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Kito
(39 points)
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Hey there! I am principally a flautist, I have been a non-serious student for six years and a serious one for two. Not to sound egotistical, I have quickly grown to be the best in my band, and I know that the flute is something I was born to do and something that may one day be my profession -- or at the very least, a consistent hobby.
However, I have had an itching lately to learn something new. I want to experiment with jazz, so after months of goading and cajoling I have convinced my band director into loaning me a tenor saxophone for the summer so that I can join a local jazz ensemble to have something to do until school starts again in September and maybe join our school jazz band to have some silly fun in my last year of high school. The sax is great, even though I have yet to produce a real, lasting sound, and I am having a lot of fun with it. This will certainly make for an interesting endeavour.
Before I start taking this seriously, though (I have to admit, for the past few days I've mostly been having a blast just trying to figure out fingerings and notes, as I'm teaching myself), I have a few questions for all of you in fluteland. I have heard that there can be some lasting, adverse affects from doubling. Brass instruments especially ruin the flute embouchure, according to my band director, which dissuaded me from learning the mellophone to march DCI with my friend next summer. I figured that doubling on another woodwind wouldn't be too troublesome, but I want some solid evidence that this shan't hurt me, as I am going to be auditioning for music school this fall and winter and need to keep my lips in pristine shape. In that case, perhaps this isn't the best idea -- but I want to learn, and when I have my mind set on something, it takes a lot to stop me.
If it isn't too awful of an idea, I was wondering if you could pass along any tips you have; what books to learn out of, what sort of technique you find helps you make sound on the reed (it's so much different than the flute!), how you got a good sound out of it, good sites, et cetera.
Thanks guys, you haven't let me down yet and I hope you'll give me some good advice!
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suzie
(567 points)
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First off, let me start by suggesting that you re-post your same message to the saxophone board as well since this area is filled with most folks that play flute as a primary instrument.
I can, however, tell you that I started playing the flute in 1995 and played the Bb bass clarinet starting in 1999 for concert band. From the embouchure change, it (somehow but definitely) greatly altered my flute tone (for the better) and I've had no issues switching between flute, Bb clarinet, piccolo and alto saxophone in pit bands over the years.
Not everyone will have the same experiences between doubling, etc. however I'd highly suggest popping this same message on over to the other group as well. Good luck!
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music_girl_27
(560 points)
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ive found that as long as u practice both instruments close to equally, u can adequatley retain both embouchres
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Kito
(39 points)
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Thanks for the help and the good wishes. It's nice to know that this won't screw up my tone entirely -- I could use a help with my flute tone, given that my flute is so bad and braces mess me up sometimes! I'm glad to hear that it won't kill my tone.
(Also, I did post this over on the sax board, but nobody has responded yet! I guess it's a lot slower than the flute one.)
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music_girl_27
(560 points)
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i know how u feel about braces! i have the same problem on oboe. i cant wait to get them off and get my tone and stamina back to normal!
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DWW
(36 points)
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Describing my recent experience - having played flute off and on for 30+ years, mainly classical, I thought I would try playing some alto sax for a change. So got (rented) myself an decent student alto and starting playing a little bit every day for about 3 weeks. Unfortunately it completely wrecked my flute embouchure! It has taken three weeks of not playing sax to feel like the flute tone and control is starting to come back.
Although sax-flute doubling is a very common combination I suspect that doublers have to put a LOT of time into tone on both (or more) instruments to sound really good. As an amateur player I quickly realised that I don't have the time to put in the necessary tone work. So the sax will be returned unless one of my kids wants to have a go on it.
Still keen to branch out into another instrument, but maybe will try one I can hit next time.
Just my two cents.
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Kito
(39 points)
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Micron:
Yes, I tried it but it yielded no specific results on going from flute to reed so I didn't think it would be a problem to post. :/
DWW:
I think I'm experiencing the same thing, actually, but someone else actually said that it improved her tone. Perhaps it has to do with the amount of time, or just the way that you're playing the instrument? I feel as though my flute tone is declining, so I may not play for much longer, but that could be the braces, too -- they really are a nuisance to be a musician with. At any rate, I hope that your own situation gets figured out. :[
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tenorsax13
(534 points)
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Don't give up saxophone! Its amazing, 
I play sax and like it better, but I also play flute and like it very much as well. I have found that with lots of practice, some experimenting, and a good attitude you can manage playing both really well. Learning to play flute made me technically better at saxophone, and saxophone helped me learn control of tone and pitch on flute. I love both instruments though, and hate seeing someone quit one, so just practice and you'll get better!!!!
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Micron
(1756 points)
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Kito, there is a very specific result, in several places, which perhaps you did not find.
Posted by Sir James Galway in 2002, in his forum:
"I play the French horn and saxophone (real bad on both) and it has not affected my embouchure at all. In fact, playing the French horn actually improved it. I became more aware of the changes which are necessary on the flute.
My brother plays the flute, Clarinet and Sax and I think he is great on the flute.
Sir James."
That is my experience too, and that of many doublers who have put effort into it. As with anything, you have to work on it. BTW, flute playing has no effect on reed playing.
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FluteFreak87
(21 points)
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Pete sake, I can play baritone, French horn, clarnet, piano, Harmonica, flute, and piccolo. The thing about brass instruments is an old wives tale. I have yet to mess up my embouchure. Don't worry about playing another instrument once you've learned it you can never forget it.
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Complicated
(1 point)
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Seems like you think alot of yourself, flutefreak. That's nice that you seem to be very musically inclined.
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flute_n_bassoon
(270 points)
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Flute Freak...
you can definately forget an instrument. I had that problem last summer, where I adopted oboe and believed I would not forget flute. However, in reply to the origional post :It (oboe) didn't mess up my embrochure, but the fingerings were so close I completely forgot how to play my flute. Luckily, I was able to learn easily again after dropping oboe, and am better than I was before. However, a word of caution, an instrument with fingerings that do not resemble what you already play is best to double on for the first time (like bassoon), but I wouldn't be concerned about messing up an embrochure unless you're trying to learn picc, alto flute, etc. (I too, learned that lesson the hard way) Then again, I'm no sax player, so I wouldn't rely entirely on my advice. =)
<Added>
Perhaps you can still play everything correctly, Flute Freak, because the fingerings are the same as other instruments you play, or because the fingerings are completely different. If you attempted to learn even more members of the reed family, I am sure you would find yourself stuck.
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