OUR PLAYERS

I started playing flute in primary through the Aberdeenshire council lessons and soon after, I picked up the saxophone. Flute and saxophone are very similar fingerings and so learning flute gave me a head start when teaching myself saxophone. I started playing saxophone in school bands and then my flute teacher told me about Aberdeenshire Saxophone Orchestra. I decided to go.

At the age of 82, I think I am the oldest member of the Aberdeenshire Sax Orchestra. What I like about the orchestra is the friendliness of the other members and the quality of the tuition. Whatever your level of playing there will be a part for you. Each of the popular instruments such as Alto or Tenor Sax will have scores at three levels of difficulty , from just about beginner to maestro. The tutors are great and are always helpful while insisting on the highest level of performance possible. Come and join us.

I spent many hours ferrying my children to various music lessons and band practices when they were young. One day while watching them perform a Christmas concert I saw there were adults in the band, Sudden epiphany ! I want to do that! So ,in my mid forties I chose to learn alto sax as it seemed to be the coolest of instruments . I found a teacher, rented a sax and a year later I was playing - badly- in the Christmas concert.
I have found learning the sax a real lesson in life. I learnt piano as a child from a very uninspiring teacher and assumed I was “unmusical”.
Now having been taught by various inspiring teachers and discovering that if you practice you get better, I am sure we can all be musical.
I heard about ASO from a friend and ,having family and friends in Aberdeen decided it would be worth the drive from Glasgow once a month.
Good decision! I have met lots of lovely people and am constantly learning from our talented musical directors. And best of all we make great music together.

It was bold of me to attempt to join such a well practiced and well informed group! Put it down, in part, to the encouragement of my friend and neighbour Ian, who perhaps presented well enough for two.
Thank you all for such an enjoyable and informative day; I was truly inspired by the teaching, and by the kind welcome and encouragement from all your members.
The day was a memorable experience. I very much hope that I will return.

I first started playing the saxophone in my mid thirties. Although I had been very involved with music throughout my school years, with piano lessons, recorder, percussion groups and choirs, I drifted away from playing music until my mid thirties, when, following a major illness which caused serious problems with my lungs, I decided to try saxophone playing, as it was an instrument I had always fancied trying; so as part of my rehab, I thought it would be a fun way to get my breathing back on track.

I started playing music at the age of 9 with the oboe, discovered I had a talent and rose through the grades, adding in bassoon when I was 13. I achieved Grade 8 in both when I was 15 and decided to focus on the bassoon. My background is classical and though I chose a scientific career as a geologist, I have continued to play bassoon with various orchestras as I have moved around Britain.