Loads of saxophone learners aspire to play in a band. Maybe that’s you too?
Sax School member Jim shares his experience of joining a band on sax with Charles Benoit.
Starting Out
It’d be easy to feel a bit intimidated seeing Sax School member Jim Leach on stage. Jim plays tenor sax with several bands. He also plays alto. And soprano. And bari, flute and harmonica. Oh, and when he’s not playing one of those, he’s adding backing vocals or jumping in on percussion.
When you’re still trying to learn the C-major scale, musicians like Jim can seem to be from another planet. But like every Sax School member, there was a point in Jim’s life when he was an absolute beginner, years away from his first gig.
“I started to learn sax when I was twelve. My dad had been a semi-pro musician from the late-1940s through to the mid-60s. He died about six months after I started learning, but lots of our family and friends were musicians so the encouragement continued.”
First gig
Jim’s interest in the sax dropped off a bit in his teens, but by his late 20s he was back, hitting the stage with cover bands, playing tunes by Thin Lizzy, Madness, Toto, Bruce Springsteen and The Beatles. Over the years there have been countless gigs and the occasional big events, like the Leicester City Football Club Christmas party. But there’s a moment from his very first gig that still makes Jim sweat.
“My friend Neil’s band wanted me to play the solo on Dancing in the Moonlight by Thin Lizzy. He gave me a cassette and I spent several weeks learning it by heart. What I didn’t know was that the cassette’s speed was a bit off. The evening before the gig was my only rehearsal with the band. That’s when Neil said, “You’re playing the wrong key.” Panic! I was a semitone off!”
Adjustments were made and Jim had his gigging debut. “What a brilliant night! What a buzz! Lots of friends came, the venue was packed, I was very nervous and excited. No, terrified! I made a couple of mistakes but just kept going. Nobody noticed, everyone was there to have a good time, not there to pick holes in my playing. I got a massive cheer, followed by lots of people wanting to buy me beers, always a good sign.”
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Sax School Resources
Jim’s been a Sax School member from the start, scoring Student of the Week honors a few years back after posting a video of his on-the-money solo with Us and Floyd, his Pink Floyd tribute band.* “I must be one of the longest serving members of Sax School! I dip in and out of various parts of it, and usually check out the Facebook page every day. It’s a huge resource of all sorts of information – if only it had been around thirty years ago when I was in my twenties!”
Joining a band on sax
As a beginner, joining a band on sax may seem like an impossibly huge step. But Jim believes it’s the smart thing to do. “You won’t regret it for a second. It’s like having a second family if it’s the right band for you, everyone getting immense pleasure from joining together to play your kind of good music. It’s excellent fun, it’s satisfying, it’s mindful and it’s good for your mental health. If they play to a higher standard than you but ask you to join, definitely go for it. Don’t be intimidated – playing with people better than you is always an education. They sweep you along and bring up your own playing standards.”
Today, Jim keeps busy with two additional bands, The Diamond Dogz – a tribute to the music of David Bowie, and Brothers in Arms, a Dire Strait’s tribute band. He also sits in on odd gigs with various big bands, ensembles and a sax quartet. And thirty years on from that first gig, he still plays alongside his friend Neil.
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Future plans
“The thing that surprises me most of all is how well I’ve managed to get on, the opportunities I’ve had when I don’t consider myself to be very good. But I’ve got a good ear for what I’m trying to achieve and am willing to put in the practice needed to get there.” While his children are grown, finding time to practice is still a challenge. “My job still takes up far too much of my time – more so than ever it seems. But I’m trying to make changes at work to give me more time at home – you know what I’ll be doing when that happens!”
*Bonus points if you picked up on the song reference!
If you want to get closer to joining a band on sax, you’ll want to level up your skills and your saxophone confidence. Sax School Online has everything you need – with the lessons, resources, tutor support and our amazing worldwide Community to get you on track. Start today with Sax School