What do you know about band insturments- flute, oboe, sax, trumpet?

Hi. I've performed publicly on all of those instruments (and over 100 others) so I think I know whereof I speak. The easiest double for you will be sax. Embouchere is identical to clarinet b/c it's another single-reed. Fingerings are Boehm system, therefore also similar. I started on clarinet and picked up alto sax in a couple of days. A decent alto sax will cost you, minimum, $300, less if you know how to shop. Next most logical: flute. Embouchere is from a different planet than clarinet, but fingerings are also Boehm system and therefore similar. Lots and lots of professionals double on sax, clarinet and flute. Flute is cheapest: you can get a used student model from a pawn shop for under $100. The other two are going to require a completely different embouchere and a completely different fingering system. In fact, I got hissy and sold off my oboe a few years ago and swore that I would never play that moronic conservatory fingering system again: why are oboists so stupid that they don't demand the superior, more logical Boehm system? Trumpet, on the other hand, is a lovely instrument, my flute teacher doubled on trumpet so it can be done well. A used oboe will generally go for a minimum of $500; you can get a decent trumpet for maybe $200. Again, depends on how well you shop... In other issues: the flute will require almost zero costs for supplies; the sax will require reeds that are a few cents more expensive than your clarinet reeds; the trumpet will require a bit of valve oil now and then but no other costs; the oboe will require expensive (and fussy) double-reeds and cork grease. Oh--where to find them. Your full-service music store will often have used ones, but pricey. Craig's list or ebay are a resource. http://www.wwbw.com is another good one. And there's http://www.shopgoodwill.com for the lowest prices of all, tho' you must be prepared to spend a couple hundred for a repad or overhaul if you buy a woodwind from them.

I recommend the flute. I play three instruments - piano, violin and flute- and I think that the flute is the easiest of the three. The hardest thing to learn on the flute is the shape to hold your mouth, but if you already play the clarinet then it souldn't be to hard. A benefit of playing the flute is that onece you learn the flute, you can play the recorder also. The fingerings are exactly the same.

Sax is an extremely easy switch, as are other types of clarinets. (Bass, E flat alto are possibilities, and E flat soprano is fun if you're up for a tuning challenge.) Oboe and bassoon are both difficult and expensive, but well worth it if you're willing to work. Fewer good players out there so there are lots of opportunities to play in bands but especially fun are the ORCHESTRAL opportunities that open up. You must take lessons if you choose these instruments. Flute is relatively easy to learn after clarinet once you get the hang of the air stream. There is zero air resistance in a flute (clarinet has a lot of air resistance due to the reed) but the fingering system is similar. Downside is that there are a lot of really good flautists out there and competition is very strong. Doubling/tripling etc. on instruments is often a very marketable ability, especially if you want to play in pit orchestras (for musicals).

The trumpet is pretty easy to learn, but I don't recommend changing from a clarinet to a trumpet. The high notes on a trumpet take awhile to master. And remembering the fingerings it easy because there's only three keys.

Think first of what you think is cool. I have just spent 7 years on trumpet and 3 learning classical guitar and have training on piano ect. If you think that the flute looks cool then pick one up at a rental place and try it out. the same with the rest. When you stand in front of a crowd or even when you are playing alone it has to feel right. Trumpets are loud, they need control but are much easier to pick up than the the flute should be for you.( mainly because of the amount of fingerings to learn) The main thing with the trumpet is the embouchure but once you have that its just tone and range that matter. the alto is great( I really like them" saxes are gods") but you will, like with the trumpet have to learn a new embouchure. The flute requres alot of air to play, a lot of embrouchure and many fingerings. Also untill you get very good it doesnt sound too great( I mean worst than the others) Oboes are cool but difficult to play I would say less difficult than the flute but harder than the trumpet. The main thing with all of this is to pick something you will enjoy, that inspires you and that you are prepared to stick with. I picked up the penny whistle and it is the best choice I ever made, when I play it right I feel like a million bucks