Taking My Saxophone To Sydney

Playing saxophone has been a passion of mine for many years.  I got my first saxophone when I was 15 years old…..more than 3 decades ago.

And I’ve loved it ever since.

I’ve played in many different musical scenarios – big bands, small bands, solo, rock bands, jazz bands, funk bands, soul bands, orchestras, saxophone groups, with friends and with strangers, local gigs, country gigs, interstate and internationally in many different parts of the world.

My saxophone has opened doors that I have really enjoyed walking (and playing) through.

I consider myself to be very lucky…..although I have gone out of my way to practice my saxophone and position myself to be in the right place at the right time.

I live in Melbourne, Australia, with my wife and two teenage daughters.

As a result, a significant proportion of my musical adventures have been in the Melbourne general area.

Two years ago I performed in Germany and all over the UK and Wales.

Last year I was fortunate enough to travel to Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. This was an incredible experience.  Edinburgh is close to 30 hours travelling distance from Melbourne – if all of the flights marry up !

Earlier this year I was fortunate to travel to Adelaide to perform at the Adelaide Fringe Festival.  Again, this was great fun !  Adelaide is a 10 hour drive from Melbourne or a one hour flight.

So, it was initially a bit of a surprise when I was recently contacted by Stu from a Rolling Stones Tribute band in Sydney, called Rolling Stoned.

 

Off To Sydney

 

It turns out that there is possibly a bit of a shortage of saxophone players in Sydney….or at least a shortage of saxophone players who were available for some dates that Rolling Stoned were looking to play.

After a few emails and a few phone calls, and after Stu had seen a few more of my videos, it would appear that I am on my way to Sydney for a performance with him and his band.

This is actually quite exciting for me.

All gigs are great experiences – at least they have been for me.  Sometimes (almost always !) they are fun, sometimes they are learning opportunities, sometimes they turn out differently than I was expecting, sometime they are musically challenging, sometimes they are musically amazing.

There is nothing quite so exciting, at least in my opinion, as a group of people who are playing their instruments together as one cohesive unit.

I am grateful and fortunate in that I have some more musical opportunities coming my way over the next couple of months… I will write about these in future blog posts here at HowToPlayTheSax.com.

I haven’t played my sax in Sydney for a few years now.  Sydney is more than 1000 kms (620 miles) from Melbourne: a 1.5 hour flight or a 12 hour drive.

I am really looking forward to playing my saxophone with this group of very talented musicians and die hard Rolling Stones fans.

 

How and where do you play your saxophone ?

 

Do you play it by yourself in your bedroom ?  Or do you play with others – a duo, a trio, a band, a church group, a community group, an ensemble, an orchestra, an open mic night at your local pub ?

Or perhaps are you aiming to play with a group of people but haven’t quite made the leap yet ?

Let me know in the comments below what your musical goals or challenges are.

The point I’m trying to make here is that playing saxophone – indeed playing a musical instrument – can be a wonderfully solitary or a wonderfully social experience.

Sometimes it is relaxing and can be a form of meditation to play your saxophone by yourself in your bedroom or lounge room, irrespective of the style or genre of music that you enjoy playing.

Equally it can be a joyous experience of sharing and creation when playing your saxophone with others, again irrespective of the style or genre of music that floats your particular boat.

I encourage you to just play.  Play what YOU want.  Play where YOU want.  Play with the people that YOU want to play with.

Have Fun.  Play Saxophone.  Be Awesome.  Repeat.

 

However, in the immediate future, if you happen to be in Sydney on Saturday July 13th 2019, then please come and see me with Rolling Stoned at the Canterbury Leagues Club !

 

And please come and say hi – I’ll be the one with the saxophone, smiling 🙂

Thanks,

Matthew

P.S.  If you would like some help on your saxophone journey, then I can help.

 

Not a member yet ?  Join us and get access to the always increasing library of saxophone lessons and PDF cheat sheets.

 

P.P.S.  If you would like simple step by step instructions to help you learn how to play the saxophone:

  • all neatly organised in the one convenient location,
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  • with a forum community to ask questions and receive (and give) answers

then check out our saxophone lessons membership options.  Get started on your saxophone journey today !

Remember – I can help you learn How To Play The Sax 🙂

YES – I want to Have Fun, Play Sax, Be Awesome and Repeat !

HowToPlayTheSax.com – where saxophone lessons come to YOU !

🙂

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