New instrument

crazyaboutflute2393 · Post by **crazyaboutflute2393** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 9:06 am

Hey everyone knows there are so many flute players in band... lol so anyway if you had to learn a new instrument what would you play? If you play more than one instrument, is there anything else you would like to play? To answer my own question I want to learn clarinet and alto sax. I can sort of play the clarinet- I can get a sound out (not very good tone though) and I know a C scale (concert Bb)... can't get out the last two notes though. Are high B and C usually harder to get? And about the alto sax I love the sound they make. Plus, my band director said the flute and sax have similar fingerings.

flutepicc06 · Post by **flutepicc06** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 12:45 pm

I already play clarinet and oboe in addition to flute. I would like to learn to play horn, but that won't be happening as I prefer not to screw with my flute embouchure. In response to your post, the high B and C should not be significantly more difficult to produce. Make sure you are playing with enough support and not biting up on the reed. And saxophones do have similar fingerings to the flute, because the same man (Theobald Boehm) designed both mechanisms.

apleasuretoburn · Post by **apleasuretoburn** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 2:21 pm

I think that the next instrument I'm going to take on is the violin. For my degree I have to take a certain number of basic classes in different instruments, and I think I'm going to take violin this coming semester.

jenmel · Post by **jenmel** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 6:05 pm

My primary instrument was alto sax, and it's a ton of fun to play! I pretty much taught myself to play flute, and yes, it's very easy to master the fingerings. It's the different emboucheres are what takes a bit of getting used to. good luck!

MeLizzard · Post by **MeLizzard** » Sat Jun 10, 2006 9:07 pm

My second (wind) instrument was bassoon--very fun and challenging! Playing horn in brass class during college actually didn't wreck my flute playing nearly as much as clarinet and sax did. Bassoon, flute and sax embouchures share a relaxed quality that clarinet and oboe oppose. My problem with sax was a numbing of my upper lip, which is essential for control and good flute tone. The brass embouchure is so different, it just felt as though the regular flute muscles weren't being asked to perform any contrary tasks. Piano--now, there's your useful second (third, fourth?) instrument!