I've been playing the sax for about 14 years now. I started on Alto in the 6th grade, and have played tenor and bari, as well as clarinet, bass clarinet, contra-alto clarinet, and contrabass clarinet. I also play guitar and drums, piano, and my first instrument was a cello in the 5th grade (for about 3 months). I can fiddle around on just about any instrument i can get my hands on.
My sister played flute in high school, and still had 2, so she let me borrow her crappy marching flute. It likely has some slightly leaky pads, so learning on my own may prove to be an uphill battle, not knowing if I'm doing something wrong, or if I can blame the instrument. That being said, I wanted to ask for guidance on this forum.
I've been told that switching to flute from sax as similar a challenge of switching to the clarinet.
I've looked up fingering charts, instructions on how to hold the instrument, and instructions for embouchure, but wanted to know if anyone else plays both instruments and knows of any hurdles I may end up facing in the future.
Honestly, any advice or guidance would be appreciated, even if its information I've already been given.
Thanks in advance guys and girls!
Experienced Sax player picking up Flute
Moderators: Classitar, pied_piper, Phineas
-
pied_piper
- Posts: 1962
- Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2007 1:31 pm
- Location: Virginia
Re: Experienced Sax player picking up Flute
The fingering for the first two octaves of both the flute and sax are very similar. Since you've already adapted to similar differences for the clarinet, the fingering probably will not be an obstacle (at least until you get to the third octave).
Your main challenge will be the embouchure. On sax and clarinet, the reed and mouthpiece offer resistance to your blowing. Since the flute has no reed or mouthpiece, the resistance is created by a properly formed embouchure. Most flute beginners (no matter whether it is their first instrument or whether it is a second or third) will tend to have an opening in the lips that is too large. To form a correct embouchure, some teachers use an analogy of "spitting rice". Imagine that you have one grain of rice in your mouth and then form your lips as if you were trying to spit out the rice grain. That is close to a good position - or course it's not exact, but that should help send you in the right direction.
Another bad habit that develops with sax players switching to flute is what I will call the "Death Grip". The flute really needs a much lighter touch on the keys than on sax. Of course, if you has a leaky flute as you suspect, then it may not play properly without really squeezing. If that's the case, you really owe it to yourself to take the flute into a repair tech and get the leaks fixed. You'll progress a thousand times faster with a proper working flute and you won't get frustrated as easily.
You will probably find that you don't feel that you have a good hold on the flute and tend to drop it, especially when playing notes like C#. Just be sure that you have the flute stabilized with three points of contact: the embouchure plate at your lips, the first joint of your left hand pointer finger, and the right hand pinky. Once you have that down, finger agility will become easier.
Oh yeah, don't forget that the flute is not attached to you with a strap and let go of it like you can do with the sax.
Also, you may find these links to be helpful. Even though you may have seen something similar, these are really good.:
Beginner tips - http://www.jennifercluff.com/beginn.htm
Fingering - http://www.wfg.woodwind.org/flute/
Your main challenge will be the embouchure. On sax and clarinet, the reed and mouthpiece offer resistance to your blowing. Since the flute has no reed or mouthpiece, the resistance is created by a properly formed embouchure. Most flute beginners (no matter whether it is their first instrument or whether it is a second or third) will tend to have an opening in the lips that is too large. To form a correct embouchure, some teachers use an analogy of "spitting rice". Imagine that you have one grain of rice in your mouth and then form your lips as if you were trying to spit out the rice grain. That is close to a good position - or course it's not exact, but that should help send you in the right direction.
Another bad habit that develops with sax players switching to flute is what I will call the "Death Grip". The flute really needs a much lighter touch on the keys than on sax. Of course, if you has a leaky flute as you suspect, then it may not play properly without really squeezing. If that's the case, you really owe it to yourself to take the flute into a repair tech and get the leaks fixed. You'll progress a thousand times faster with a proper working flute and you won't get frustrated as easily.
You will probably find that you don't feel that you have a good hold on the flute and tend to drop it, especially when playing notes like C#. Just be sure that you have the flute stabilized with three points of contact: the embouchure plate at your lips, the first joint of your left hand pointer finger, and the right hand pinky. Once you have that down, finger agility will become easier.
Oh yeah, don't forget that the flute is not attached to you with a strap and let go of it like you can do with the sax.
Also, you may find these links to be helpful. Even though you may have seen something similar, these are really good.:
Beginner tips - http://www.jennifercluff.com/beginn.htm
Fingering - http://www.wfg.woodwind.org/flute/
"Never give a flute player a screwdriver."
--anonymous--
--anonymous--