Playing the saxophone, clarinet or flute …

Benefits to beginners:

• The Clarinet & Flute can be played by children as young as 7 or 8, whilst the Saxophone (due to its size, weight and bulkier keywork) is usually only suitable for 10 yr olds upwards.
• A relatively straightforward next step from recorder at school.
• A well-developed ear is not essential at the outset, as these instruments are essentially ‘in tune’.
• Clarinets & Flutes are compact & lightweight.
• It’s been proven that playing wind instruments can be beneficial to asthma sufferers.

But:

• You will generally need other musicians to play with, although there are plenty of easy ‘play-along’ books with CDs on the market.
• To achieve a pleasing tone may take much more time and effort than, for example, piano or guitar.