For Attention Of The Builder

[jennyjoan]

I know builder you are probably at work and know you play the saxaphone. I tried to go back to playing the piano last week after not playing for some years but i couldn't master it.

Always I would haved loved to play the Clarinet but don't know where to start to learn.

There is a class nearby that does teach Saxaphone but don't think I would have the puff - do you need a lot of puff for Clarinet. It is one my bucket lists - want to sail into the hole playing Strangers on the Shore LOL

[The Builder]

Haha ... yes, I should be out doing something, Jenny. I'm catching up with paperwork .......... and looking in on here :o)

I think the clarinet is a great idea. Not a huge amount of puff needed. Actually, saxes don't necessarily need that much. It all depends on the mouthpiece and reed set-up.

On tenor sax, I play with a huge big-bore mouthpiece and a fairly hard reed. You wouldn't need that. Certainly not on a clarinet. You can play as softly as you like.

Where you live, I would contact a local woodwind music shop. They will certainly know of the right teacher for you. The shop can also supply you with a student model clarinet. For example, here's a shop not too far from me. They supply their own brand of student model, as you can see from the link.........

http://www.johnpacker.co.uk/Catalogue/JP-Instruments/Clarinets#.VXlxGflVhHw

See if there's someone similar near you. Some shops have a system where you can hire an instrument to see if you like it. Then, if you want to keep it, any payments you made will be deducted from the sale price, then you keep it as your own.

They will also know what mouthpiece/reed set-up you need to get you started. This kind of help is essential to get you going comfortably.

I hope that one of Answerbank's regulars, jomifl, will see this and join in. He's a clarinet player. I'm sure he'd be only too glad to help.

[jennyjoan]

thanks builder for your answser - also this wee contemporary class teaches in a leisure centre - they teach the Saxaphone but when I see you blowing so hard on your avatar it looks too hard. Also just another thought - now that I have brand new front dentures chromey titanium - would that affect either my denture or breathing. This class is for nothing - may go up re the Saxaphone - also is it heavy to hold what with the breaking of 3 shoulders in my day.

[The Builder]

No problem with the dentures, Jenny. You need the front two teeth to bite on the mouthpiece. One of mine is a crown, but no issue at all.

As to weight... you might well find a tenor (as in my avatar) a bit heavy. Most students begin on an alto sax anyway. A clarinet is very light, so no difficulty there.

[jennyjoan]

Builder I have transgressed in the post in thinking of going for the Saxapohone since this wee leisure centre is teaching it. All I am worried about is is it heravy to hold or could I put it on my knee. Clarinets are out as I would truly like to know the real macoy - I am going to give the saxaphone a go when I can. thanks for your answers Builder.