Doubling on soprano sax

[sinebar]

Do any flute players here double on soprano sax or any other instrument? If so, how does it affect your embouchure?

[pied_piper]

Yep. I play soprano and alto sax plus a little clarinet and tenor sax sometimes. I frequently use the soprano sax and flute combo.

It's something that you get used to, but yes, if I play any of the reed instruments for extended periods of time, I notice a very slight degradation in some of the finer points of flute playing, but the effect goes away after a few hours. The main thing is not to bite the lower lip with your teeth. If you support the reed embouchure with muscle control, then there is no long term problem.

When you become very accustomed to switch-hitting, it becomes easier. The reed vibration may slightly impact the sensitivity of the lower lip, but it's temporary and when a player is solid with both instruments, you sort of learn to compensate and adjust for that.

Reed doublers play lots of odd combinations too. I've had to play soprano sax, alto sax, flute, and piccolo in the same session. It really gets interesting when you have the extremes - say Bari Sax to piccolo...

[sinebar]

Yep. I play soprano and alto sax plus a little clarinet and tenor sax sometimes. I frequently use the soprano sax and flute combo.

It's something that you get used to, but yes, if I play any of the reed instruments for extended periods of time, I notice a very slight degradation in some of the finer points of flute playing, but the effect goes away after a few hours. The main thing is not to bite the lower lip with your teeth. If you support the reed embouchure with muscle control, then there is no long term problem.

When you become very accustomed to switch-hitting, it becomes easier. The reed vibration may slightly impact the sensitivity of the lower lip, but it's temporary and when a player is solid with both instruments, you sort of learn to compensate and adjust for that.

Reed doublers play lots of odd combinations too. I've had to play soprano sax, alto sax, flute, and piccolo in the same session. It really gets interesting when you have the extremes - say Bari Sax to piccolo...

Wow! that's impressive. I've only been playing the flute for 7 months and I was told it might be a good idea to play the flute for a while longer before trying the soprano.

[pied_piper]

I've only been playing the flute for 7 months and I was told it might be a good idea to play the flute for a while longer before trying the soprano.

I would agree with that advice. With only 7 months on the flute, it's probably best to let your flute embouchure develop for at least a few years before you take on another wind instrument. At this stage, you are developing the muscle control of the flute embouchure. If you start sax now, your lip "memory" may get confusing signals and make your flute development take longer. When you know more about music and your flute embouchure has developed more, it will be easier to learn another instrument.

I started on sax in sixth grade, added clarinet in high school, and then started flute when I was in college...

Everybody is different, but in general, the longer you play one instrument and the stronger you are with it, it makes it easier to pick up another. When you are more familiar with reading music, applying musical expression, etc., you can then concentrate on the differences and unique aspects of the new instrument without having to worry so much about learning the reading and expression.

[Mark]

seven months... hmm.

yes, you might want to wait a bit longer prior to going with a second wind
instrument.
I tend to double Bari and flute, although hauling out my old piccolo when
using the Bari is rather fun.

I do play soprano, tenor and C-melody sax as well. sort of depends upon
my mood and what I've got going on.

Suggestion for when you start doubling instruments;
practice flute first, then the other winds after that.

mark

[-piano-]

yeah. i play alto and flute. when you practice just make sure to do FLUTE first. when i do sax first then switch right to flute it completetely wrecks my embrochure. i was in the orchestra for a school musical and they had 3 songs in a row that i played on sax and then one that i played on flute, and i could just bareley get through it.

[Anne]

I was wondering if the embouchure required for a Bansuri flute would be similar to the Boehm flute. I like the sound of the wooden flutes but don't want to hamper the my embouchure development on my Boehm flute. Anyone have any experience with the Bansuri?