How being different can actually be your biggest advantage. In Episode 267 of the Everything Saxophone Podcast, Donna sat down with saxophonist and composer Shawn Maxwell to talk about carving your own path and why leaning into what makes you different can propel your career forward. Shawn shares his journey from classical beginnings to discovering improvisation, and how that shift reshaped his sound, mindset, and musical direction. ⬇️ We also get into the practical side of things: 00:00 How he got into music 09:22 Changes he did to get his sound 13:18 First time improvising as someone who started with classical music 19:15 What he did after graduating 22:32 Do this when networking 26:28 How to get a wider variance of sound 31:59 Writing and composing 39:19 Notation softwares 47:58 Don't be stuck in the past 15:14 How to network 55:45 Importance of communication between players 01:00:04 Friendship with Chika Inoue that lead to their collaboration for "Cats are Gods" 01:02:49 Listen and reflect to "Cats are Gods" 01:13:21 Tips on getting that open sound 01:19:01 Story behind "Reed Tire Earth" 01:20:17 Listen and reflect to "Reed Tire Earth" 01:30:26 How to be a well rounded musician 01:32:06 Advice for classical saxophonists 01:34:02 How to deal with negativity 01:36:13 Where can you find Shawn's works 01:43:12 Upcoming projects/shows

➡️ Explore more about Shawn Maxwell: his music, background, and socials, all in one place:

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Ever wonder what it would feel like to stop overthinking and just play? 🤔

To hear the changes, trust your instincts, and take confident, creative solos — even if you've always relied on the sheet music?

That's exactly what you'll learn in the free masterclass called "How to Improvise With Confidence."

Inside, you'll discover:

1. How to simplify improvisation, so it works no matter your skill level
2. The trick to creating solos on the spot (even if you were trained to read note-for-note)
3. And how to actually make progress without getting stuck in the practice loop

Thousands of sax players have already gone through it, and many say it's the first time improvising finally made sense.

Click here to watch the masterclass now while it's still available ➡️ HERE