I would like to learn another woodwind instrument but i'm not sure.

I've tried the clarinet before but I didn't like it.

Any ideas what I should try next.

Any of the woodwind instruments that you've not tried would be my first suggestion...

We can't tell you which instrument to learn, you have to want to learn it yourself. Listen to some recordings and see which instrument you like the sound of. If you don't like clarinet, I'd be inclined to think you wouldn't like sax. Flute? Oops I see you already play flute. Recorder?

Play something you really want to play: what sound takes your fancy, what instrument makes you go "oooh!"

i could go back to playing the recorder although I wouldn't have a clue where mine was as I haven't played it for years.

I quite like the idea of playing the oboe but i'm not sure if I'd get on with the reed.

Try it and see, otherwise you'll never find out.

Its okay once you get used to it - anything reedy is going to be a nightmare really, though I must say Oboe reeds are trickier than clari or sax... Still, I like reeds That way you have something to blame when you sound awful!

If you have a good teacher who can adjust them for you oboe reeds should not be a problem. The technique of blowing into the reed to produce a nice tone is potentially a problem but every instrument, as you already know, has its technical difficulties.

I might give it a go. thank you

I swapped from flute to oboe when I was a teenager, and found it fairly easy - the fingering is almost the same so that helps. As long as you like the sound of the oboe in general, and you're prepared to suffer the duck stage for a few months. However, if you want to study music seriously in the future, you will at some point have to make the decision which instrument to go for, and to drop the other, otherwise you'll have embouchure confusion. That won't matter for a while though.

In what sense do you mean seriously??

I'm using the flute as my main instrument on my HND at the moment (and guess I probably will when I do my top up year as well).

I just thought it might be handy to take up some other instruments as well.

If one receives correct tuition and practises well then I see no reason why both instruments cannot be played.

1. Back of sofa
2. Top shelf in dining room.
3. Behind that mess in your cupboard.

Or sometimes down in the garage.

Steve

If you want to be famous, be a soloist and/or have a permanent position in a professional orchestra, then that may be true.

However, for the majority of amateur and session musicians - i.e. who'll play anywhere they're asked, it's not true. Loads of musicians are 'doublers' - ie they play two or three instruments to a high standard.

I can drive a left or right hand drive car in the UK or the continent. It takes a few minutes to get the hang. The embouchure's the same. Your lips adapt very quickly. They're just muscles. A few minutes and you're fine.

I think I had ten times more 'embouchure confusion' learning french when I was twelve than I ever did going from clarinet to trumpet or oboe!

Never did convince the teacher though!

Steve

I don't want to go as far as being a soloist etc but as you said sessions musicians are often doublers.

I think a lot of it is because at uni this year because we are a group made up of 2 guitar players, a keyboard player, a bassist, and drummer plus me and a girl who plays clarinet it made me realise that I should really learn another instrument.

I've always seen my voice as being my second instrument but that seems to get overlooked at uni so i thought I should try something else as said.

Pick the instrument you like the sound of the best.

Another possibility, if you haven't already, is to explore the other members of the flute family, like the piccolo or the alto flute.

I'd say the same as Barry-clari, if you havn't already yet, why not try to master the piccolo or alto flute? It will stand you in good stead for positions in Orchestras - they like people who can double on piccolo. Another option is sax - usually tenor. I've played in bands for some Theatre productions and they have required me to be a flute/tenor sax doubler.

Yup, sax would seem the obvious option for me too... very handy as a doubler! For example, I'm playing for a kids production of Fame in a few weeks, and tho I'm an oboist (doing a Master's in perf), the parts call for one player to play alto, sop and teno saxes, clarinet and flute. Being a doubler doesn't help my oboe playing, but it pays the rent!

I already have a piccolo although I do prefer my flute.

I did think of the saxaphone but I didn't know whether I'd get on with it as I struggled with the clarinet.

I've just found out that I can hire an instrument from John Packer (my flute & piccolo are JP so I'm pleased with them) so when I get a bit more money behind me I might hire a sax and see how I get on. Would I be better with an alto or a tenor

I bought an alto 3 years ago and I'm doing ok. Listen to the sound of both and see which you prefer because they're very similar.

Sax would be a good option as a lot of sax players are required to play flute and vice versa. I find clarinet a lot harder than sax, probably because the embouchure is a lot tighter. Try it and see how it goes!

It depends on why you struggled with the clarinet. If it was something to do with single reed etc then perhaps saxophone might not be the best option. If it was another reason, fingering or something then give sax a go, most people find it easier as the standard fingering is the same in each octave.

The embouchure's different too, a bit more relaxed on alto, a bit more still on tenor.

Another thought would be why you didn't get on with clarinet? I know in my first few lessons I could barely get a note out while no one else was struggling. Something suddenly clicked though and 6 months later I was the most proficient of the group we had starting together.

As to which one I agree with magicflute, you need to listen to each and see what sound does it for you (tenor for me ). Practically, if you're more interested in classical then there's not a lot around for tenor (although the tenor part in a sax quartet is arguably the easiest, meaning you can play stuff that you wouldn't have a chance with on any of the other parts). For jazz, pop, funk, blues etc either is fine.

I just didn't like the clarinet to be honest. I didn't find the reed to difficult (though a bit squeaky at times but I guess everyone is when starting off) but I didn't really like it.

Sorry this is totally off topic but I see you have HND Music in your signature Kat...could you tell me what that is? I've never heard of it before and I'm curious! (it will probably pop into my head as soon as I post this...

Sorry for the intrusion!