I`m wondering whether to play the clarinet or the flute. I first decided to play the flute, but then I went to a concert where the clarinetist was amazing so now I want to do both. Can anybody give me some insights on both instruments? Whether one is easier than the other?

Well I feel some people think the flute looks easier because I may be wrong but for some reason people feel the notes are easier to finger than other instruments or maybe feel other instruments the fingerings are more complicated when in fact there are different aspects for each instrument.

I think a major misconception about flute is people feel it`s easier to play because they think it needs less air when in fact you need tons and tons of air to play a nice tone. You also need very flexable lips which can be complicated for some including myself. I`ve read the lips are the equivalent to a reed used on other instruments. It`s hard to make the flute sound nice.

When I was in third grade I saw a forth grader playing flute and though ooh i want to try that! We had to pick a backup instrument if the first pick didn`t work out. I repeat myself so sorry if others have heard this but again: When I tried the flute I could not make any sound out of it even with just the head joint! The teachers say it`s like blowing across a bottle! I just couldn`t get it and the director was getting ready for the clarinet but I only wanted flute and started actually crying not hysterical or anything but tears and a little sobbing so he stuck with it because he probably thought i`d throw a tamtrum (i wouldn`t have, I don`t think!) and finally through tears and sniffles got a very faint thin wisp of air across it and made a sound. Whew! I have a very thin upper lip and my embocure my lips are not symetrical but I`ve read and others stated you don`t have to be symetrical to make the flute sound very nice.

Also as goes for any instrument if you don`t practice regularly you can loose strength or need to build back lip muscles to play the flute.

Anyway I hope that helps a little. Don`t know much about clarinet though but every instrument is difficult I feel to master.

I don`t know much about clarinet. I found it hard getting used to a reed and gave up on it. I used to play oboe and my lips would hurt. Maybe I was trying to hard. The oboe I needed lots of air as well and pressure.