Quick question...

How easy is it to double up on the B flat clarinet and the E flat alto Sax?

I have a tall and strong 9 year old who is doing grade 3 clarinet after 2 years and also wants to play the Sax - his teacher is fine about it - and the school orchestra has said they would prefer the E flat alto sax - so just how easy would it be to learn the second instrument?

How different is the fingering?

Does he start on grade 1?

Sorry - didn't move on to sax myself - so I thought I would ask the experts!!!

Relatively easy for most people. Fingering is different in the first octave, similar in the second. The top and bottom of the saxophone range is slightly different but it's not hard to get used to. You could start him on grade 1, but I'd be more inclined to teach him the techniques and embouchure to do with the saxophone first. If he did want to take exams, however, I'd be surprised if he needed to start at grade 1. Then again it depends on how quickly he picks things up, everyone is different. I have one grade 4 clarinettist who bought a sax, and could easily do grade 5.

The alto (Eb) sax is easier than the clarinet in that there is really only one set of fingerings rather than about 3 for clarinet. Some people find it easy to move between the two, but others have a little more difficulty in keeping the right fingerings to the right instrument.
The fingering for sax is the same as the 2nd register on a clarinet... Ie. a B is first finger left hand, A is 1st and 2nd finger and so on... I doubt that your son would have to start at grade one if he has done grade 3 clarinet.

Thanks for your feedback - off to try out a couple of Saxs this afternoon!

I may also resort to purchasing some earplugs as well - a clarinet, a sax and a violin in the same house - and the eldest wants to play the electric guitar as well.....

I feel a touch of insanity coming on!

I have heard that some clarinettists find it a little difficult because of the embouchure - it's a bit more relaxed than clarinet. Fingering shouldn't be too much of a problem but it isn't exactly the same.

I say give it a go, he won't know if he doesn't try! It's certainly not impossible because loads of people do it but it's down to him and how he finds it. Good luck!

Well - bless his cotton socks - we hadn't told him where we were going, he just assumed it was something boring, until we walked in the music shop and prewarned they produced the said instrument. He literally picked it up and produced the most incredibly clear note and then continued to find out what the keys did!!!

Even the shop were somewhat surprised...

So one sax, 2 music books and some reeds later we get home and he starts practicising!!

Now where did I put those ear plugs!

Thanks for your advice chaps.

Which saxophone did you get him?

A Jupiter 500 series Eb Alto - at a very good price

His 10 year old brother has now announced he wants to play as the fingering is so similar to the recorder that he shouldn't have a problem - these strings player!!!

I'm really glad this has worked out well.

Its very common for clarinettists to double as sax players and at his age there's no telling which one he's going to specialise in.

My mother started on the Bb clarinet and due to her "crock of gold" has an Eb alto sax and a Bass Clarinet. She now mainly plays Bass Clarinet in the local concert bands, but goes back to playing her Bb clarinet when marching.

When your son gets to a reasonable level of competence have a look at the local concert bands, many of them are only to pleased to take children as they want to encourage the next generation. They're much less "sniffy" than some of the amateur orchestras. (In my experience)

Thanks everyone - as for playing in bands and orchestras - he can't wait - he's hoping to join his brother in the school orchestra next term - playing the clarinet - but if he takes to the sax - who knows what will happen. Only time and PRACTICE will tell!!!