Whereas the casual listener will listen and enjoy the melodies of the music, the saxophonist will analyze the details of the performance and learn from it. As I listened to recordings of expert saxophonists, I became not only more knowledgeable about the saxophone, I also became more knowledgeable of the musicians' characteristic sound. Last spring during a ballet performance of the ballet school my daughter attends, I immediately recognized the saxophonist on the recording used during the performance. The primary activity of the saxophone community is performing in the sax section of a larger group, such as a concert band, jazz band, the pit band for a musical play and in saxophone ensembles, also known as saxophone quartets. My personal favorite was playing in a jazz band, which is another community of practice in and of itself.
Young members start with simple music.
As they improve, the music becomes more complicated. The activity that causes the saxophonist to move from the periphery toward the center most effectively is solo performance in the jazz, pop or classical idioms. This activity, more than any other, displays and hones the work and effort of the saxophonist. A fellow saxophonist dedicated himself to the study of the instrument, practicing constantly and. Although I never cared much for his style, sound or sound, he progressed on the instrument and in the saxophone community with scholarships to the New England Conservatory of Music and the Paris Conservatory.