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The Best ‘Easy-To-Play’ Saxophone Playalong Books

By Rob Digweed | Learning | 0 comment | 27 October, 2020 | 0

So, you’ve been learning saxophone and have just completed Abracadabra Saxophone with your teacher and are ready to play some “real tunes”? Or maybe you are just looking for some fun songs to play at home? Either way, we’ve got your back. Most playalong music books are collections of songs of varying difficulty rather than progressive books arranged in orderRead more

The Best Audio Settings For Zoom On A Phone/Tablet

By Sax Bandits | Technology | 0 comment | 23 October, 2020 | 0

Suitable For Phone/Tablet On iOS Or Android System Zoom was initially intended for use in business environments and by default uses software to suppress unwanted intermittent or persistent background noises – unfortunately as musicians we often want to hear those ‘unwanted’ noises! There isn’t as much flexibility in the app version of Zoom so if you want greater control overRead more

The Best Audio Settings For Zoom On A Laptop/Computer

By Sax Bandits | Technology | 4 comments | 22 October, 2020 | 0

Suitable for laptop/desktop/computer on Mac or Windows system Zoom was initially intended for use in business environments and by default uses software to suppress unwanted intermittent or persistent background noises – unfortunately as musicians we often want to hear those ‘unwanted’ noises! Fortunately, we can improve your online music experience with a few simple adjustments in Zoom’s audio settings. Audio SettingsRead more

Storing Sheet Music And Backing Tracks Online For Easy Access

By Sax Bandits | Technology | 0 comment | 21 October, 2020 | 0

As musicians we accumulate lots of sheet music, recordings and custom backing tracks, whether it’s sent to us by band mates and teachers, or collected from the corners of the internet. It is important to have these resources organised and easy to access when practicing. Online storage offers the simplest solution for organising your materials in one place, safely backedRead more

The Easiest Setup For Online Music Lessons

By Sax Bandits | Learning, Technology | 0 comment | 21 October, 2020 | 0

Many of us still have a love-hate relationship with technology but the smart devices surrounding us can be valuable and diverse tools for learning music. We have more technology in our pockets than was used to land a man on the Moon! It’s likely that you already have the equipment and resources needed to pursue online music lessons. Any equipmentRead more

Essential Apps For Music Practice

By Sax Bandits | Technology | 3 comments | 10 October, 2020 | 0

If you have a smart phone or tablet you can access a whole bunch of useful music apps. Here are my favourite apps which I use to practice smarter and more efficiently. I have personally used the following apps for several years and they have become valuable tools in my practice routine. I encourage you to explore them for yourself.Read more

Recent Posts

  • Finding Your Rhythm with Paul Glover

    I arrived at Loddon Hall bright and early on Saturday 10th October 2026 and met other Sax Bandits members taking part in the ‘Beat It’ rhythm workshop with Paul Glover.  What is rhythm? As participants arrived we had time to discuss our musical experience and what brought us to the workshop… basically, we were in agreement that we needed help

    26 October, 2026
  • What does Jazz Improvisation have in common with Ancient Egypt?

    If you want any chance of confidently finding your way through a jazz chord chart, there are certain building blocks you need to understand, and the Minor 2-5-1 is one of the big ones! I still remember staring at my first chord chart and thinking, this might as well be Tutankhamun’s tomb. Strange symbols everywhere. I felt intimidated and, honestly,

    6 October, 2026
  • Restoring the Mysterious Swanee Saxophone

    This Swanee ‘Slide’ Saxophone was featured at SaxoFest as part of the Saxophone Family display, but it was not in playable condition. I took it home to see what could be done with a bit of TLC. Through some online research I was able to determine that these were made in the UK, probably in the late 1920’s (Samuel Bowley

    9 September, 2026
  • The Magic of Handcrafted Leather Saxophone Accessories

    The production process at MG Leather Work often doesn’t get seen by customers of our handmade music accessories so we wanted to share what happens behind the scenes. There’s something magical in the way a piece of leather turns into a personalised luxury accessory. MG Leather Work handcrafts saxophone straps, pouches for saxophone necks and wireless transmitters, and even instrument

    25 August, 2026
  • The Tenor, The Squeak, and The Seesaw of Doom (Part 1)

    For several years, my tenor sax and I have had what can only be described as a polite but strained relationship. I bought it second‑hand during the pandemic, a time when many people baked sourdough or learned Italian, while I apparently chose to adopt a tenor saxophone that had barely been played. In hindsight, this may have been a warning

    19 August, 2026
  • Performing at SaxoFest – An Unforgettable Experience

    SaxoFest was always going to be a special occasion. Not only was it a celebration of everything saxophone, but it also marked the 10th anniversary of Sax Bandits. What started as an idea to bring saxophonists together to play for fun has grown into a thriving family of musicians of all ages and abilities. After experiencing SaxoFest first-hand, it’s easy

    10 August, 2026

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