Saxophone or trumpet in the marching band?

Im going to go to my school band next year. I'm going to play the xylophones for the marching band (becuase I have been playing the piano for four years and the notes and keys are the same so why not?). BUt I also want to start another instrument. More specifically, the trumpet or the alto saxophone. These two are for sure. I heard that it is hard to play the trumpet because of the embochure and that you have to change the pitch for every single note. Also, I heard that your mouth gets all cracked up and nasty (I still want to keep making-out with girls)! However for the saxophone, you have to memorize ALOT of keys! I also heard that vibrating the reed is hard (the reed can also get moldy). Once I get good enough with one of these instruments I will leave the xylophones and go to oeither the trumpet or the alto sax for marching band. I really don't care about the weight so I don't need help on that. But which one is easier to play? I like the sax but the sound of the trumpet is better.

Saxophone or trumpet in the marching band?
Ugg, stop listening to other people. They spread all the myths that are not true.


First off, I will tell you that if you enjoy music and think you may consider it as a college degree, stick with one instrument. Yes, learning other instruments is fun and a nice talent, but think of it this way. You have 100% of your energy to devote to instruments. Would it be better to devote 100% to one instrument, or 50% to two separate instruments? Along with that, consider that most of the people you would be in college with did devote 100% of their time to a certain instrument. I regret that I spent so much time playing other instruments than my principle instrument because I am weaker on that then I should be at this point, and all the other instruments I play are not as good either. I could be a much more advanced player if I didn't also work on playing clarinet, flute, piano, and all the other instruments I play (over 10).


That being said, both the trumpet and saxophone have different challenges. The saxophone is the easiest instrument TO START but is the longest to actually get good at (above a middle school/high school level). The trumpet is harder to learn in the beginning, but easier after that. With trumpet, yes, you have to adjust your embouchure, but not for every note. For each section (middle C to F, G to B, C to E, and then it continues. These are the average sections, some people have different sections) you adjust your embouchure, and then the valves of the trumpet make the adjustment to another pitch. Unless you are playing a non-valved trumpet (which is only done by very few professionals) you don't have to worry about constant embouchure adjustments. Also, once you learn to do that, it isn't hard to do it. You just do it naturally. Just like you play the piano a certain way, it was hard when you started, and then it was easier. Yes, your lips will crack, when your lips get chapped. Take care of them just like you do now, and you should be fine. I've known many trumpet players and I've never seen them be more chapped of lips than anyone else. Also, the fingerings for trumpets do not stay the same on each octave for each note. It changes in there, and you have to memorize that.


Yes, the saxophone has many keys. But each note (e.g. G) fingers the same for each octave just adding or removing the octave key (thumb). There are a few notes that have a different finger on the extreme low end or extreme high end, but you worry about those after you learn the majority of the range of the instrument. Vibrating the reed is not hard at all. I've gotten my three-year-old niece and adopted brother to do it, and my sister when she was that age 14 years ago too. If they can do it, so can you. If a saxophonist lets a reed get moldy, they are doing an awful job of caring for their instrument. I've been playing for 18 years and I have yet to have a moldy reed. I've had probably 1000 reeds in that time.


Whichever instrument you choose, get a private lesson teacher. Each instrument comes with it's own challenges, and self-teaching yourself does not teach you how to play correctly. You can play, but if you want to actually be any good at the instrument, a teacher will teach you correct ways to play, and go a long way in preventing bad habits. Consider that a good amount of the people in the marching band with you will have private lesson teachers, and will continue to excel and learn more while you stay stagnant and at a lower level. As is most of these players will be much higher skill than you are already, and if you don't take lessons, they will be heads and shoulders above you.
Reply:Hmmm, tough desicion, do you have any friends that play one or the other, b/c it would be best, if you could try them before choosing.





The sax: First of all, the reed won't get moldly, it would break before it got moldy, because they break easily.





The trumpet: You don't have to adjust you're lips, for every note, but pretty often. Just think there is 3 buttons, to make just as many notes as the clarinet makes with over 30 buttons.





Either way, you have to rember lots of notes, it''s just on sax you just rember which of the many buttons, and and with trumpet you rember which of the 3 buttons, and which of the many mouth emochures.





I personally think the trumpet would be harder to learn, because you have to listen carefully to make sure you're playing the right note (ex. G and C have the same fingering, but you tighten your lips more, to play the G)





But, it's up to you...





Hope this helps!!!
Reply:Personally, I'd say Sax.Memorizing the keys are actually very simple.Learn a few keys at a time and practice,and you'll have it.You'll notice that all the keys repeating themselves,just with some side key or the octave key(makes notes higher)`A to make it a step higher.All reeds mold,or "warp".But If you are using reeds up quickly,its from good practice.When playing,try to swallow all saliva and don't eat or drink.Its messes up the reed super fast!Oh, and as the one above me said with the trumpet you have to change embouchure a little.Same thing with the sax.





Or If you want to play trumpet..Can't help you there.Sorry,but if you play sax ask me anything!





By the way,they are both sexy instruments to pick up girls! XD
Reply:If you play the trumpet, you take a vow of celibacy. You cannot make out with anything other than the trumpet. Otherwise your lips will fall of and die. Then you can't do either. However, it is well worth the sacrifice. And you can always throw acid on saxophones to make them explode.
Reply:Hey WATS up i kinda went trough that also so i think i might be able to help you...when i entered my freshman year to high school i was playing clarinet before that but i decided to do trumpet for fun(I knew it was not going to be hard)and it turned out to be really fun and i learned alot because of it i joined a drum corp if you have ever heard of that.we competed in drum corp international,DCI,i met lots of new people,its pretty cool its a pure brass horn line so it sound awesome.i really encourage you to try trumpet trust me its worth it. its not easy but when you learn everything is fun to play.TRUST ME.im a junior now. and im actually really good at it. so give it a try and practice alot.


want to see what deum corp is check this out on youtube or goolge.(blue devils 2007, the cavaliers 2002, phantom regiment 2007, and if you can the one i was on, Modesto Fever 2007 field show.)
Reply:If you go with the sax (good choice) you can always try a good plastic reed like Legere. They may not be as good as a regular reed for concert solos, but in a band section you can not tell the difference, they never crack or split, and they do not need to be kept wet. Only factor is the cost (8 to 16 dollars each, depending on quality) but they well last much longer.

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