I started out on piano when I was 5, decided to take guitar lessons when I was 8, began playing clarinet at age 9, and saxophone at 11. It was around that time that my grandmother bought me my first drum set too. When I was about 13, I picked up a mandolin for the first time and tinkered around with it until I could play a couple songs. I was about 18 or 19 and playing guitar in a rock n' roll band when the bass player couldn't make it one night. The other guitarist, who played mostly rhythem and sang most of the songs, looked at me and says; "dude we are totally screwed unless you can play bass!" Of course, I had never played a bass guitar before! The other guitar player said he couldn't play bass and sing so I had to do it. I got a crash course in bass guitar, which I found to be one of the easiest instruments in the world to play. I began playing bass on stage! About 3 weeks later I decided that I absolutely HAD to have a bass guitar and bought my first. About a month later, I was playing bass in my college jazz band. I tried to hide the fact that I also played saxophone, and begged a couple people who knew that I played sax not to tell! I was having fun with bass and I liked playing bass. If I stayed with bass, I was no threat to the rest of the band, where if I were playing sax, sooner or later, I would have to take over the band! Well, wouldn't you know. Some idiot on tenor kept screwing up his part! I bit my lip. I fought the urge for as long as humanly possible! Then, before I could say "Give me that thing before you hurt yourself!" One of the other members suggested that I show him how it should be played. So, I took away his shiney new Yamaha sax and played one of the most awesome solo's of my career. The director looked at me and asked "Why didn't you tell me you played sax!" and then I was playing sax once again. So what was this post about? Oh yeah, doubling. Up until recently, I was playing mostly keyboard and doubling on sax 2-3 nights per week. I've been a bit more selective lately, and I love jobs where I can just play my saxes. I still play bass occasionally, and once in a while, I'll get a guitar gig. I think every sax player should learn keyboard. Keyboard can open up so many more opportunities and the two just seem to go hand in hand. I think that learning keyboard and piano is what has helped make it so easy for me to learn other instruments also. Jim

Learning doubles is crucial for anyone who wants to become a serious jazz saxophonist. It seems every big band gig I have ever had I have doubled or tripled depending on arrangements and situations. Charts that are more advanced will require a different timbre and adding clarinets, and flutes is a great easy way to do this. Also, learn to improvise on clarinet, and flute. I get calls to play dixie land clarinet at least 4-5 times a year. These are great tools to have in your arsenal. I played an orchestra gig last year that called for alto and tenor on one song. The bass clarinetist could not make the performance that night. I dusted off my bass clarinet, read the bass clarinet book and tripled my pay check for the evening! I think Kristy mentioned musicals. Any show I have ever played has called for doubles. A huge plus to this is the majority of the time your payment is determined by the amount of doubling you do in the book. Try to learn them a little at a time. Alternate flute, and clarinet every other day and do thirty minutes on doubles each day. You will be proficient in no time. It will seem stressful but the reward is plentiful. hope this helps, Tracy