Doubling To the Sax

[mikwat1]

Right now I am a Trombonist who filled in for a bari-sax onetime and really liked it. I have access to a tenor at school, but I am hesitant because I'm afraid that it'll ruin my embochure. Any suggestions?

[jaysne]

My suggestion is to not worry and to go for it. I started on sax, picked up all the reeds and double reeds along the way; then about 8 years ago started learning the brasswinds. I was scared at first because when I was very young I had heard some guy's opinion that woodwind player should not play brass because it would destroy the sensitivity in the lips. I'll never forget the moment when I first lifted my new trumpet to my lips and thought--is this the end of my sax playing days?

Well, balderdash. I can still play all my reeds fine--including flute and piccolo--and I am having a great time loving my trumpet, trombone and horn.

The way I see it, sure, you're using your lips for all of them, but you're using the muscles in different ways. It's like sprinting and distance running--you're using your leg muscles for both activities, but in different ways. I never heard of someone telling a distance runner it's bad to sprint, or vice versa.

In fact, if there ever were a danger, it would be going from woodwind to brass, and certainly not the other way around. Buzzing into a t-bone mp puts a ton more strain on the muscles than blowing into a sax mouthpiece. So again, you have nothing to worry about. Get yourself a bari and enjoy!

[kfoster]

Check out Tom Malone on the David Letterman band. He is the trombone player who doubles on tenor sax. He did it in the Saturday Night Live band and on the Blues Brothers Movie.

it is only a problem if you want it to be.

Another good example is Howard Johnson the tuba and bari sax player. He was on Saturday Night Live in the 70's, toured with The band, worked with Gil Evans and McCoy Tyner, Taj Mahajl among others.

I got to play with him about 12 years ago. Amazing player on both horns and a great human being!