I'm working for my ABRSM Performance Diploma on Piano and Grade 8 Flute, but I'm thinking of taking up a new instrument. I originally wanted to take up the sax but my flute teacher said it wouldn't be good for my flute and lip, so I'm thinking maybe a string instrument where I don't need my lips at all, but what about the oboe? Would the reed for that be a problem for playing the flute?

if your teacher has said not to take up sax, then i dont think she'd be happy with oboe either!

plead with her, to let you do saax! its so much fun!

i play both flute and sax.. and as long as you dont play them straight after each other i dont find it a problem!

Yeah, it only knackers your lip if you play sax to flute. So, if you do all your flute practice, then play your sax (if you get one) it'll be ok! Well, I find that, but I play flute to clarinet, not flute to sax.

Besides, you get used to it, and work out ways of being able to play both without problems!

That used to happpen to me elmo, but now i can paly either way around with relative ease. just takes a while to get used to it!

Soph, why not try a stringed instrument like the violin? It compliments the piano wonderfully and apparently you dont use your lips to play it or so I've been told!! Along with a few others here on the forum, I started to learn the violin recently and haven't looked back. I'm currently playing up to about Grade 3 Level. Incidently, my first instrument is piano too so Violin is a welcome change as it is so different.
Good luck with your choice! If it's violin, Joy and I will be around to give you some beginner's tips!

Gae

QUOTE (Gae @ Apr 8 2005, 08:45 PM)

Soph, why not try a stringed instrument like the violin? It compliments the piano wonderfully and apparently you dont use your lips to play it or so I've been told!! Along with a few others here on the forum, I started to learn the violin recently and haven't looked back. I'm currently playing up to about Grade 3 Level. Incidently, my first instrument is piano too so Violin is a welcome change as it is so different. Good luck with your choice! If it's violin, Joy and I will be around to give you some beginner's tips! Gae

Yeah I second that, violin is great, and coming from piano myself, and flute, I find that violin is a great complementary instrument.

Let us know if you decide to take it up.

Joy

QUOTE

I originally wanted to take up the sax but my flute teacher said it wouldn't be good for my flute and lip,

I've seen this question discussed for years on various clarinet forums regarding Clarinet/flute/trimpet/sax etc and the consenus was that there is absolutely no problem! In fact, quite the opposite, because you're giving your lip muscles a full work out. A bit like using all your muscles in the gym instead of just your biceps every time.

I can personally vouch for this. I learned clarinet, then trumpet , then sax. I found that it actually helped. My embouchure is stronger and feels easier on the clarinet because all lip muscles are in great shape, not just those specific few needed for the clarinet. Besides, the embouchure for sax is pretty loose and easy compared to clarinet and trumpet. I can't see any possible problems!

QUOTE

plead with her, to let you do saax! its so much fun!

Er... who is paying whom here? I agree that there should be respect on both sides. But don't forget that this question of embouchures affected by different instruments is a 'theory'. There are those who believe both sides of the argument.

Besides, if you're worried about her reaction, does she really have to know. The sax is extremely easy to start. You can teach yourself for the first year, and then decide if you want to take proper lessons. If you want to do sax, for heaven's sake DO sax.

Steve

I play clarinet, flute, and saxophone, and find it no problem, though I do try and avoid playing the flute the day before a clarinet exam, just in case! I certainly don't like playing both at the same concert.

HI!
I play sax and flute, I play flute as 1st. I do sometimes find it a problem with the fingering, because the finging is just slightly different forr the sax, so sometimes you play the wrong fingering, and get into bad habits.
Good luck with ur desision!

Would've thought sax would be better than clarinet, I do know flautists who take the flute seriously who have given up the clarinet as it played havoc with their flute embouchure at the top levels of playing, sax has a looser easier embouchure I'd say (in my limited experience!) so might not be so bad.

What about taking recorder playing to new heights.......?

I don't want to discourage you, and the flute is a great instrument, but I find that even when I play the recorder for half and hour, my tone on the flute sounds rubbish, and I sometimes do the wrong fingering! That might just be me, though!
The violin is nice too, I think!

QUOTE (july @ May 6 2005, 03:01 PM)

I don't want to discourage you, and the flute is a great instrument, but I find that even when I play the recorder for half and hour, my tone on the flute sounds rubbish, and I sometimes do the wrong fingering! That might just be me, though! The violin is nice too, I think!

I have a house mate who plays the flute and recorder, and it does not ever bother her at all. And she has taken both to post Grade 8. Just play around with as many instruments as you can to see which one you can pick up and enjoy. How about go into a music shop, if you have one near by and just try out loads of instruments. You don't need to buy anything there and then! Remember instruments do cost alot of money!

As long as you don't play the flute immediately after playing the recorder you'll be fine. I'm doing a lot of recorder playing at the moment and I only noticed my flute tone suffering when I tried to play the Mozart D major concerto last movement immediately after 30 minutes+ recorder playing. The rest of the time my flute embouchure's been fine.

I think it depends on the individual, I know people who play several very different wind instruments and have no problems, I know others who gave up eg the clarinet because it messed with their flute tone. So there is no guarantee either way whatever anyone may say. You're already at a high level on flute so I would guess you probably would be an advantage as your embouchure's probably very strong and solid, but really the only way of finding out is trying. There is a risk, but you might be absolutely fine - and you could always give up if it messes with your flute playing, it won't damage your fluting forever! Or you can decide to play something totally different and not have to think about it.

Wow, what a mixed bag of opinions!!

My addage to the mixture is that there are hundreds, nay thousands of Sax and Clarinet players who have to play flute, for instance in pit bands or big bands, often swapping from one to the other and back again several times.

The results are oftend sporadic but most cope with the slightly poorer tone on the flute that one gets when playing straight after sax, or (even worse) clarinet.

Just go for it is my advice but don't expect to become a virtuoso flautist............... be a very good, rich, gigging one instead!