Klarinet Archive - Posting 000148.txt from 1996/07

From: Scott Lipcon <slipcon@-----.NET>
Subj: Re: What should I learn?
Date: Wed, 10 Jul 1996 00:00:13 -0400

On Tue, 9 Jul 1996, Suzi Crookshank wrote:

> Perhaps alto saxophone or oboe. I play alto sax also and I don't think it
> ruins your clarinet embrochure too much, just as long as you continue to
> play your clarinet every so often. I've never played oboe, but from what I
> know, you have to have a pretty tight embrochure to play that too, like
> clarinet. Saxophone embrochure, especially ones used for the lower saxes
> (tenor or bari), is much looser than clarinet. I wouldn't suggest learning
> a brass instrument or flute, because those are played in a totally
> different way than clarinet.
>

I'd have to disagree - I have played clarinet for about 8 years,
and I have learned other instruments at many times, and none of them have
harmed (many have helped!) my clarinet playing. In middle school, I sort
of learned the alto sax, but never had one to play on, so never was
serious. Last spring, I asked my band director what he needed in Jazz
band (no clarinets, long story) so I learned trombone over the summer.
Last fall, I heard a sax quartet play, and decided I really like soprano
sax, so I learned that this past winter (loved it! Alto isn't nearly as
fun). In the spring, I borrowed a friend's old flute, and now play that
a lot. In terms of fingering, flute is very much the same as saxophone,
and it wont ruin your embouchure because its entirely different (same
with brass instruments). I found that sax was hardest for me to keep
separate from clarinet because the mouthpiece was similar, but not close
enough. If I didn't practise both instuments about the same ammount, I
had trouble.

>
> P.S. Wait to hear other's responses, not just mine, because I'm only going
> to be a college freshman. I'm sure someone who has been a performer or a
> teacher can advise you a little better.

I'll be a freshman too - where are you going? I'm not a music
major, but I'm going to try to take classes/lessons anyway (possible
minor, but not for sure)

Scott

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