Who's Blog Is This Anyway??
Hey Folks,
Well, I guess it only makes sense to give you some background information about me and my training, career etc.
I started playing saxophone in 1979 in middle school and have continued on right through the completion of a Undergraduate Degree in Jazz Studies and 1 year completed towards a Master's Degree in performance. I'm an "Artist/Clinician" for Yamaha Canada and I endorse the Yamaha "Custom Z" tenor saxophone. I play soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxes, some flute, and bass clarinet as well. Because I didn't attend one of the "heavy" type jazz schools (North Texas, Berklee, University of Miami, Manhattan School of Music etc.), I ended up learning mostly from recordings, private lessons with various jazz figures, jazz camps, personal practice, hanging out, going on the road, cruise ship gigs, asking MANY questions etc.
It was important for me to hang out at the local jam sessions, meet people, sit in, learn tunes and establish a network of people and musicians that I would later draw on for gigs, inspiration, advice, and so on. One of the things I tell my own students who are serious about going to post-secondary schools to study music is to always take the time to meet new people, hang out, and establish contacts. The contacts you establish in school will likely turn out to be the guys that will be handing you work when they can't do a gig or when they are asked to book or contract a gig.
Anyway, over the years I have been able to develop a decent network of people that I draw on and employ and work with on a regular basis, and a lot of those contacts are people I played/hung out with at university. Be a great player but also be a great guy (gal) as well.....that will make you employable. Leave your ego and attitude at the door and just enjoy playing music and interacting with others to create this magnificent art form.
Best Regards,
Pat Belliveau
PS - For more background information about me (if you're curious), check out my website: http://www.patbelliveau.com
Well, I guess it only makes sense to give you some background information about me and my training, career etc.
I started playing saxophone in 1979 in middle school and have continued on right through the completion of a Undergraduate Degree in Jazz Studies and 1 year completed towards a Master's Degree in performance. I'm an "Artist/Clinician" for Yamaha Canada and I endorse the Yamaha "Custom Z" tenor saxophone. I play soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxes, some flute, and bass clarinet as well. Because I didn't attend one of the "heavy" type jazz schools (North Texas, Berklee, University of Miami, Manhattan School of Music etc.), I ended up learning mostly from recordings, private lessons with various jazz figures, jazz camps, personal practice, hanging out, going on the road, cruise ship gigs, asking MANY questions etc.
It was important for me to hang out at the local jam sessions, meet people, sit in, learn tunes and establish a network of people and musicians that I would later draw on for gigs, inspiration, advice, and so on. One of the things I tell my own students who are serious about going to post-secondary schools to study music is to always take the time to meet new people, hang out, and establish contacts. The contacts you establish in school will likely turn out to be the guys that will be handing you work when they can't do a gig or when they are asked to book or contract a gig.
Anyway, over the years I have been able to develop a decent network of people that I draw on and employ and work with on a regular basis, and a lot of those contacts are people I played/hung out with at university. Be a great player but also be a great guy (gal) as well.....that will make you employable. Leave your ego and attitude at the door and just enjoy playing music and interacting with others to create this magnificent art form.
Best Regards,
Pat Belliveau
PS - For more background information about me (if you're curious), check out my website: http://www.patbelliveau.com
Labels: A Little Background
posted by Pat Belliveau at
2:44 PM
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