Anders has been learning with sax school for just under two years, and we awarded him Student of the Week for his wonderful performance of ‘In a Sentimental Mood’. You can check it out in the video below!
“I used to play golf, but I hardly play now – I’m too busy practising my sax. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done!”
Saxophone Inspiration
Anders has wanted to learn sax since seeing Clarence Clemons play with Bruce Springsteen, back in the 1980’s. “I just watched him for the whole gig,” says Anders.
It was over twenty years before Anders would buy a saxophone. “I used to watch sax lessons on YouTube,” he explains, “but I didn’t have an instrument!” Anders found that where he lived, there weren’t music lessons available for adults. “When I phoned the music school they thought I was asking for my kids!”
Getting Started
Anders eventually bought a second-hand tenor from a music teacher. “I said I would buy it if he would give me a few lessons to get me started!” Anders had never played an instrument so was also learning to read music for the first time. “My dad was a musician – he played trumpet, but when I was a kid I did a lot of sport so I wasn’t that interested in learning music,” he explains.
Sax School Choice
About eighteen months ago, Anders joined Sax School. “There’s so much in there,” he says. “Lessons, sheet music, backing tracks… whatever style of music you want to play, it’s all there. And Nigel is a great teacher.” Anders really enjoys the Facebook Community too; “everyone is so supportive of each other,” he says.
Anders has a broad taste in music, but particularly likes jazz ballads from players such as Scott Hamilton, Coleman Hawkins and Ben Webster. “I have a big vinyl collection – not everything is on Spotify!” says Anders.
“I want to make the sax feel like part of me, so I can just pick it up and play with ease, without over-thinking it.”
Gigging Experience
In the last year Anders has started playing with a community band in his town. “There is a bass player and drummer, three tenors, and three accordions!” he explains. “Last Christmas we played at a community event.” During one of their rehearsals, Anders played “O Holy Night” which he had learned in Sax School. “The others really liked it, and suggested I played it as a solo!” he says. “I felt nervous, but I enjoyed it too.”
As well as his tenor, Anders also has an alto and tries to practice daily. “The biggest challenge is getting a nice sound,” he says.
Saxophone Goals
Anders has set himself a goal to learn to improvise this year. “I’ve learned that I can use the same lick in different songs, and in different styles, by varying the tempo,” he says. “I want to make the sax feel like part of me, so I can just pick it up and play with ease, without over-thinking it.”
Despite being so into sport as a kid, nowadays he’s all about the saxophone. “I used to play golf, but I hardly play now – I’m too busy practising my sax,” he says. “It’s the best thing I’ve ever done.”
Congratulations Anders on being our Student of the Week!