Ted Nash on Getting to Know Your Instrument

Practicing music doesn't have to be a struggle with your instrument! Saxophonist Ted Nash shows you how to become better acquainted with your instrument and how to build a practice routine that builds up your ear and develops your expressivity using your horn's unique qualities.
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

[@coltoncrawfordjazz]

So much wisdom here. Thank god for KZbin. We're so fortunate to hear the real shit from these masters. Time to step up my game and start paying more attention to those details in my sound, horn and solos.

[@alejandrosax7094]

I'm impress with the sentence on 2:32 "this is not a battle, it is not him against me ,we are together on this". I'm going to think more on this next time I'll take my instrument...

[@rubymars_xyz]

i love how he approaches the instrument as something with unique consciousness , the most exciting thing about the human perspective is that since we have consciousness we can give it to anything else animate or 'inanimate'

[@jndorit]

Ted, I played and took lessons for 8 years and then put the horn down. Was overwhelmed by all the scales and the challenge of it all. . . your video inspired me in a way I never thought of before. . . THANK YOU!!!

[@filipdinevmusic]

Should watch this every day...

[@nemo227]

It needed to be said but I can't recall any instrument teacher saying this. It's what vocal teachers tell students. We learn what we live with (the grammar may not be correct but the message is easy to understand).

[@pickinstone]

Mr. Nash, I hear Johnny Hodges in your execution. Of course, there's a heck of a lot more. You sound great, and you sound like you. But it's so cool to hear someone who can play and sound "the history of jazz" while simultaneously giving the history of "his/ her own identity" just in the SOUNDS of what she/ he plays.

[@taylorfusion]

simple...but profound lesson

[@KarolCarlo]

Ted you are so smart. I think music industry needs more people with this attitude. I have seen a lot of lessons but that one is outstanding. If everyone could play with that kind of feeling, we would have heaven here in our world :) A lot of people play mechanically, without soul even if they know beautiful songs or structures - without feeling, there is no music. cheers!

[@evman620]

This has been a very enlightening video for me. I practiced, studied and performed saxophone for over 7 years, but when I went into school to study performance and education, by performance failed me and I decided to pursue other interests. It wasn't until recently that I picked up my horn and really played for the first time in years. Feeling the sound, vibration, and how my embouchure felt in years after I played put me into a crazy state. Music has always been and expression of myself and the experiences I've had. Since rediscovering my passion, I will let you know how this works out.

[@TonyAguirreJazz]

I've been playing for over 40 and there are so many great tips here. Love these videos

[@anothernoob9110]

So... a year(and probably a bit more) later, how are you doing man?

[@yoelhooper-antunez1016]

So... how did it work out lmao

[@joshcharlat850]

Ted Nash is one of a great group of guys. What a band of brothers! Long may they run together!

[@ChrisSmithSaxophone]

Ted that was just beautiful. I've been learning to play my alto Sax for 8 months, and I've just realised how straight I play. There is no emotion in my playing. I thought that was because I did not yet have the correct technique, but actually it was that I did not yet have the correct attitude. I can fix that. Thanks Ted. ☺ 👍 🎷 ❤️

[@squiddyjamzzz]

He is so cool

[@Panda-ej5sq]

Omgeeeez so glad I found you!! Been playing for year n a half.. started off very classical but quickly moved to my rooots... you so get where I am!! I aim to play like I’m singing it!!

[@pabloferrer1839]

Ted I'm Grateful, gratitude is the best attitude. Gracias.

[@TonyAguirreJazz]

Man I love Ted's videos

[@danielirilarry]

Great class! Thank you!

[@vasilis_tzeve]

Really, really inspiring! It changed my mind. Thank you!

[@zachary731]

this channel is a goldmine

[@derickmcgoona7519]

Ted Nash........THANK YOU ..........SUPER

[@paulfairchild3461]

6.25 minutes of enlightenment ,Ted , I've been playing for a few years now , never been happy with my tone , you have hit the nail on the head thank you .

[@aurabrinzei4017]

I love jazz !!

[@TownHouseFilms]

Astonishingly inspirational. Thank you so much.

[@lottierose8668]

really good advice here,soak it all up.

[@oldrocker3438]

Thank you Ted. I had not really thought about practising this way before. I will use your idea as part of my warm-up and elsewhere. I will still enjoy playing pretty straight in classical pieces though!

[@drstrange629]

I’m a bass player and I found this so valuable and rewarding thank you so much for your wisdom

[@HigherIdeas]

REQUESTING A CLARINET VERSION OF THESE SIT DOWNS!

[@SaxophoneDanLive]

Great video and very unique from everything out there!

[@christopherwright7855]

Brilliant! Thank you.

[@graxjpg]

You gotta know what it’s gonna sound like before you finger it!! I play guitar, organ, synths etc. but had a very insightful conversation with the sax player in my band who used to tour with Wayne Newton back in the day about developing freedom on an instrument, and I’ve observed that most often if I see a musician who is truly free on their instrument they are a sax player!

[@nouroudineali-diabacte8205]

hello TED Nash MAY GOD BLESS YOU

[@paulfairchild3461]

So true , inspiring ,

[@barriovueno]

Thanks a lot, for real. I was like super nervous about a recording session, and watching your video makes me realises that i forget to fun! Thanks a lot

[@vincentgaglio5106]

wow. I will try this.

[@bannyb41]

Thank you!

[@djhott1022]

great job

[@Theezahriasims]

how do i learn the gender of my horn like Nash knows his? 2:35

[@djhott1022]

Zahria Sims what do you play alto

[@trumpetplayerdude9838]

It depends on its gender identity

[@jasonjayalap]

Never assume your horn's gender.

[@pascal62]

do some fingering down below

[@shendshillova6872]

I call my horn daisy

[@FacundoTorresArte]

Very Nice! Thank you!

[@JJ-he6zg]

Inspiring

[@wahnimi9241]

I hear parker in u! beautiful

[@daniel_moretti]

AMEN!!

[@adeojuri6400]

Good day, i love tone and your approach. can i learn under your guidance

[@Komatik_]

"There's no music in that" Keyboard players: "eMoTiOnAl dAmAge!"

[@bread2096]

i met this guy at the airport

[@stanleyalama5740]

Thanks, what a fantastic message. And such a gorgeous, silky tone on that alto! (Did you really get it for $200? I guess it's really true that we hear the player and not the horn.)

[@Phrizby]

i love how your use of controled bends to give your phrases the singing quality. do you tend to do this with the slow lifting/lowering of quick grace notes or do you usually use your jaw/throat for that?

[@mslourenco100]

💗

[@ginguenga]

wowowowowo

[@jimmyb1133]

Are you the same Ted Nash that wrote the book on high harmonics for saxophone?

[@mikethecubinator]

What horn does he play?

[@benwallace3588]

Alto sax

[@mikethecubinator]

Model? I know its an alto.

[@esmn959]

It is a Vito

[@charlienyc1]

He plays French-made Vito saxes, a/k/a Beaugnier from the 50s & 60s. You can find these and French-made-parts Vito horns made in Kenosha, WI. I got this tidbit from his interview on the Everything Saxophone podcast which is great. 🎷

[@macleadg]

$200 for an instrument… as a violinist who paid $16,000 for my instrument, I have major saxophone envy…

[@reubenpompei3896]

Is there any method to learn more bebop because i've learned all the bebop scales and arpeggio etc but i need more experienze with them any thought?

[@JazzAcademy]

Try transcribing Charlie Parker solos. You can slow them down on a computer without distorting pitch in order to help you build up your chops there. For theory lessons on the vocabulary of BeBop, try our Jazz Theory with Barry Harris series: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGmte6GZiLqXi7c

[@reubenpompei3896]

Thank you for the Advise :)

[@Funkadelic3]

Well...that just about covers everything now doesn't it? haha

[@darkpyro75]

Why was this recorded in 2013 but uploaded now?

[@IanJonesOnSax]

You paid $200 for that horn? Sounds like a good story!

[@LAOMUSICARTS]

Let me guess: you have absolute pitch...