My Favourite Things...

So I thought I would do a post slightly more personal and in depth than some of my previous posts. Usually I write about my past, my random thoughts of the day or I share some of my more creative musings.

The next few posts are going to focus on my favourite things to do. I'll share why I love them, how I got into certain activities and I'll try *fingers crossed* and upload photos (if I can work out how to do that because I am a bit of a technophobe!)

This post is going to focus on playing tenor saxophone.

I started playing tenor saxophone back in Year 7 (when I was 11). It was our first proper music lesson and we were told that the school had several instruments we could try out for to learn to play while we were at the school. There were several brass instruments and violins but there were two alto saxophones and a tenor saxophone. 

I have always loved the way saxophones sound. They're so smooth sounding and a true icon of jazz music, in my opinion. So when the opportunity arose, I snatched up the chance to learn how to play one!

It turned out the three saxophones were a common choice but luckily for me, I was the only person who could get a note out of the tenor saxophone straight away. I was offered the chance of learning to play. Three hours later, I turned up on my doorstep with a huge case containing the Bb tenor saxophone. My mum was slightly shocked to say the least!

Several months later and my parents decided to get divorced. Not the best thing to happen anyway but when the news came that my mum and I would be moving to York. I'm not going to lie, I was heartbroken as I was absolutely sure this would be the end of my saxophone lessons. I had learned so much in a short space of time and I loved playing the saxophone. It had become my dream to play professionally.

We moved to York and I started yet another new school. It took a few weeks but the music department were able to buy a tenor saxophone which they let me borrow while I was attending the school. I started my lessons again and fell back in love with the instrument.

Around a year after I first started playing in York, I began to join bands. I became a member of York Youth Jazz Band as well as the school's jazz, concert and wind bands. I studied hard both on my academic studies and my saxophone studies and I sat my Grade 4 exam.

There are 8 musical grades. Each one requires the student to learn several scales and arpeggios and pieces of music which differ in style. To gain grade 5 and above, students also need to sit a theory exam (which is as boring as it sounds!)

I passed my grade 4 exam and it was partially this that made me certain I wanted to pursue music as a career. I started planning what university I wanted to go to so I knew what A-Levels to study and what grades I needed to get in.

I decided to study a Jazz Course at the Royal College of Music in London. It is one of the best places to study music but that comes with a very high cost! My course was going to be expensive but if I wanted to be a professional tenorsaxophonist, it was a price I had to pay. I wanted to play professionally all over the world, New York, London, New Orleans, Paris, anywhere.

As you may have gathered, I didn't study music at university. I studied Education Studies and English Language and Linguistics instead but that is a different story entirely!

In 2007, my mum and I moved to Berwick-upon-Tweed and it was the October that she gave me the ultimate surprise. For my birthday present, and for doing well in my GCSEs (which I completed in York despite moving halfway through them), she had bought me my very own tenor saxophone.

A bright red Manhattan 5, limited edition tenor saxophone. It was honestly love at first sight. Being the geek that I am, I named it Rudolph.

I studied music at GCSE level and wanted to continue this to A level but unfortunately the sixth form I attended didn't have the option of A level music. Instead I studied a National Diploma in Music Performance. Three years later and I gained a triple distinction which is equivalent to three As at A level. I also studied for my grade 5 exam. While I passed the practical, I failed the theory but I still say I'm grade 5.

I started learning to play saxophone 14 years ago. I haven't played in 4 years but I still have the original passion I first had for it. Learning to play the saxophone helped me through many dark times I faced. My parent's divorce. Being bullied in school. Relationship problems with my parents. Depression. Rejection. 

It was also thanks to my saxophone lessons that I learned to control the fiery temper I inherited from my father. I learned that jazz and classical music calm me down and take me to a safer place. I discovered a talent that seperates me from my family. Being the second youngest of six children (between my mum and dad, not together) it is difficult to find a voice sometimes. Anyone who knows me will say that I never have difficulty finding my voice but its nice to have something that your siblings don't share. Other than my lack of spatial awareness or clumsiness anyway. Two of my sisters were musical but they were sporty or academic as well. Far more academic than me.

I also discovered that passion inside me that I longed for. I wasn't sporty at school, I was fairly academic but I didn't feel I was clever enough. Playing saxophone made me feel like I belonged somewhere at last. Having moved around so much, I got fed up of just being the new girl. Playing saxophone allowed me to find my identity in a world I felt I was an outsider in.

So that's how I started playing saxophone. One of the few things in life I don't regret and something I would never change.

Ciao for now!
X

The Four Things Tag...

So I have finally got round to replacing my laptop and I have bought a tablet. Well, I used some of my incentive points from work to buy it but it is basically the same thing! 

My best friend Claire (over at www.geniusvsbeauty.blogspot.com) recently did this 4 things tag so I thought I would steal it and do it as well! Check out her blog - she regularly posts and she writes about her passions including history and reading.

Four Places that I have lived:
This is a tough decision. I have moved around a lot so I have picked the four places I lived the most/the longest

1. York
2. Reston, Scottish Borders
3. Lowick, Northumberland
4. Edinburgh (where I currently live)

Four Jobs I have had:

1. Conference and Banqueting Assistant
2. Housekeeping Assistant
3. Bartender
4. Food and Beverage Assistant

Four Things I Don't Eat:

1. Brussel Sprouts
2. Olives
3. Blueberries
4. Cream

Four of my Favourite Foods:

1. My Mum's lasagne
2. Chicken Casear Salad
3. Pepperoni Pizza
4. My Dad's beef curry (which actually uses my Mum's recipe!)

Four Movies I've Seen More Than Once:

1. Pretty Woman
2. All the X-Men films
3. Chicago
4. Evita

Four TV Shows I Watch (still running):

1. Doctor Who
2. Holby City
3. The Big Bang Theory
4. EastEnders

Four TV Shows I Watch (ended):

1. Friends
2. Torchwood
3. Glee
4. Charmed

Four Things I'm Looking Forward to This Year:

1. Doctor Who Exhibition in Cardiff
2. Cardiff summer holiday with my best friend
3. Speedway Finals
4. Seeing family 

Four Websites I Visit Daily:

1. BBC education news
2. Facebook
3. Gmail
4. Online Banking

Four Things I Can't Live Without:

1. My music
2. Big Ted
3. My phone
4. My lucky necklace

Four Places I've Visited:

1. Brittany, France
2. The Pyranees, Spain
3. Italy
4. Cornwall

Four Pet Peeves:

1. Bad spelling
2. Rudeness
3. Bad manners
4. Obnoxious people 

Four Things I Wish I Could Do:

1. Travel the world
2. Play saxophone in Jools Holland's orchestra
3. Act professionally
4. Achieve my dreams

Four Subjects I Studied at School:

1. Music
2. English Language
3. French
4. German

Four Things Near Me Now:

1. My phone
2. Big Ted
3. My cigarettes
4. Diet Coke

Four Names People Call Me Other than my Name:

1. Sez
2. Shorty
3. Amy (my mum is forever calling me by my niece's name)
4. Sahara


Ciao for now
X