Breaking Through Plateaus – Why You’re Stuck & How to Move Forward

Stuck in a Sax Rut? Here’s How to Break Through

Ever feel like your sax playing has stalled—like no matter how much you practice, nothing’s improving? You’re not alone. In this episode of the Sax School Online Podcast, I  sat down with Tutors Fred Vigdor and Joel Purnell to unpack the dreaded plateau. More importantly, we shared practical ways adult learners can reignite their progress and play saxophone with confidence.

Whether you’re just picking up the sax or getting back into it after a break, these tips will help you re-energize your practice and get back on track.

 

The Real Reason You’re Feeling Stuck

The plateau hits us all—yes, even pro players. Sometimes you’re just spinning your wheels, practicing the same things over and over with no real direction. Fred admitted it best:

“I would say the first half of my life as a saxophone player, I basically just spun my wheels.”

That’s the thing. Progress isn’t about clocking hours. It’s about intentional practice, inspiration, and giving your brain and ears something fresh to chew on.

Start Listening (Again)

One of the easiest, most overlooked ways to jumpstart your progress is simply to start listening more. Go back to the music that first inspired you to learn saxophone—and don’t stop there. Find new players. Dig into albums. Let your ears guide your fingers.

Joel shared a great example from his own journey:

“It’s been a good 15 years since I last came across a player that made me want to transcribe again—but Ralph Bowen did it. I listened once, and it was already going round in my head.”

Listening lights that creative spark. It reminds you why you picked up the sax in the first place.

Challenge Yourself Differently

You don’t have to reinvent your whole practice routine—just tweak it. Change the what and the how. Joel recommends trying a completely new concept, even if it feels foreign.

“It’s about finding something that reengages your brain,” he says.

That might mean transcribing a jazz piano voicing. Or playing bass lines on your sax. Or learning a new tune in a style you’ve never played. The point? Shake things up.

Looking for structured support as an adult beginner? Our adult beginner saxophone lessons are designed exactly for this—step-by-step, goal-based, and confidence-boosting.

Set SMART Goals (Yes, Even for Saxophone)

Fred dropped some serious gold in this episode around practicing with purpose. He introduced the SMART goal method, a powerful framework for staying motivated and tracking real progress.

SMART stands for:

• Specific: What exactly do you want to work on?
• Measurable: How will you know you’ve achieved it?
• Achievable: Is it realistic?
• Relevant: Does it support your overall musical goals?
• Time-bound: Set a deadline to stay accountable.

Instead of vaguely saying,

“I want to get better at pentatonics”, try:
“By the end of the month, I want to play all 12 minor pentatonic scales in eighth notes at 120 BPM with no mistakes.”

That’s how you learn saxophone online like a pro—even if you’re not aiming to become one.

Want more motivation hacks? Check out our blog post on how to stay motivated learning saxophone.

The Bottom Line: It’s Normal to Plateau—But You Don’t Have to Stay There

Every sax player hits a wall now and then. The key is knowing how to push through it. With a bit of inspiration, a new challenge, and a clear plan, you’ll be amazed how quickly things shift.

About the Tutors

Fred Vigdor toured worldwide with the iconic Average White Band for over 20 years and has performed, toured and recorded with artists including Michael MacDonald and Dave Weckl.

Joel Purnell is regarded as one of the top jazz educators and performers in the UK and has taught for over 20 years at the prestigious Leeds Conservatoire.