Saxophone

Lately I've been listening to a little jazz, and it's got me interested in taking up the saxophone again (I used to play in high school).

When I was a kid, 11 years old, I chose to play sax strictly based on how the instrument looked. It combined all the nifty-looking keys of a clarinet with the big shiny body of a brass instrument, and had that super-cool shape besides. But now I love the way a sax sounds -- it's the most expressive wind instrument by far, I think.

I also love to listen to all sorts of guitar music, and a while back bought a guitar and even took a few lessons. I don't really think it was the instrument for me because I never really enjoyed the physical act of playing guitar -- twisting my left hand into all sorts of unnatural positions.

Unfortunately the sax is less versatile and practical than guitar. You really need other people to play with, and it's a very loud instrument, so practicing can be a problem if you're in an apartment. I once had an apartment lease that contained a clause forbidding me to "practice any musical instrument or saxophone." I would love to know the story behind that.

I played alto and a little baritone sax in school. I think if I did it again I'd choose tenor, which seems like the truest of all saxes.