I posted this over in the flute forum, hoping that there were people there who doubled, but someone suggested that I post it here as well and hey, it can't hurt. :]

Hey there! I am principally a flautist, I have been a non-serious student for six years and a serious one for two. Not to sound egotistical, I have quickly grown to be the best in my band, and I know that the flute is something I was born to do and something that may one day be my profession -- or at the very least, a consistent hobby.

However, I have had an itching lately to learn something new. I want to experiment with jazz, so after months of goading and cajoling I have convinced my band director into loaning me a tenor saxophone for the summer so that I can join a local jazz ensemble to have something to do until school starts again in September and maybe join our school jazz band to have some silly fun in my last year of high school. The sax is great, even though I have yet to produce a real, lasting sound, and I am having a lot of fun with it. This will certainly make for an interesting endeavour.

Before I start taking this seriously, though (I have to admit, for the past few days I've mostly been having a blast just trying to figure out fingerings and notes, as I'm teaching myself), I have a few questions for all of you in fluteland. I have heard that there can be some lasting, adverse affects from doubling. Brass instruments especially ruin the flute embouchure, according to my band director, which dissuaded me from learning the mellophone to march DCI with my friend next summer. I figured that doubling on another woodwind wouldn't be too troublesome, but I want some solid evidence that this shan't hurt me, as I am going to be auditioning for music school this fall and winter and need to keep my lips in pristine shape. In that case, perhaps this isn't the best idea -- but I want to learn, and when I have my mind set on something, it takes a lot to stop me.

If it isn't too awful of an idea, I was wondering if you could pass along any tips you have; what books to learn out of, what sort of technique you find helps you make sound on the reed (it's so much different than the flute!), how you got a good sound out of it, good sites, et cetera.

Thanks guys, you haven't let me down yet and I hope you'll give me some good advice!

Personally, I would encourage you to continue playing saxophone. I have expanded my intrumentation to 3 different instrument families and have had very few effects on my playing. On the other hand none of these instruments were flute (and i know that flute embrouchure is very tricky). However, also playing saxophone i would say u would be able to pick it up fast considering i joined band a year later then all of my friends playing percussion and starting saxophone 3 1/2 years later played a concert with my jazz band the following month. So i hope you continue with it and good luck!!

the tenor sounds beautiful if you get good at it! keep it, and it shant hurt your embochure too much, so good luck, and mail me on this site if you have any questions, ok?
alden

If you are interested in playing Jazz you will have to be able to double as a woodwind player. Many Jazz bands require that the saxophonist be able to double on flute and clarinet. No you will not ruin yourself if you work on other instruments, it will make you a more well rounded and sought out player.

Good Luck, and keep playing.

I think people should play as many instruments as possible. But stay with whatever feels right for you. Teachers can be total !****!s who ruin peoples lives, or they can help their students reach great heights. Just make sure you play your flute every day for safety's sake, so that you will notice straight away if your face muscles are losing their edge.

I found my embrochure altered radically when I started playing sax and then went back to clarinet, but after a couple of weeks of going back and forth between the two types of instrument it became easier to adjust my embrochoure instantly.