[mishlc]

I've been playing oboe for 4 years (in 8th grade) and I want to pick up a sax to play. I'm a girl, 5' 2'', around 90 pounds. I think alto would be better since I'm kinda short, but what do you think? Also, what would be easier to learn over the summer 2012? Would I need to get a private teacher to get up to a high school level, or just a tenor 'how to play' sort of book? Also, since I'm an oboe player, should I learn to play with a double lip?

 

[kulos]

Find a decent alto without leaks and a good mouthpiece (yamaha 4C, selmer S80C*, vandoren something,..) and start playing. I'm only familiar with the metric system, but the alto should be suitable for most body shapes and sizes!

What do you mean with "over the summer"? Summer 2012? Where do you live? .. I want summer!!!

Best wishes from Norway (where the summer is definitely history)

 

[hakukani]

I've seen small humans play all sorts of sax sizes. If you can spread your fingers wide enough for oboe, you should be able to play any sax.

 

[bandmommy]

My middle daughter started on oboe at the end of the 5th grade. She played alto sax for High School marching band, back to oboe for Symphonic band, Tenor for Jazz band, and Bari for Concert band. When marching band ended she had THREE band classes is a row, so she went from tenor to oboe to bari with only 10 minutes between classes.

She's also only 5' 1" so it goes to show that you can play what ever you want!

 

[kulos]

The alto saxophone is a fantastic instrument and in my opinion the best "beginner" saxophone (regardless of height).

 

[Atonal]

If you are planning to play in the jazz band, you might want to find out which horn the director is most in need of, alto or tenor, and you can help fill that gap.

 

[bandmommy]

I forgot.... YES! Get a private teacher, and use a single lip embouchure to start. You'll find it to be a little more comfortable to start out with and it will also remind you to not go into 'oboe mode' with the fingerings.

 

[dshook]

I started on oboe and now teach and perform a lot on both. Start with alto. Take some sax lessons. While there are many things similar about the two instruments and they compliment each other well, there are some very important differences. Good luck!

 

[Pete Thomas]

Double won't do any harm, but is not very fashionable these days so you might as well go with the flow and use an embouchure most teachers will approve of.

Also a double lip might encourage you to be (subconsciously) thinking oboe. The embouchure is radically different and bet to approach as a new embouchure rather than a variation on your existing oboe embouchure. The saxophone generally has lass resistance and you need to develop a strong diaphragm to make up for that, otherwise it's tempting to close your throat to compensate for the lack of resistance, not that you don't need a good diaphragm for oboe.

I agree that tenor should not be a problem, I would go for whichever you "feel" the most affinity with after listening to lots of great players.

 

[saxmusicguy]

My middle daughter started on oboe at the end of the 5th grade. She played alto sax for High School marching band, back to oboe for Symphonic band, Tenor for Jazz band, and Bari for Concert band.

Does she still play all these instruments?

 

[bandmommy]

She graduated from High School 2 years ago, but yes, she has access to and can still play all these instruments.
Currently she plays oboe in our community band, and will probably cover the alto part in a sax quartet for our Christmas concert.

 

[saxmusicguy]

She graduated from High School 2 years ago, but yes, she has access to and can still play all these instruments.
Currently she plays oboe in our community band, and will probably cover the alto part in a sax quartet for our Christmas concert.

I see.

 

[mishlc]

thanx for the input guys, I really appreciate it. I think I want to go with the tenor, but I still need to see what our band might need for high school.

 

[bandmommy]

Just out of curiosity....
Have you played an alto or tenor?

 

[JL]

Play the one you like to listen to the most. Trust me on this. If you really prefer the sound of a tenor and you decide to play alto, every time you hear a tenor you'll want to switch. Or vice versa. Of course there's nothing wrong with playing both, but since you're trying to make a choice, go with the one that sounds best to you.

 

[SuperMadHatter]

Play the one you like to listen to the most. Trust me on this. If you really prefer the sound of a tenor and you decide to play alto, every time you hear a tenor you'll want to switch. Or vice versa. Of course there's nothing wrong with playing both, but since you're trying to make a choice, go with the one that sounds best to you.

+1
I'm only 5'6" and I play Alto/Tenor/Bari. If the saxes you use are in good regulation and not leaking there is not much difference in playing from Alto to Bari. Play the one you like the sound of best.