Hello all

I've been playing the clarinet for nearly 2 years now. I do enjoy playing, but due to my small size (I'm just under 5ft, and very petite) I do find it very difficult, mainly covering the holes with my small fingers!

My tutor has suggested I at least think about the saxophone. Obviously, as there are no open holes, there should not be a problem. I had a lesson last night on an Alto sax as a taster, and I got on really well. He thinks that I will learn in leaps and bounds with the sax, whereas with the clarinet, I am making slow but steady progress, but I doubt whether I will ever be at a level which will enable me to play in a group. I am at perhaps grade 3. I can't see me getting too much higher, to be honest.

I know many people do play both instruments. How does playing the sax compare with the clarinet for others? Does it help or hinder to play both? I found it much easier to blow, and played up to F on the top line of the staff down to D just under the staff quite easily. Once I had mastered how to hold it (I think I would need a harness rather than a neck strap), I got on better. I tried to start with to hold it straight like a clarinet and wondered why my right thumb was protesting....!

The sax I had a lesson on is an ex demo one which has hardly been played - a Jupiter 500 series, which he says I can have for ?250. Does this sound a price deal? Are Jupiter a good make?

Any thoughts would be very much appreciated, as I spent quite a bit on a wooden clarinet but do not want to keep spending. I would keep my clarinet, as my mum also plays, and I would still do duets with her, but at the same time I find I am not enjoying the clarinet as much as I feel I should.

Thanks!

I'll send you a PM (it will be later on today).

Thank you, Tenor Viol.

Being both a clarinet and a saxophone player, I can tell you than really there isn't a huge difference. In my opinion, you've got an advantage playing the clarinet first as I feel that it has amore difficult embrasure and a more complex key system, so you are well set up for playing the sax. Also, the fingerings on the sax are very similar to the second octave fingerings on the clarinet so you don't have as much to learn.

What you need to think about it what sort of music you are really interested in playing, as there is little, if any orchestral/classical music for sax. That being said, some sax quartets or choirs have some fabulous arrangements.

So, if you really feel that the clarinet is not for you then I'd say that the sax would be a good option for you. As for the ?250 Jupiter - if you've got the money go for it, otherwise have a look on eBay as there are sometimes good deals for beginner saxophones on there. I got mine for under ?150 and it plays excellently.

Hope this helps.

Hmm I seem to be able to spend enough money on sax music and we definately don't own it all.

There are concertos on saxophone but most of the ones we have come across are around G7 and up standard.

There is tones of music for sax it's sometimes just a matter of finding it. We have recently downloaded (for a fee) pieces from a composers website. There is also all the 1920's stuff some of which is great fun, fantastic jazz repertoire and lots of baroque flute and oboe music transcribed particularly for soprano.

The challenge for sax is to be able to play all 4 instruments, though not many people take on that one.

Now sent.

Most competent sax players could make a decent enough job of playing all 4 - and I know several who do. But for practical reasons most choose to specialise on one or two.

If you're playing as a hobby, rather than because you need to make a living out of being as flexible a woodwind player as possible, there's really no need to play more than one size of sax unless it's something that really appeals. In any case it's a good idea to become secure on one first.

I was being a bit tongue in cheek I should have put an emotion after it.

Jupiters are good beginner saxes and ?250 is a good price for one. My son started on a Jupiter 500 and it got him to past grade 5. It's easier to start on clarinet and move to sax, my son did it the other way round. There are plenty of playing opportunities with sax, including concert and wind bands, sax ensembles and jazz bands.

My daughter plays clarinet seriously and dabbles in saxophone. As a consequence I am quite often given instruments to hold and the thing that would most definitely put me off sax - and I am not petite - is the weight. I just would not want to have an alto sax hanging round my neck. Now, I know this is probably just me, because there are plenty of young teenage girls out there who seem to stand around quite happily with tenor saxes, but may be something worth considering before you take the plunge...

Flutes have keys and don't weigh as much as saxophones.....