 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: timg
Date: 2009-09-12 00:04
Kicking my heels in the music store the other day, whilst my wife was choosing yet another guitar, I asked the woodwind salesman if I might try an alto saxophone. I've never played a sax before, but in a few minutes of tootling it seemed like this might be a fun instrument to play.
I've been playing the clarinet for just 2.5 years, but have been making good progress. What's your opinion: would it be foolish to divide my efforts between two instruments? Or are the clarinet and saxophone sufficiently similar to complement each other? Would I need to take sax lessons in addition to my clarinet course?
Thanks for keeping me on the straight and narrow,
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Author: CarlT
Date: 2009-09-12 01:04
Tim, I've not been playing even as long as you (1.5 years for me), but I'd like to share my own thoughts with you on the subject.
I'm retired and likely have more time for practice than possibly you do, but even so, I would be very reluctant to take on another instrument, just yet anyway because:
1. For someone with only a limited amount of practice time available, why dilute it with having to practice another instrument?
2. If you really like the sound of the Alto Sax "better" than the clarinet, then maybe you should; however, to me, we're talking apples and oranges on sound. I really do like the clarinet sound so much better than any sax sound, but that's just me.
3. If you reach a level with the clarinet that you are making little or no progress, then perhaps it would be good to take on the sax. For me, I have not reached that point yet.
You can probably best answer your own question, and I am sure that you could probably do well with both instruments, but I do believe the clarinet would suffer to some extent.
Only my opinion...your mileage may vary!
Carl
CarlT
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Author: Carol Dutcher
Date: 2009-09-12 04:29
I play both instruments, and though I prefer the clarinet and am further advanced on it, I do have a good time with the alto sax and once a month play in a big band besides my other appearances playing clarinet. To me it seems easier to play than the clarinet.
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Author: USFBassClarinet
Date: 2009-09-12 04:54
if you are just playing clarinet for enjoyment and find you enjoy sax too, why not?
but if your goal is to eventually do something on clarinet or to play major concertos for enjoyment, maybe not.
As a junior in college I actually miss playing alto sax some and wish I still had mine. Eventually I plan to get another.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2009-09-12 13:40
If we could take a poll [vote] here as to how many of our posters do play at least 2 insts, I'd bet that more than half do, some of us may play most of differijg inst "families" , a few as distant as strings, brass and percussion, Comments? Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: William
Date: 2009-09-12 15:31
Playing the alto sax is fine--and whatever skills you develop can be transferred immediantely to the soprano, tenor and bari saxs as they all enjoy the same fingerings. You may want to investigate the other clarinets as well--especially (my favorite) the bass clarinet. Different embouchure and upperion tone production issues, but as with the saxophones, the same relative fingerings as for you Bb clarinet. FWIW, I own and play most of the clarinets (Eb, Bb, A, C & bass), soprano, alto & tenor saxes (I borrow a bari when I have too), and the flute--plus the trumpet, horn and enough trombone/baritone to show middle school kids "how the part goes".
Playing all of the woodwinds is a "must" for playing most orchestral pit musical show and many players, like Dan Higgens of Hollywood, get so good at all of them, you really can't tell which one is their main instrument. Dan, as one example, was the alto saxophone you heard in the movie soundtrack, "Catch Me if you Can". He is also an awsome clarinet & flute artist. More of Dan Higgins music--as well as many other top recording muscians--can be heard at: http://www.lastudiomusicians.net/andymartintributepage.htm
Dan even has some transcribed clarinet jazz you can download for free.
Post Edited (2009-09-12 15:37)
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-09-12 15:37
The sax is easier than the clarinet, especially at a non professional level, but in any case this is what I suggest. Buy the sax but take clarinet lessons. The instruments a similar enough that you should have no problem with the sax except for possibly the lowest few notes, which you will overcome with trial and error and the very extreme high register, which you won't ever need if you're just playing for fun. Enjoy the music. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2009-09-12 16:09
Gosh William, you are well beyond me, no flute or brass beyond the "funny noise kind", BUT a 10 year fight with the oboe, liked the Eng Horn better. Yes pit work broadens one's experience, For several musicals, and lack of betters, I tackled oboe also in our local symp [it won the fight]!! Looking on my wall, there is a large pic by Norman Rockwell [a gift from our kids], portraying an older, small [unimpressive], man, violin case under arm, looking longingly in a ?pawn shop? window at an old silver-plated Alto Sax. [ Sad words, it might have been??] This pic is numbered in the N R works book, 214 comes to mind, better look if interested, Cheers, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: William
Date: 2009-09-12 16:23
LOL, Don. I did ok with the oboe--it was the reed thingie that I never could master. Never picked up an E. hrn--probably a good thing for my neighbors dog. However, good for you!! I've got a book of NR Life magazine covers--is the one you have on your wall on of those??
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2009-09-12 16:53
Recognising I might have started something but unfinished, I looked at my poster, with light and magn. glass, I found "Jazz It Up" , so a Google search " Norman Rockwell Jazz It Up" will retrieve it. Believe it was a Sat Eve Post cover, Off on a toot!! Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: BobD
Date: 2009-09-13 14:34
You could even give the Soprano Sax a try.....
Bob Draznik
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2009-09-13 15:33
Once upon a time, 50?? years ago, I found and bot a Curved Conn Soprano Sax from a local pawn shop for $40, made it playable, but in tune NO, but "lippable". I playe a few Dixie gigs with it, not real happy. My [at that time] next to best repairman Bill Forsythe [moved to ?Seattle? still active?] really wanted it so I sold it to him [reasonable profit] he had it laquer-stripped and replated silver, made me want it back !, so that was my best acquaintance with sop's. So, Bob D. thats my experience !! Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: tholland
Date: 2009-09-13 19:42
I play several instruments in the woodwind family, with some level of proficiency, and can hold my own with the rest. I've found that they're all so closely related that moving from one to the other is not that challenging - with regard to fingerings and embrochure. Sax was my second instrument after Clarinet to conquer, and then flure, oboe, etcetera.
I say GO FOR IT...the more the merrier!
Tammy Holland
Returning Lost Clarinetist
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