas to add to the repository!

[@palletcolorato]

I'm self-taught for 9 months now. Your sound is amazing! So smooth. I'm sooo jealous. :)

[@asderc1]

One thing he didn't mention here which for me was the best piece of advice I've heard, is long notes, every day, without fail. Even if it's the only practice you do. The improvement you notice in tone is so motivating.

[@TheHeuk18]

Thank you Ted! Those are very helpful advices to enjoy playing!

[@ntandombatha5837]

Wow, great sound.

[@mboia]

Thanks man! You have opened up my mind.

Great tips. Very nice. Thank you from Brazil.

[@jndorit]

Awesome stuff. Great wisdom. Thanks!

[@larsjacobsenmusic]

Ted Nash is a heavy cat. "Just improvise like THIS (6:11), using that scale"... LOL!! But, seriously... I like that he approached this subject creatively. When I was younger I tried on multiple occasions to create a regimented routine where I would do a specific amount of time on long tones, scales, articulation, etc. But, I could never get into that. I do think it is important to be consistent about working on certain things you want/need to work on. But, you don't have to work on the same things every day. Someone asked Wayne Shorter what his practice routine was and he said, "I try to surprise myself!" I love that! RIP Wayne Shorter...

[@RockRabot007]

very inspiring. thanks so much!

[@pascaldelacaze]

Great advice. And a beautiful sound!

[@sarahlee8022]

Beautiful sounds

[@mysurfcorner594]

I needed this...👊👊

[@tumwinerwekanika8375]

That's easy and sweet. Thanks

[@OTRTrader]

You are a great teacher!

[@interestedinstuff1499]

Inspiring video. Absolutely superb.

[@1kitts]

Inspired!

[@flg54]

WOW.....great.....thanks for the inspiration.....this is really helpful .

[@JRM---516]

Fantastic lesson ... thanks Ted!

[@3340steve]

nice lesson thanks for the wonderful sounds.

[@jgl2222]

This is such a great vid! Thanks so much for this!

[@bonggoat]

Thank you. Makes sense and can't wait to try it at daylight.

[@johnjackson1997jj]

Awesome lesson, this really helps since I'm terrible at practicing in a constructive way.

[@robertkohl]

thank you Ted that is a great idea that you got using scales.

[@johnpuga1982]

Like always, great information!

[@raseshgandhi6702]

Thank you so much❤❤❤

[@DirtyGlovinKids]

i do not play sax but all the information in the video is easily applied to anything else

[@christopherwright7855]

Inspirational.

[@glen.s9860]

Hi Ted, I have got to say You are one of the most smoothest alto player I have seen on here. If you were living next door to me I would be the most happiest man to hear you practice and I picking up tips from you. I have an 54Ref but for some reason I keep going back to my str &curve Soprano. I practice scales (pentatonic & chrom) but it's like I am not going anywhere. any advice would be greatly accepted with thanks Are you going to put more video on here?Glen

[@MerelIbrahim]

super tremendo así es todo lo que dice, pienso de la misma manera. saludos

[@AA-mc5il]

hell yeah ....and thats the gospel of truth . tnx

[@almost401]

Man.....I really need to practice more

[@stevenkelly5030]

Great stuff. Thanks for sharing.

[@SH1974]

Seriously? I do play the Sax since about 2 months and I do not need any inspirition to grab it for practice! Just the thought of taking this saxy instrument in my fingers makes me happy! Long tone exercises are boring? I don't think so! They help me developing technique to be a better sax player - and I can do that exercises with my pleasure bringing Instrument. NOTHING I do with this thing makes me feeling boring (not even cleaning it after use!) and I'm always excited to get my daily practice started! It's more that I have to take care, not overuse my (not developed) emboucher-muscles, because I want to practice an hour (sometimes 10 or 15 minutes more) also the other day - EVERY DAY! The biggest problem I have is to focus learning theory (like reading notes *) especially when the instrument stands beside in it's stand. I sometimes can feel it smile and waiting to be used, although it's carefully dust covered with a sheet of finest silk fabric. I have no children, nor do I have pets. So my Sax stands pretty safe in my practice-corner in front of the bookshelfs. I can see it when I sit in front of my TV or on the dining table, it rests only in the case when I have to transport it to the music school or to an outdoor practice session. Acoustics in the forrest is brilliant and sometimes a bird (probably a blackbird) responds, so we do some simple duet melodies. Funny! (* the Sax is the first Instrument I learn, that means I have to learn all that additional (boring) stuff too... And yes, 1974 is my birth Year.) P.s. My Sax is not an expensive pro model (Selmer or so), it's "just" a Student's Sax. But I have so much fun with it anyway! Maybe more fun I'd have with any other (even the most expensive PRO Instrument), because not few say that this Sax the best Student Sax on the market. If one Sax is named as the best possible entry-Model (and I make no deal that I am a beginner) how could another one be better? Even after 2 months I sometimes have the Problem to get rid of that fu**ing Smile on my face when I sart my daily practice. Can't play Sax and smile at the same time! Seriously!

[@user-mw5dt7sm7z]

Great lesson! Stuff that matters...

[@ariah5093]

wow amazing

[@josephm1264]

Well done... nice presentation.

[@TheLazyClips]

Thanks!!! I am going to incorporate this into my routine everyday!

[@TheLazyClips]

i actually JUMPED in my ability to express myself so much i MUST thank you again! such a short video with simple tips but it made a huge difference to the dynamics i play with now...

[@ariobintangnugraha1916]

I could listen to him practice aaaaaaaaaaaaallll day

[@richardhawkins2647]

Great piano lesson, thank you (As in I'm learning to play piano and I have never heard anyone talk about learning scales that way. I will definitely implement it.)

[@pauliron3519]

Nice sounding Sax!!!

[@unlockable3964]

Not even a saxophonist but helped me loads

[@ShreekantPawarDiabeto]

6.11 - 6.30 is the real reason why I love the melodic minor scale!

[@bwade8786]

Nice video. Common sense straight forward

[@davidcox8961]

I get inspired to practice whenever I hear a great player. A few times I've left a club to go home and practice after listening to a good player. I've heard guys say that they feel like quitting when they hear a great player. I don't get that.

[@gamerbeastboy1842]

There’s a few people like that and they say that because they never think that they will be able to work hard enough to get to where all the pros are

[@Skitdora2010]

You will also find the exact opposite and hear jealous people wanting to shut up or stop somebody else showing their skill. They will call them annoying, show off's and attention seekers. Some people hate being reminded of what they themselves can not do with somebody else showing skill, so seek to stop the other person from showing their skill to begin with.

[@Saiyan-nw7wk]

Just do it cause you love it

[@kevinhornbuckle]

You need to have visual representation of the quantity of your practicing. For example, you can line up pennies on the table top and slide them over one at a time for each repetition of what you are working on. You can also do a random draw of scales and modes. So the surprise element provides a little challenge. If you are feeling low motivation, let boredom force you into something challenging. Play the same line twenty times before you let yourself get on to something else.

[@els1f]

All great ideas. I'm going to go do the pennies thing right now:)

[@kevinhornbuckle]

You can add nickels and dimes and "pay" yourself only after five sequences or ten. Or pay yourself when you get the measure right three times in a row.

[@RavindraKumarSG]

great video

[@TrapCat]

Thanks Ted! really like your approach to practicing a scale. Ive just been hammering up and down 3rds 4ths etc. your way looks much more fun!!!

[@sknuts6429]

I played in a big band with him when I was 12! (It was a chance thing I’m not a prodigy)

[@AdamOuissellat]

I log all my practice sessions. What I did and how long. I've been averaging 2hours a day but I know I can do better. 4hours is my goal for 2017.

[@djhott1022]

AdamOuissellat I'm with on the 4 hrs

[@georgerosebush9754]

You must be very diligent, another option other than just practicing longer is work on things you find difficult, practice only the things you're bad at. You'll improve much more than if you simply increase the amount of time spent practicing things you do well.

[@AdamOuissellat]

For sure. Those hours also have to be quality. Logging is great because you can see what you've achieved vs what is still to be done (that week/month).

[@TheVeganProtagonist]

Did you hit your goal?

[@icecreamforcrowhurst]

It’s not a numbers game. It’s *quality over quantity* 4 hours of unfocused practice is likely to go more harm than good.

[@alejandrosax7094]

Thank, I was needing this video! motivation begins with opening the case!

[@lmrdrummer1]

I’m a drummer and I get my ideas from world class melodic instrumentalists like Ted Nash.

[@staceyjohnson650]

I love the inspiration comment and advice. When I started I had my sax out for a week but put it away bc I had a date. I didn’t touch it for a week after that, and realized that this was a hurdle and bought a stand, which is within reaching distance of my work from home desk. Now I play multiple times a day. Now to actually develop a structured routine 😅

[@mikesdrumshop2887]

Can also apply to all musicians

[@lawrence-yx1ew]

Mike's Drum Shop very true, my guitar turned into a sax, this video works too well

[@seancrader845]

This dude is smart

[@DriversSide]

First rate playing Ted

[@zakheleshangase7054]

Hi Ted. Good advice. Do you have online lessons?

[@calvinjones9930]

Need to find more time for practicing jazz.

[@_omega420]

If only everyone knew this/knew about this video

[@JazzAcademy]

Spread the word!

[@tawhneebaby]

I understand when people say "they need inspiration." I know when i feel like i have exhausted everything the books have to offer, and I don't feel like playing songs. I need something that feels like I'm making progress, but don't know how to get it.

[@mingoringo_]

Honestly the inspiration I need is to want to get better, and have goals I want to achieve with instruments. Ever since I got that inspiration I just like practicing. Now my friends get annoyed when I say I wanna play music instead of playing god damn League of Legends.

[@rachelgarcia2998]

I'm a classical saxophonist transitioning into a jazz sound in college. My biggest struggle is producing that beautiful "fluffy" sound... Any advice??? PLEASE lol

[@vincentgaglio5106]

awesome Thank you. I need to practice scales and I won't Thank you

[@wapickle1]

I love practicing! I’ve been playing Sax for 6 years but want to know how to improvise better. Thanks

[@normanspurgeon5324]

I have a beef with the G melodic minor scale- I do not feel the C belongs in the top portion- I believe the scale is actually E minor 7 flat 5- ( natural 9) with the C only appearing in the bass. With the C in the bass, it becomes C7 #11, natural 9- the C itself is not a melodic tone in the scale- only a bass note- the upper portion is E minor 7 flat 5, with a natural 9-

[@dahalofreeek]

The one thing that makes me self-conscious is that I live in an apartment and practicing at home means annoying a bunch of people.

[@slungellife]

I understand, I have the same thing. Really you just have to kind of drop that selfconsious feeling, if you just play for half an hour every day it should not be a problem. I started to practice half an hour every day, and really maximize my practice time by focussing hard, instead of playing a longer duration while not putting your heart into it. I would also advise against buying silencers or trying to muffle your instrument. It often justs makes your playing sounds worse and takes a lot of the joy out of it.

[@ogbeisibor3193]

Stuffing an old sock into the horn helps. Although you don’t get to enjoy the full range of your tone but your neighbors are not too disturbed.

[@merica1588]

Trombone players- buy the Remington warm up book

[@goodsniper15]

What Neck strap is he using?

[@michaelroach4219]

Is this the same Ted Nash who wrote the book about how to play altissimo?

[@patrickwickett1787]

Drummer. Same.

[@aitanarios1155]

Thanks!! I play the clarinet for eight years and I never knew how to practise correctly !

[@OTRTrader]

My problem with practicing is motivation and the distractions of litigation. Once (or if) that issue goes away...

[@sorenolsen1165]

Did anyone else hear the first note and think that he was gonna break out into “For Free”?

[@anatoliy1614]

I lou sax I vone play sax jazz

[@dontwhenismaddo3183]

Hehe my name is nash

[@khalilkelly9202]

Melodic minor is not the same going up and coming down. You raise the sixth and seventh degree ascending, and descend according to the key signature (flattening the sixth and seventh degree)

[@themessenger5574]

Not flatting but lowering. Very important to know the difference.

[@DanDjembe]

take the goddamn....

[@pierreandrewt1347]

We talkin' about prActicing?