doubling flute and sax

[tubbycub]

Like many beginning doublers, I am have great difficulty switching from sax to flute as and when I want. Some music requires you to play on the sax and only allow you one bar rest to switch to the flute. The change of embouchure makes it difficult for me to produce any sound on the flute. I will usually need 10 to 15 minutes for my lips to settle down before I can start playing the flute again. How to I develop the flexibility?

[Gordon (NZ)]

I developed it simply by keeping on practising the changing.

The sax does something to the lip - perhaps a slight numbing action. So the lip sends distorted messages to the brain about its condition and shape, etc. For the flute embouchure I think part of the process of smooth quick change involves disregarding these messages from the lip to the brain. Allow only messages from the brain to the lips, based on SOUND, and playing EXPERIENCE, rather than the feel of the lip.

If you find sax to flute difficult, try changing quickly to piccolo after 10 minutes 'pp' clarinet playing! There's a real challenge, and I initially thought it was impossible, but now it is no problem at all.

[tubbycub]

If you find sax to flute difficult, try changing quickly to piccolo after 10 minutes 'pp' clarinet playing! There's a real challenge, and I initially thought it was impossible, but now it is no problem at all.

Thanks Gordon.
I can't even produce a note on the piccolo even when my lips are fresh from playing nothing :)

[Dr G]

To expand on Gordon's advice...

If you are a new doubler, is it safe to assume that you are new to the flute? If so, you may need to concentrate on playing the flute - long tones, changing tone color, controlling vibrato at will, arpeggios, etude studies, etc.

Then, and only then (well, maybe a little sooner), start incorporating switching between instruments into your practice routine. But the bottom line is that you have to have the flute concept in your head - treat is as a flute and don't just pick it up and blow across it with the same airstream you use on sax.

If you spend an adequate amount of time on your doubles, no one should be able to tell which is your primary instrument.

Good luck.

[Gordon (NZ)]

I agree. You cannot double on flute until you have pretty good mastery of the flute, which is a LOT of work. This seems particularly difficult for players going from a reed instrument. The embouchure is far more critical than for sax, especially if one expects to get pitch and volume control of the third octave, where a lot of flute music resides.

An 'epistle' I have offered on this issue - see thread "Beginning on Flute" - may help.

[tubbycub]

An 'epistle' I have offered on this issue - see thread "Beginning on Flute" - may help.

Yes Gordon, I have a copy of your lesson already and I feel that I wouldn't even be able to play a single note if not for your great advice. Thanks again!

Do you think that I should get a flute teacher?

Learning the fingerings is not hard since they are so similar to the sax but I think I might have already developed some bad habits.

It's true that the 3rd octave really drives me crazy. I can play up tp A3 but I just cannot control the volume as I go higher and I tend to be too loud - almost like screeching.

[Gordon (NZ)]

Yes, I think you should get a flute teacher, even if it is only for a couple of 'consultancy' lessons.

When I was doing a lot of teaching starting off beginners, I came to the conclusion that if you let a child loose with a flute for 1 minute prior to good instruction, then it took weeks for the teacher to undo the damage. (BTW I'm not suggesting you are a child.)