 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: music_is_life
Date: 2005-02-22 20:23
I need some advice from people who play both sax and clarinet...
I was going to learn to play the tenor sax for a year-long school project (a dream of mine for quite a while now), however, seeing as Febuary is almost over and I haven't got a sax yet, and no one has even mentioned the senior project propasals, I figure I don't have time.
but anyway, I still plan on learning it on my own despite the fact that I will not be learning it for the project. I was just wondering; I have been playing the clarinet for 8 years, been taking lessons for 6, music theory for 3, and have been in many prestegious festivals- both band and orchestra. So I'm wondering- to any person who started on clarinet and learned the sax, how long did it take you to learn, and was it relitively easy for you? With my experience, how long do you think before I can play up to at least a level 4...maybe 5?
thanks again
EDIT: whoops! I forgot to mention that I'll mainly be playing it for jazz. Possibly pit band too. I think that may change my responses a bit, since I know the approach to jazz clarinet is different than classical.
-Lindsie
Post Edited (2005-02-23 17:36)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BassClarinetGirl
Date: 2005-02-23 02:21
Clarinet to Sax was a very easy transition for me. In 6th grade, I played clarinet in jazz band for one year, and then decided if I was going to stick with Jazz, I needed to play a sax. So, in 7th grade, my director sent me home with a tenor sax and a level 1 book (the ones that beginners use to learn all the fingerings and such). I picked it up in about 3 days. Most of the clarion fingerings are the same (ex. middle of the staff D-2nd space are the same as clarinet). The sax still has the octave key, of course, and it is similar to playing a recorder in that B is your left index, and then you flip to C with just your left middle finger.
Now, playing to level 4 or so after swiching from clarinet would take some people a few months, others more like a year+. With your amount of experince on clarinet, once you learn the basics of tenor, you should be ready to go. After 4 years of playing tenor in Jazz Band, I play 2nd chair of 3 tenors- that is, 2nd to a girl who exclusively plays tenor and is very good- and I can play all of our jazz band music plus filling in on 1st part once and awhile. I love my playing my tenor, but I'll probably never be as good on it as I am on clarinet, just because of the lack of time I have to commit to it, and it comes after my bass, Bb, and alto.
BCG
Post Edited (2005-02-24 15:52)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: music_is_life
Date: 2005-02-23 02:30
d'oh! I knew i should have started way back when I was in jazz band!
>>"The sax still has the register key, of course..."
i thought the sax had an octave key...not a register key. guess I thought wrong.
thanks for sharing your experience
-Lindsie
Post Edited (2005-02-23 17:38)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Steve Epstein
Date: 2005-02-23 04:20
Playing sax may come easy for you, but OTOH, you may struggle with the weight and bulk, and different way it responds. Playing at a high level may take a long time, so you may end up playing second and third parts and not soloing -- such is life. You will stick with it if you enjoy playing the instrument for its own sake, as opposed for the glory of being recognized as a first chair or soloist; then, eventually, if you've stuck with it, you may get pretty good.
Steve Epstein
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: bob49t
Date: 2005-02-23 07:17
I double clarinets and saxes.
We formed a clar 4tet and on our second rehearsal, to our astonishment we found we had 3/4 of a sax quartet. I was the only one with no sax knowledge, and, as we decided we were to be a doubling quartet "CLARSAX", I willingly picked up the shortfall with a sop sax.
We did our first little series of concerts that same year, so I had to concentrate on specific things.
1)Low notes on a tapering bore instrument are more difficult to produce than the notionally parallel bore of the clarinet (easiest notes)
2)Getting used to the octave register change rather than the twelfth of the clarinet. Anchoring the fact that 3rd line D is fingered similarly.
3)The fingering is of course more akin to recorder so a grounding here helped.
I suppose that starting on the sop sax was in retrospect, a good move as the embouchure change from clar was not a great problem (it may have been, if I had started on tenor)
I have a lovely alto now and get quite a lot of gigs doubling in musicals.
In short, I would encourage you to go for it - it may open doors, and certainly should be great fun. I have taken a lot of time to mix and match m/p's and reed strengths so that I don't feel a huge embouchure difference when changing from clar- alto-basscl-cl etc. Mind you, I do have a lip buffer which helps to equalise some of the problems.
Dig in,
Bob T
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Kel
Date: 2005-02-23 15:24
It's often said that sax is easy to play poorly. Clarinetists usually pick up the fingering quickly. But to sound good on sax, especially tenor, requires a big embouchure adjustment. A clarinet embouchure will give a thin, weak tone. If you are not planning to take lessons, it would be worthwhile to get Larry Teals' "The Art of Saxophone Playing" and study the embouchure lessons.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: music_is_life
Date: 2005-02-23 15:31
ha ha- I was going to ask if the clarinet embrochure would suffice, but I guess Kel answered my question.
but I have another question:
I understand the logistics of a register key: 3 fingers down plus thumb = middle C; add register key, you get the 12th, or G.
however, on a sax...I don't know the fingerings, so lets just pretend for just a moment that the clarinet has an octave key instead of a register key; if you had those same 3 fingers and thumb down, which would be a C, and you were to add the octave key, would that make the 3 fingers, thumb + octave key play a C, only an octave higer?
how does this work??
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Kel
Date: 2005-02-23 15:46
Just as you described. The octave key adds one octave because of the sax's conical bore. I should have added...the fingering you described will give you G on a sax in both octaves.
Post Edited (2005-02-23 16:03)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: bob49t
Date: 2005-02-23 16:33
For Steve Epstein !
Not wishing to duck your question but it would save time to search on "lip buffer". John Moses has also written about these little appliances which we're pleased with - probably calling it "lip protector" or "lip guard".
It's excellent for switching instruments without beating up the lower lip.
Bob T
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ed
Date: 2005-02-23 16:57
As to embouchure, I don't feel that there is a huge adjustment to play sax. I have always found that it is a bit more relaxed on sax, with less of that firm bottom lip, pointed chin thing that is often prescribed on clarinet. (For jazz playing at least) Classical playing is a bit more similar to clarinet.
It is also important to remember to take in enough mouthpiece to really get the reed to vibrate. I often hear players who neglect to do that or use to enough air. Also remember that by nature, clarinet has more resistance so sax will feel a bit free at first. Use your ears, listen to some great players and let your instincts guide you.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: sonatina1234
Date: 2005-02-24 15:54
My mom played clarinet and tenor sax when she was in high school, so we have both of her old instruments at home (the main reason why I decided to play clarinet in the first place... and glad I did!) In 6th grade I decided to dust off the old tenor and give it a try. I played in jazz band for 2 years (7th and 8th grade), mainly because my director stated that clarinets were not a jazz instrument - of course, we all know differently. The reason why I didn't continue was because I have unusually small hands, and the much larger sax was putting strain on my right wrist and thumb, which I was already having problems with. Also, the laquer used on the school's sax was making my hands turn green.
Anyways, I think playing sax is a great experience, even if you don't go far with it. Give it a try!
-------------------------------------------------
Det. Lennie Briscoe: Maybe he's got some other life-long pursuits.
Lt. Anita Van Buren: Like what? You think he plays the clarinet?
Det. Lennie Briscoe: I *hope* he plays the clarinet.
~Law & Order
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: SolidRockMan
Date: 2005-02-24 16:06
I play clarinet and alto sax, clarinet came first.
I would echo Kel's comment above - the embouchure required to produce a good tone on the sax is quite different to the clarinet. To sum it up I'd say 'smile' when playing the clarinet and make an 'o' shape with your lips for the sax. The clarinet embouchure produces a tight, thin sound on the sax and can lead to problems such as overblowing the lower notes.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-02-24 16:20
Very, very easily. Sax is much simpler than Clarinet to play and to play well at that.
Just make sure to have a repair tech go over it and check for leaks - can save you a ton of misery.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
