Learning How To Memorise 100 Songs On Saxophone

[@beverleysaxophone]

Great tips Nigel! I’m going through this very process just now - transitioning from being dependent on sheet music to transcribing by ear and memorizing. It is pretty scary in the beginning as one wonders: how will I ever memorize this ? And it goes more slowly than reading sheet music. But it is so liberating and I really feel the music is coming from another place - my intuitive/emotional body rather than my rational mind. And my ear-sax connection is slowly developing. And yes I recognize the stages you mention! I’m a convert!!

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Awesome to hear that Bev. This is a great skill that will really help you I think. Good on you for being forward thinking about this (you're such a hard worker!)

[@manuelsosa6483]

Very valuable information !!! I save this video to my “Watch later” list, because l think it’s also important to memorize Nigel’s steps through watching it a few times. The very few songs l have been able to memorize, l used my method, which is to visualize the music sheet. Kind of mentally going through all the bars.

[@zabellesax]

Fantastic, I really loved the class. I have started memorising using some of your tips in Sax School pro. I will need it when I do open mics. It feels so good without music.

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Great to hear that Zabelle, getting your memory going will really help at those open mics!

[@julioagarciacano6746]

Un saludo desde México (Cuernavaca, Morelos).Excelentes tus comentarios McGill. Gracias mil.Greetings from Mexico (Cuernavaca, Morelos). Your comments are excellent, McGill. Thank you thousand.

[@woodwind2022]

Nigel, what an excellent, elaborate & methodical way you have explained here. I will follow it now onwards. Yes as regards the key signature we have to embed this aspect at the very beginning before we start playing any number. Playing phasewise, oroceeding this way for the succedding phrases. Gradually adding the phases in cascade is the most effective way of flawless presentation. Will follow this guideline. Your stage performances.. WOW, you are soooooo Energetic.... Simply BLASTING on the stage......

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Cheers Babu!

[@thomaslahnala3110]

Ni Nigel. Thank you for the tip. I’m adding all the songs to my phone along with the key and first note. We will see if studying that will help me. I think it will. Thanks again.

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Awesome Thomas!

[@bobblues1158]

Great tips!! And you sound absolutely authentic on these covers. I did them for an entire summer in 1969. Sam Butera forever! And Lee Allen!

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

My two favourite players Bob!

[@DrLogical987]

Hot tip for Mobilsheets users (I'm not affiliated) you can format the title display to include key and enter the key into properties... So it's always there! Another hot tip... Major or Minor of the sig? Now? Concert or sax key....?

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Thanks Lionel. Personally I always work in concert key for band charts like this. It takes a little getting used to but once you’re fluent transposing on the spot, it’s much better for the rest of the band.

[@haydenlorde183]

Hi great stuff I will definitely implement this in my training because I read only

[@DolphScreamingSax]

1) Fantastic to see some live performance material from you, 2) Excellent video on a subject I really struggle with, 3) Now I've got to somehow work out in what key songs are written, no small task for an amateur. Folllow-up video perhaps?😊

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Great suggestion Dolph. Glad you liked the video.

[@hemgie61]

Well, as I watched this I thought you had followed my moves last week before I played a piece at Church last Saturday. Yep, there were some red balls . 😅 Great tips, and I almost did a list of songs I’m learning as I started to forget them as the list gets longer. Never thought about remembering the Key for each. Makes sense. Thank you Nigel. 🎷

[@DrLogical987]

Great tips. I decided at the beginning of the year to really focus on training my memory... It's a slog, like you say; at the beginning not much sticks.... But the brain does get better at it

[@derickmcgoona7519]

EXCELLENT THANKS....

[@KaySax67]

Really useful tips here Nigel, especially about memorising the key of the song, which helps with the first note. I am fine with playing by memory but struggle with keeping things in long term memory - i guess its a case of practicing the songs you want to have in your "stock" on a more regular basis.

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Absolutely Kay. Memorising (particularly as we get older) is all about repetition.

[@ryankcmusic5570]

Great lesson. I noticed you had a Didgeridoo in the corner of your room. Can you do a lesson on how to memorize tunes on the didgeridoo?

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Now there's a challenge Ryan!

[@chantalmarleau9709]

I just joined a band after a 20-year break which is hard enough as it is! These strategies will be a game changer, thank you Nigel.

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Congrats on joining.the band Chantal. Hope these tips help you.

[@bobpremecz5429]

So British of you to colour a system to memorise while most of us on the other side of the pond memorize colors. Nigel, this sax-o-phone-ist looking forward to your post to help sax-off-in-ists.

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Ha! I hope this helps you Bob!

[@bobpremecz5429]

@@McGillMusicSaxSchool speaking of colours, its incredibly seridipitous that I referenced colors and your system cites someones chances of knowing something using colored balls. Are you Green with envy? Here's hoping not to get Red faced on the job! Memories... like the corners of my mind... guess its just the way we were!

[@luke1531]

Nigel, your Guardala tenor sax is the same like B&S 2001 series?

[@beckyn9338]

Great process, Nigel. Memorizing is a weakness for me. But I know how important it can be for so many reasons! Btw, was that really you in the band? That was a great band and you were great!! How fun!

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Yep that was me (just a little younger!) Glad you enjoyed the lesson Becky.

[@marciertrombiere2565]

Amazing! Your sax is shining in band. How to listen this performance?

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Thanks Marcier. Here’s a link to that TV session: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5Wmk6iNiriahrc

[@andianderson6919]

Great lesson Nigel thanks - Im off to try and get some green balls in the bag !

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Go for it Andi!!!!

[@HahnJames]

I think that there's something you hinted to when talking about a song being in the key of F and the beginning was just an F major scale but didn't elaborate upon. That is, it helps to know your scales.

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Yes that’s right James, AND how the scales relate to the key. It’s just an easy way to build a reference for the melody shape by looking at the scale note degrees and numbering them.

[@sybillutterodt5055]

❤❤❤ the tune

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Thanks Sybil!

[@ian_s7481]

DH & the HB’s, and the very young Nigel McGill. 🤭🤭🤩🤩

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Ha!

[@ThatDudeCurtis6]

Now is there a specific book you recommend that we learn the music from?

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Completely up to you and what you would like to learn. Our Sax School Members are mostly working on music from our lesson library.

[@juanitahagberg2422]

Your demo piece is not in the Key of F, the key of F is one flat - Bb. I hope I am not nit picky, Your appreciative friend, Nils

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Hey Nils, not sure what you mean - the example in the video is in F (with a Bb). The cool thing about that particular song is it starts with an F scale descending. Hope the video was helpful.