The saxophone is an instrument that is integral to the make up of a band, especially, the jazz or high life band in Nigeria which reigned before Independence and to the 90s, However, it waned until a new generation of young artistes took it up, learnt it in the churches mostly, and made it their own talk of the teenagers like TemmySax, Demiladw Sax, KaySax, a genre that is interspersed in the Nigeria non-professional music scene.
A live performing musician and trumpeter, Victor Ademofe in an interview, stated that, for a youngster or an oldie to play the saxophone, one thing to do first is show interest and zest for learning about the instrument and how to play it .
“The saxophone is a musical instrument that falls under the woodwind instrument. In the classification of musical instruments, we have the strings, we have the brass, we have the percussion and we have the woodwind. Saxophone falls under woodwind.
To play the saxophone, the person must first buy a saxophone, rent a saxophone or get to be able to use one. Then, the person must find a qualified teacher and the essence of this is that the person will be able to guide him through the basics. Learning the theory of musical and rudiments of music, notation, sight reading are of importance to be able to navigate the path of learning the sax,” says Ademofe.
According to Ademofe, convener of Lagos Trumpet Conference, the second point is to develop skill on this saxophone, and create regular practice. The learner must start this by using simple exercises until he or she reaches the level of mastery, where he can begin to do complex exercises. Because there must first be an awareness, the hand and the mind must synchronize, he must learn saxophone technique, he must understand articulation, he must learn vibrato dynamics, and he must begin to use a play-along material. How can this person improve? How can this person be refined? Because it is a daily practice.
“The person must begin to listen. They say that, if you want to be a communicator, you must learn to be a listener. Those who play musical instruments are communicating, and they also must learn to listen, and that’s where they get more power, that’s where they get more influence. To forge ahead, they have to listen to saxophone music or trumpet music. He or she has expressed everything learnt and to put it to work, and also earn to play many styles and genres of music”.
Challenges
There is nothing that does not have a challenge, Ademofe says. “if all these are done judiciously, there should not be a challenge because the saxophone or the trumpet is a musical instrument and a technique is required in playing them. If one does not get the technique right, there will be grievous or grievous challenges.”
Income
But how much does somebody make playing with a band that is thriving? he says, “There is no limit to the amount of money anyone can make. There are people who play with bands that are thriving, who are active, playing every week, playing in parties, concerts. I mean, an average musician makes some N500,000 a week, some N1 million, some N100,000 some N50,000, depending on the kind of band, and how busy the band is.
“But it is a lucrative thing, playing with bands. Some not just play with bands, some play with churches. Some churches pay some people N300,000 every month, while some churches can pay as low as N30,000, depending on the size of church, and how they value the work of music.”
Branding
For popular trombonist and performing artiste, Abbey Afolarianmi known as Afowoslide says,the life of a trombonist is great just like the life of a Saxophonists player who chooses ro leverage and use the dexterity of playing the instrument into a life performing band or a professional entertainer.
The recording artiste who did the soundtrack of the movie – The Man Died which won an award at recent AMVCA, said, it’s good to understand oneself and agree one wants to play in a band and then lead a band or just to be an artiste who uses the instrument, be it saxophone, trumpet or trombone.
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