If I could pick some Buffistas brains for a moment: Ryan's been taking music lessons at school, learning the recorder for the last couple of years. (The instrument of choice for the Second Doctor, so that's nice.) Next year, he'll be moving up to something a bit more complex. We were thinking he'd probably do the clarinet. His music teacher has told us that he might be better suited to the saxophone instead.

Does anyone have experience with either the sax or the clarinet? Any thoughts or suggestions when making the choice for our near-Year Three?

I'm sorry, smonster. I don't know how one comes to terms with all this.

I played alto sax for seven years; my older brother played the clarinet. The embouchure (sp? Mouth position) is similar but I think the sax is a little easier. The clarinet has more opportunities to play high melodies, and the sax is sometimes relegated to accompaniment. I don't know if any of that helps.

So I just told my boss that I'm not coming in today. He was understanding. We struggle with communication but he does give me flexibility with my schedule and I appreciate that.

Now I need to focus on actual self care, getting some healthy food and doing stuff around the house and go do yoga, so I can be ready come Monday.

Total band geek stereotypes. But the clarinet section usually has more girls, and gay boys, while the sax section is more full of somewhat charming but kind of asshole dudes (...Bill clinton plays sax). ...but that's just stereotypes :) Sax is generally going to seem "cooler" than clarinet.

{{{smonster}}} I hope you are able to take good care of you this weekend, and that Monday is easier.

I played the Tenor sax for about seven years.

My advice would be for him to learn an instruments that can play chords, like piano or guitar.

I have a friend whose mom (a musician) steered him away from saxophone and towards less popular instruments. He ended up playing the bassoon. Because there was a much smaller pool to choose from, he got to play in the statewide youth orchestra for several years and lots of other cool things.

Calm~ma for your Lasix today, Suzi.

~ma of whatever kind will help you through this tough time, smonster.

msbelle, lots of good vibes for the strength to help your parents through healing from this surgery.

I tooknow clarinet in middle school. I wanted to be assigned sax but I don't think any girls were. Or percussion but I know there were no girls on percussion.

I liked playing the clarinet.