I have been playing the clarinet for three years and recently picked up the flute. I learned pretty easily after I was able to get sound out of it and want to continue playing both of them. Will playing the flute ruin my clarinet embrochure? My band director nearly had a heart attack when he found out I was messing with the flute because it would mess with my clarinet embrochure. Is this true? Thanks for all the help.

Nope, because I have played clarinet for 8 years and flute for over 2 years and I am first chair Wind Ensemble Clarinetist. It mess it up, as long as you are practicing both (especially the clarinet).

Hey I play Clarinet and this is my 2nd year and i just recently picked flute up like a charm. Too easy i can hit higher notes than people that have been playing for 2 years. well in my school any way. But the point is it wont ruin your mouthing (i forgot how to spell emboucer or something like that) as long as you keep practising good on each!!!

I meant to write "It WONT mess it up"...sorry if there was any confusion!

I know you`re just trying to get some well needed advice, but I would go with that of the band director, rather than a student. I feel that he is much more educated in the matter and can help. If not, I would highly reccomend finding a private instrutor that can answer these questions.
Amanda

I played the Clarinet from 6th grade to 11 grade and I taught the Flute to myself in the middle of my 7th grade year. I made the top band at All-state on the Clarinet both years I was able to and in the 12th grade I switched to Flute and made The top All-state band too. So, no I don`t think it will affect anything as long as you don`t neglect one over the other! I hope this helps, Shawn

My high school band teacher played the flute, clarinet and sax. There shouldn`t be any problem playing both the flute and clarinet, as long as you practice both instruments.

Personally when I play the clarinet, I find that the higher notes on the flute come out easier.It`s because you use more air on clarinet or something. Play`em both!

I play Clarinet, Flute and Sax also. I don`t think it makes one bit of difference either. My band teacher nearly had a heart attack when i picked up my friend`s flute in 11th grade. I have played clarinet since 4th grade...too many years ago to count...and I believe that if you play the clarinet you can easily play any woodwind. I am proof. I picked up my friend`s flute in september of my junior year. The following february (5 months later) I took Il Carnevale di Venizia to State Solo & Ensemble and received a Super Superior (Supers are/were given out for memorizing the piece). Of course that piece is graded at a 7. I was quite pleased, had to then rub it into my Band Director`s face when I also had gotten a Super Superior on Muczynski`s Time Pieces on Clarinet. So Bah! to your band director!

-Dennis (sarasotahair@yahoo.com)

It`s extremely common for clarinetists to triple on saxophone and flute. Maybe your band director is afraid you won`t spend enough time practicing the clarinet. I can`t think of any other rational explanation for his odd behavior.