Listening to This Counts as Practice

Follow Listening to This Counts as Practice
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

A saxophone pedagogy podcast hosted by Erik Steighner.

Erik Steighner


    • Aug 1, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 11m AVG DURATION
    • 124 EPISODES


    Search for episodes from Listening to This Counts as Practice with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from Listening to This Counts as Practice

    #124 Wrapping Up

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2024 4:17


    Erik puts an ending tag on the show. Thanks for listening for the past six (!) years! Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com/ You can find the complete podcast archive here.

    #123 Testing Légère's New French Cut Alto and Tenor Sax Reeds

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2023 21:01


    Erik tries out the new Légère French Cut reeds for alto and tenor saxophone and compares them to the Signature Cut and Vandoren/D'Addario cane examples. If you enjoy listening to the same measures of music played over and over and over and over, then this will be right up your alley! Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #122 What's Next

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2023 6:45


    Erik's mulls over the show's future. Please complete the very brief listener survey here: https://forms.gle/2CzzwEZvroD6EHTq7  And attend or stream Erik's upcoming faculty recital, 3 p.m. PST on Sept. 10 at PLU! Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #121 Another School Year in the Books

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2023 5:09


    Erik's subconscious ordered another episode. Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #120 Selmer Tenor Mouthpiece Shootout - S90-170, S90-180, Concept

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2023 6:45


    Erik records a spur-of-the-moment episode comparing the Selmer Concept and S90-180 tenor mouthpieces against his S90-170. Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #119 Testing the D'Addario Venn G2 Synthetic Reed

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2023 10:13


    Erik tries out the new(ish) D'Addario Venn G2 synthetic reed and compares it against the first generation. Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #118 The Mostest Tips for the Newest of Years

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2023 7:29


    Now with almost 100 percent fewer tips! Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #117 Gigging and Plugging

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2022 7:09


    Erik checks in again after a symphony gig and plugs some stuff: Volatility Index for solo alto saxophone is now available for purchase from Alea Publishing. Catch the South Sound Saxophone Ensemble on Oct. 21 at 8 p.m. PDT on 98.1 KING-FM or on Oct. 23 at 3 p.m. PDT at PLU (livestream). Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #116 Busy Busy Busy

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2022 4:05


    Erik phones one in. Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #115 Backun Vocalise TM2 Mouthpiece Trial

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2022 10:05


    Erik tests the new Backun Vocalise TM2 against his current Selmer Claude Delangle (and older Selmer S90-180) mouthpieces. Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #114 HBDTM

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2022 4:47


    Erik treats himself to a new mouthpiece and listens to John Corigliano's new saxophone concerto. Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #113 Fourth Anniversary Hullabaloo

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2022 8:09


    A wild celebration followed by a little metronome talk. Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #112 Whither Must I Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2022 9:21


    Erik shares some brief updates and a recording of "Whither Must I Wander" by Vaughan Williams from his recital in February. Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #111 Recital Plug (Feb. 20)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2022 2:33


    Erik plugs his upcoming recital with pianist Oksana Ejokina, to be held at 3 p.m. PST on Sunday, Feb. 20 at Pacific Lutheran University (streamed live via this link). The program includes works by Djupstrom, Maurice, Vaughan Williams, and Yoshimatsu. Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #110 Heavenly Tedious

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2022 10:25


    Does the episode title describe the show itself or something profound? Listen and find out. Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #109 Innumerable Tips for a Productive New Year

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2022 7:21


    The annual tradition continues. Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #108 Practicing Emotion in Music

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2021 14:05


    Erik checks out The Richtmeyer Method for Saxophone Mastery (you should, too!) and reflects on how much emotion he conveys as a performer. Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #107 YouTube Round-Up No. 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2021 6:54


    Erik discovered a site called "YouTube"! He watched: 1. Fantasia by Claude T.Smith [Rock Version by Siam Rock] 2. The Saxophone Standard, US Army Field Band 3. Steven Banks – Marcel Tabuteau's Number System as an Approach to Phrase and Nuance 4. SIGURD RASCHER - THE SAXOPHONE | 1950's Buescher Promotional Video (original B&W version) 5. PLU Music Webcasts Bonus link: Chops 3 Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #106 Selmer Supremina

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2021 7:29


    Erik recorded this instead of practicing. Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #105 Bach and Tetris

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2021 11:05


    It's been a busy start to the school year, but Erik takes a little time to check in with an update. Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #104 Vacation Mode, Scale Practice, New Books

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2021 10:53


    Erik checks in during an extended vacation break to talk about scale practice approaches for the umpteenth time and plug a couple new books by Dan Graser and Robert Musser. Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #103 Returning to In-Person Lessons

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2021 6:45


    Erik reflects on his priorities as in-person lessons resume and plugs the Seattle Sax Institute Online Community Lesson Series. Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #102 Saxophone Mysteries Book 3 Chapter 9

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2021 4:53


    Erik continue to read from the Avery Combs saxophone mystery series. It's time for Book 3, Chapter 9...this one gets tense! Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #101 Forty and Sporty

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2021 7:57


    Erik premieres a celebratory piece by Mark Steighner for solo alto saxophone. Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #100 Reflecting on 100 Episodes

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2021 14:01


    Erik basks in the glow of accomplishment after finishing 100 episodes. Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #99 Ignore the Leap

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2021 8:14


    Erik shares a mental trick to make interval leaps feel easier and sound better. Speaking of leaps, why don't YOU leap over to this anonymous listener survey and take two minutes to fill it out before episode #100 drops in two weeks? https://forms.gle/AGP47RSJbBJhfMRNA

    #98 Third Year Anniversary Jamboree

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2021 1:53


    Three years of this stuff. Can you believe it? Please take two minutes to fill out this anonymous listener survey! https://forms.gle/AGP47RSJbBJhfMRNA

    #97 Saxophone Family Members Ranked

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2021 7:13


    In an episode accomplishing very little, Erik ranks his beloved saxophone children. Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #96 Steighner - Volatility Index (2021) for solo alto saxophone

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2021 13:21


    Erik shares a recording of his new work for solo alto saxophone, Volatility Index (2021). Let him know if you're interested in obtaining a copy! Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #95 Post-Recital Musings

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2021 7:33


    Holy moly, brace yourselves for a bonus episode! Erik decompresses a bit after finishing his first live recital in over a year. Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #94 Youtz - From Stillness (2021) for solo saxophone

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2021 8:49


    Erik presents an encore performance of From Stillness (2021) for solo saxophone by Gregory Youtz, premiered last weekend at the NASA Region 1 Conference. Hear the piece again at Erik's PLU faculty recital this Sunday, April 18 at 3 p.m. PDT. Livestream link. Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #93 Rehearsal Analysis - Bozza Improvisation and Caprice

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2021 20:41


    A few weeks prior to his next recital, Erik reviews rehearsal audio of Eugene Bozza's classic Improvisation and Caprice. Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com Bozza excerpts used by permission of G. Schirmer, Inc.

    #92 Spring Forward and Hire a Professional

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2021 5:25


    The show continues flying in a holding pattern until we get closer to the NASA Region 1 Conference and Erik can release some episodes about those world premieres. Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #91 Recital Preparation Strategies

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2021 7:29


    Erik gives a quick overview of how he structures his practice in the months prior to a solo recital. Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #90 Snow Day Randomness

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2021 7:29


    After spending hours frolicking in the snow, Erik uses his leftover energy to plug upcoming spring events and share a bonus tip from a masterclass he attended 17 years ago. Visit the NASA Region 1 Conference website Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #89 Erik's New Favorite Method Book

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2021 19:13


    Erik shares his thoughts on an excellent new method book for saxophone. Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #88 Testing the D'Addario VENN Synthetic Reed

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2021 15:13


    Erik compares the D'Addario's relatively new VENN synthetic reed with other synthetic and cane options. Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #87 Even More Tips for a Productive New Year

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2021 14:01


    Erik kicks off 2021 with a masterclass on one of the most well-known works from the saxophone repertoire. Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #86 Selmer Soprano Mouthpiece Shootout - S80, S90, Concept

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2020 14:49


    More mouthpiece trials, this time on soprano. Erik pits his Selmer S90-170 and S80 C* against the Concept. Main playtests begin at 6'00". Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #85 Selmer Alto Mouthpiece Shootout - S90, Concept, Claude Delangle

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2020 25:17


    It's a good old-fashioned alto mouthpiece shootout! Erik pits his Selmer S90-180 against the Concept and the new Claude Delangle. Main playtests begin at 11'38". Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #84 As a Lily among Brambles by Anderson - Commentary Track

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2020 18:21


    Erik revisits another work from Made in Tacoma in this last-minute commentary on Deborah Anderson's As a Lily among Brambles for baritone saxophone and piano (available from Dorn Publications). Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #83 Arrangement - Sonata in A Minor by C.P.E. Bach

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2020 12:57


    Erik washes away the stress of election week with C.P.E. Bach's Sonata for Solo Flute in A Minor, Wq. 132, H 562, arranged by Sunil Gadgil. Check him out at sunilgadgil.com! Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #82 Archived Performance - Tecca - "the Light is filled with birds" for solo alto saxophone

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2020 17:49


    On the tenth anniversary of its premiere, Erik presents a live recording from 2010 of Jeff Tecca's work for solo alto saxophone, the Light is filled with birds. Interested in ordering it? Contact Jeff at jefftecca@protonmail.com. Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #81 Temptation Bundling, Skipping Warm-Ups, and a Bonus Game

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2020 19:45


    In a scattershot episode, Erik talks about temptation bundling to increase your motivation to practice, when it might be okay to skip your warm-ups, and plays a bonus game of "Who Said It: Saxophone Edition" with his father, Mark! Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #80 Bach Basics and Trill Trouble

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2020 19:29


    While Erik is by no means a Baroque music specialist, he shares his general approach to playing Bach. Afterwards, he amps up the excitement and delves into the controversy over whether one must always approach Baroque and Classical trills from the upper neighbor. BRACE YOURSELF! Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #79 Saxophone Etude and Method Books, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2020 17:21


    Erik follows up Part 1 with a shocker -- Part 2! This one covers general etudes and altissimo method books. Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #78 Saxophone Etude and Method Books, Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2020 14:41


    Erik begins a tremendously entertaining overview of instructional material for the saxophone, the first part of which focuses on method books and scale books. Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #77 Erik's (Non-Music) Summer Book Club

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2020 8:01


    Taking a little break from music-talkin' and doing some book-talkin' instead. Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #76 Reevaluating Mouthpiece Target Pitches

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2020 13:05


    Could the mouthpiece pitch targets you've been taught be a LIE?! Enjoy the beauty of not one but four different mouthpieces (SATB) being played by themselves. Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #75 Digital Music Resources

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2020 15:01


    A midsummer episode that's about as exciting as its title! Erik gives a brief overview of his favorite DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations), MIDI controllers, etc. Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    #74 Go Gentle Into That Good Altissimo

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2020 10:57


    Erik eases up on the high register a bit. (Stay until the end for some bonus advice from your favorite host!) Get in touch at lttcapshow@gmail.com or eriksteighner.com

    Claim Listening to This Counts as Practice

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel