♫ Mikayla (14) ► First Improvised sax SOLO (8th grade - May '07)

[meanmon]

YOU GO GIRL!...As a retired music teacher I only have to say..."ACES!"

Now go and give thanks to the person(s) who influenced you!...All the best in your future endeavor. :{)

[TheCzarofussr]

How do you get that awesome tone at like 0:45 where it sounds rustic? Is it embochure, or the sax and mouthpiece, please please help!

[mikaylasax]

@TheCzarofussr .... That's a long time ago. It was probably a combination of all three, embochure, sax, and mouthpiece.

[mikaylasax]

@mikaylasax ... FYI, that sax is for sale right now on Ebay.

[TheCzarofussr]

What mouthpiece were you playing on, im going to get a Berg Larsen 90/1 alto, im just curious though as to what you played?

[mikaylasax]

@TheCzarofussr ...It was a Jody Jazz mouthpiece, probably a 4 or 5. That mouthpiece was sold a couple of years ago.

[TheCzarofussr]

@mikaylasax Was it a jody jazz classic because those seem to be red or black

[crazycrackerent]

sounds good our ensamble played this piece also all you need are some more jazz scale note in and ur set dont know if u checked out thejazzvibe be for but i play the sax to (im the white guy lol)

[16piller16lol]

nice what scale you on?

[sweetinnocentbutters]

Wait That was improvised? O that's cool I play alto sax but I'm not that good. Let's just say I need a lot of pratice…

[mikaylasax]

@sweetinnocentbutters Thanks. Yes, that was the first time for a spontaneous improv solo! Glad you liked it.

[JaMiLsax]

is good!!! ..sorry for my english =) (no hablo ingles)

[mikaylasax]

@JaMiLsax Gracias por escuchar mi música. Aprecio su estímulo.

[mikaylasax]

@TheJazzySaxophone :)

[mikaylasax]

@TheJazzySaxophone I hope you liked it!

[gallito1010]

I will thank you !!

[gallito1010]

fantastic !!

[mikaylasax]

@gallito1010

Thanks. This was almost 3 years ago. Please watch some of my more recent videos too!

[i0nPuNk182]

Awesome!

[mikaylasax]

Thanks!!

[methuselah12]

that was fantastic! good on ya.

[mikaylasax]

Thanks! That was about 2 1/2 years ago. Please check out some of my more recent videos. And thanks for listening.

[emilyxjean]

wow. that is so too good.... i am 15, a sophmoree and have been playing jazz forever and can't even lay a finger on that! just spectacular!

[mikaylasax]

Thanks for listening. I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[gc14rocks]

that was hella tight !!! i play the sax too

[mikaylasax]

Thanks !!

What sax do you play? Would love to see some video of you playing.

[gc14rocks]

haha i play the Alto, tenor and the bari!! i'd rather not put videos of me up hahaXD

[shinka1911]

That was awesome

well done

[mikaylasax]

Thanks for listening!

[callumjosephstewart]

awsome what i find always works well is chromatics too roll down em nice sound love it

[mikaylasax]

Thanks!

[UnboundVolts]

now that is an improv solo!

[mikaylasax]

I'm glad you liked it!

[catwithasax]

I had a look at your link, all grown up, well nearly. I can see you being on stage with some of the worlds biggest bands if you keep going.

All the best

[mikaylasax]

Thanks for your interest and your encouragement!

[catwithasax]

I liked that, you have a really nice flow.

You are a very talented girl. I really hope you keep going.

[mikaylasax]

Thanks for listening.  This was filmed a couple of years ago.

[illsueya99]

My friend and I tried an improv. at an old folks afternoon tea type thing. I think it went well considering I'd only been playing for about 2 months then. Then again, it's nowhere near as awesome as this! :DDD

[mikaylasax]

Thanks!!

[bigbrad477]

hey it was good you should've probably put just a little bit more jazz notes in it and swing let glid

[honkysaxophone]

wow that is awesome for first solo :))))

[mikaylasax]

I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for listening!

[HecticHenry9]

WOW!!... thats was an awesome solo...I'm too scared to play one haha..I'm not tha open. thats a bad personality/trait to have in Jazz band...i think.

[mikaylasax]

Thanks for watching.

[iSax4Lyfe]

Yeh you sound like a highschooler :P

Is this like a jazz band? Are you first chair :O?

[mikaylasax]

Thanks. This was about 20 months ago, 8th grade jazz band.

[TurkeyinAbucket]

woh ur loaded with a silver mark vi

[mikaylasax]

Yeah. Mikayla's little sister plays one too. They both love them!

[mjout62]

That was incredible!!!!!! If it didnt say 8th grade I would have thought you were highschool senior or something!!! It was amazing, you rock!!!!

[mikaylasax]

Thanks for listening and for your encouragement!

[Ficalos]

thats incredible! im in 8th grade and i wish i could play like that. It sounded like it was written. You fooled me!

[mikaylasax]

Thanks for listening and for the compliment!

[provinceofcyrodiil]

Wow that sounded really awesome, very professional :O awesome job

[mikaylasax]

Thanks so much for listening!

[onem1nute]

wow

wish id had that concept as an 8th grader

very nice

[mikaylasax]

Thanks!

[Tsutsomu]

promising performance.

You play really good Mikayla.

Keep it up.

Steph.

[mikaylasax]

Thanks Steph!

[StickKingProductions]

great solo

[mikaylasax]

Thanks for listening!

[mxlhyn]

wow gz!

[zziiiiggyyy]

wow. very impressive.

[mikaylasax]

Thanks zziiiggyyy!

[SUBROMAN]

Impressive, very good!

[mikaylasax]

Thanks for watching!

[Bevcrusherfan]

This is pretty great!

[mikaylasax]

Thanks!

[wefwef08]

True musician.

[mikaylasax]

Thanks!

[gweeemonster]

haha, nice job! is that a runyon you are using? you sound great on it. i tried one and i sound like crap. you sound awesome on it!

[mikaylasax]

Thanks for listening! It's a 1962 Selmer-Paris Mark VI. Thanks again!

[gweeemonster]

i was talking about the mouthpiece

[mikaylasax]

It's a Jody Jazz Mouthpiece.

[gatorguy4114]

great job especially for bein in middle school i'm a trumpet and our jazz band can't improve at all

[EjenAmy]

nice i love it.. and ur beautiful too.

[mikaylasax]

Thanks!!

[chrisforsyth]

Great Job!! I hope that your still playing!

[mikaylasax]

Thanks. You can see Mikayla playing with her current band DV Performance Jazz Ensemble on her YouTube channel "mikaylasax" or on the band's channel "DVHSjazz".

[troika1987]

Wow! Impressive for 8th grade! I am a 4th year college student and I was unfortunate to start playing serious jazz near the middle of high school. Keep it up :)

[mikaylasax]

Thanks for the compliment!

[muzikbee]

wow, good for you!

im in grade 10, play around 8 different instruments, sax being one of my favorites! Ive played my fair share of solos, but I know i probubly wouldnt have the guts to improvise one!

[mikaylasax]

Thanks. I appreciate the compliment!

[KIRAgoesCHICAGO]

great solo!!

your a writer and a musician. I'm impressed :)

[mikaylasax]

Thanks!

[iParamore13]

Nicee good job

[mdb205]

not too bad!

[Briceno009]

wow im an 8 grader in rio middle school thats very impresive you got a good sound ya im going to be in all valley and i want to play like you

[mikaylasax]

Thanks for the compliment!

[Briceno009]

@Briceno009 yeah . lol a year ago umm im 16 n now i play like u .. haha yeah reply to my message k

[asusman13]

Very good solo! I'm 15 years old and I'm playing too the alto sax. How did you improvise, over blues scales or accords or only spontenous? What is the sax you are playing?

[mikaylasax]

Hi! Thanks for your kind words.

This is Mike, Mikayla's grandfather. At the time this was recorded, Mikayla had only been playing sax a short while, so she didn't really even understand the blues scale, chord changes, etc. She just did as Sonny Rollins had instructed her to do - she learned the song really well, and then tried to just "forget it." Then for her solo, she just let the music "play itself," as Sonny suggested It was just spontaneous.

Thanks again for your comment.

Mike

[asusman13]

be lucky that you and your granddaughter had the honour to meet so great people like sonny and candy... Maybe i will post a song by me solo or from our big band or jazz band... I dont know... Well... Keep grooving... By the way i like the slides in the solo..

See you

[montaramike]

AWESOME!!!!!!!!! I loved it!

[mikaylasax]

Thanks Mike!

[montaramike]

You are the real life Lisa Simpson. :-)

[mikaylasax]

And not much taller, either! ;)

[Eiki32Eiki]

Goog...i play solo´s verry often and impros too........but this one is really good

[mikaylasax]

Thanks for the encouragement!

[invisiblepenguin]

Whoa I recognize you and your weird red mouthpiece. Did you play at the Fullerton Jazz Fest?

[mikaylasax]

No, sorry, didn't play at Fullerton. The mouthpiece is a Jody Jazz.

[gsaxita]

so cute she is :)  go and study!!!!

[mzbab]

Wonderful job on the sax! I play alto too, and I'd like to know what sax she's playing on.

[mikaylasax]

Thanks for your comment. Mikayla plays a 1962 Selmer-Paris Mark VI.

[BrassManO]

DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYANG. Both my Trumpet and Trombone are tiny little things that kill my otherwise large tone. I'm hoping to one day save up 3000 dollars to buy a Holton Superbone. But DAAAAAAAANG. Mark VI is AMAZING.

[mikaylasax]

Mikayla loves her Mark VI and wouldn't trade it for a modern horn!

[BrassManO]

Mark VI is better than a modern horn anyways.

[OjAiSaXpLaYeR]

lol i play an 82-Z....played 10+ Mark 6's ...even the ones with high F# keys.....i dont like em over the new Yamahas'....and apparentely...neither does Phil Woods

[xmeister329]

theres no way a yamaha sounds better than a mark 6

[mikaylasax]

Mikayla has a Yamaha, a Cannonball, a Selmer Mark VI, even an ugh... Antigua! She prefers the Mark VI, but I think it's probably the sort of thing that is a personal preference. A good player can make just about any instrument sound good.

We saw David Sanborn play a solo on a toy sax! He sounded pretty good.

One reason so many pro's play Mark VI's is because they are so durable. They hold up well to all the traveling, touring, etc. Of course, they have a great sound too!

[airguitarist1010]

again let me say great job. I mean i've heard better. but it was from people twice your age. you've got it girl. please stick with it and don't let any negative feedback keep you from your destiny!!!

[mikaylasax]

Thanks again for supporting Mikayla. Once again this was a first for her - her first spontaneous improvisation. She had just turned 14 and had been playing sax for just 20 months when this was recorded. The crowd reaction was great and that also served to bolster her confidence.

Take a look at some of her more recent performances with DVHS Performance Jazz Ensemble. She hasn't soloed much with that band yet, but she's the "newbie," so that's to be expected.

Thanks again,

Mike

[omer2324]

Hey very nice solo!!! I am also a fellow alto sax player. In my school jazz group we just started to play this fun fusion song. Your solo was very nice keep up the good work !( btw, your 14!??! and so good! I am 15 and your better then me ! lol you got a bright future ahead of ya.)

[mikaylasax]

Thanks for encouraging Mikayla. She had just turned 14 when this video was recorded. It was her very first spontaneous improvisation.

She is now 15 and plays with an extraordinary high school jazz band - DVHS Performance Jazz Ensemble.  You can see videos of Mikayla playing with that band on her channel too.

Thanks again for your comment.

Mike (Mikayla's grandfather)

[bennhmm]

nice! i play the alto too! excat same song and i have a solo too!!

but different improv obviously =P, very nice

[mikaylasax]

Thanks Benjamin! Greetings to you in Hong Kong.

[lokianni]

u good (Y)

[mikaylasax]

Thank you!

[kukundrela]

Was this an improvised solo????? 0_0

[mikaylasax]

Yes, this was Mikayla's very first spontaneous improvisation.

[kukundrela]

Wow... that was unexpected! I am stunned then!!!!

Absolutely marvelous, her solo is very addicting! I haven't stopped listening to it for 50 minutes 0_o

[mikaylasax]

Thanks. I'll make sure she gets your comments.

[kukundrela]

Oh, my GOD! She is so so sweet, she has style, although I am not a saxophone player, I can definitely state my opinion! And I am sure of what I am saying, she is terrific! And I was very pleased of her reaction and the greeting from the girl next to her... They look so natural! They are acting really mature and natural... And that is hard to do in such moments sometimes. Congrats! Please, stay in touch with us! :)

[mikaylasax]

You are very kind. Thanks for the compliment!

[UniquelyUninspired]

Nice. One of my favourite Silver tunes, and you really got the feel for it. Amazing. Next steps would be to learn some new effects to make your solos even spicier =D

[mikaylasax]

Thanks so much!

[mihogo]

very good,

I buyed my alto sax yesterday, I am able to play some notes and easy kid songs

But i wish i play like that°!

[mikaylasax]

Thanks for the compliment!

No one can play well at first. Everybody has to learn. Keep practicing! You'll get better.

[raypizzi]

YAH MIKAYLA, You look sweet but play NASTY ! GREAT !!!

[mikaylasax]

It is a terrific encouragement to receive a compliment from a great musician like you. I've seen your videos and you are genuinely amazing. So versatile too.

Thanks for your comment Ray!

[raypizzi]

The future of music is in good hands with youngsters like Mikayla with the support they receive from Granpa. God Bless and Thank You for your intuitive comments. RPz

[marcoballa]

Good!!!!

You got the groove!

Keep on playing like that!

[mikaylasax]

I appreciate your encouragement!  Thanks.

[fiyah2008]

yr good

[mikaylasax]

Thanks!

[genesis344]

Very good for your age. Just curious but did you have the chord changes memorized or did you just stick with the blues scale? I don't wanna seem like a jerk if i do sorry...

[mikaylasax]

This is Mike (Mikayla's grandfather). I suspect that she didn't do either, but instead just played what sounded good to her. She had been playing only a short time and didn't have a good understanding of either the chord changes or the blues scale at that time.

She did as Sonny Rollins instructed her to do. "Just learn the song really well, then forget it. Don't think, just get up and play. Let the music come to you. Let the music play you!"

[genesis344]

Thanks, but ask Sonny something for me (a favor)Did he mean learn all the changes to your ear then forget it? I'm sure she didn't realize it but what sounded good was within the chords. Have sonny watch my sax video on my page. I really need to get off the ground over here. It's hard to get noticed and my age (15) and I really need some tips... thankyou

[mikaylasax]

Sonny said learn everything about the song, chords, harmony, even the lyrics. But at the time, Mikayla was still learning her scales! So she learned to play the song, but was still just learning the theory behind it all!

Have you seen her more recent videos with the Performance Jazz Ensemble?

[genesis344]

I have seen some but none with solos. And the first thing you said shows the prowess of a real musician!

[mikaylasax]

She's the only freshman girl in a band composed mostly of junior and senior guys.  She doesn't get many solos. Maybe next year she'll get a few more! She DID have a short solo on "Moondance."

[anonymabs15]

Impressive! The world needs more good female saxophonists :)

[mikaylasax]

Thanks for your encouragement!

[LynFredrick]

Nice work! Well done!

Lyn x

[mikaylasax]

Thanks Lyn!

[xxkaykayxo]

question for mikayla??? was the solo all improve or written out??

[mikaylasax]

This was Mikayla's first spontaneous improvisation. Sonny Rollins told Mikayla to "learn the song really well, then forget it. Just get up and play. Don't think, just let the music play you." So that's exactly what she did. She played what came to her at that moment.

Thanks for your comment!

[la1880]

absolutely fabulous!!

Fantastic and so enjoyable to watch!!

Natasha

xox

[mikaylasax]

Thanks Natasha.  I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[Selmer2006]

It's really good for age, even excellent and considering she's been playing a short time. she should listne to charlie parker though ;)

[mikaylasax]

Thanks for your comment. Mikayla listens to Charlie Parker and many others, but actually prefers listening to Sonny Rollins.

[buhler32]

Hey, you look great!!;)

I played my first sax solo in grade eight, (which I still am in, for the year is not over yet) and You are way better than me!!lol

where are you from ?

[mikaylasax]

Thanks for the encouragement. And greetings from the western US.

Spontaneous improvisation can be exciting (if you do well) but also involves a degree of risk (ie., you can "die" on stage). But if you want to play jazz, that's all part of it!

Thanks again for your comment.

[buhler32]

awesome, I am from Canada, BC to be exact, cold here, just finished snowing a couple of days ago.

[mikaylasax]

Met someone from Penticton, BC tonight, at a Jazz clinic at a local college here.

BC is a beautiful place, snow or not!

[vonKesselringss]

Maybe you'll play a song with romanian influences.. who knows???

[vonKesselringss]

Also try: doru taranu-brauri de la munte.See ya :)

[vonKesselringss]

Search on youtube : ionica jurchela-doina

it's romanian folklore... I hope you like. Hope you'll come a great star. Good luck from Romania!!!

[mikaylasax]

Thank you so much.

I saw the video you recommended. Nice sax work!

Thanks again for your encouragement.

[DOAer]

Very nice ideas flowing!

[mikaylasax]

Thanks!

[DOAer]

Now to find more of your band's performances!

[koraykaan]

just like me :) i played my first solo at 8th class. i have started at 7th. well done young girl :)

[mikaylasax]

Thank you for your comment.  I would love to hear you play too.

[koraykaan]

just search for "rocky4" videos. sound quality isnt so good. we are much more better now:d

[MrGlibpie]

mooi

[mikaylasax]

Dank u voor uw commentaar.

[MrGlibpie]

geen dank het is erg goed en mooi

[mikaylasax]

Ik heb weinig inwoners van Nederland ontmoet. Ik ontmoette saxophonist Candy Dulfer, en ik ontmoette haar moeder. Zij waren zeer aardig. U bent ook zeer aardig. Dank opnieuw.

[lovejazzsax]

8th grade? wow!

[bigOjazz]

GO MIKAYLA!

This girl is going to be a killer sax player.

[2Much2Take]

Kick butt girl! You can play!

[dmio2]

nicely done

[JPSaxMan]

Hah...how do I say this? I remember hearing this young girl when she was 12 (I suppose going on 13?) and noticed many inherent issues with tone, but still a developed one nonetheless. Now...I listen to that solo. What a world of difference! It's amazing what time does...keep it up, your solos will eventually become much more mature and rounded but that one was pretty frockin' good 8-).

[mikaylasax]

Thanks Joel! It's always nice to hear from you. We're looking forward to seeing more of your videos too.

[dgbsaxosg]

Ey, ademas de guapa tocas bien el saxo jejeje, perdona pero el ingles no lo domino, sorry.

[mikaylasax]

Gracias por su comentario. Gozo el jugar del saxophone, y espero que aprenda jugarlo mejor en el futuro. También, no hablo español, sino que utilicé un programa de computadora para traducirlo para mí.