Intonation

-clarinetists’ transitioning to saxophone may tend to play with a less open and sharp sound on saxophone due to the more firm embouchure and mouthpiece pitch required for proper clarinet performance

-flutists’ transitioning to single reed instruments may experience pitch issues (flatness) on clarinet and saxophone due to the more relaxed approach to embouchure that is commonly desired on the flute

When changing dynamics, clarinetists and saxophonists will experience similar tendencies. When playing softly, intonation will tend to go sharp, and the opposite – flatness – will be the tendency when playing loudly. To compensate, clarinetists and saxophonists much adjust the overall pressure on the reed – less pressure when playing softly and more pressure when playing loudly.

The exact opposite tendencies occur on the flute i.e. when playing loudly the pitch tendency will be to go sharp and when playing softly pitch will tend to go flat. To compensate, the flutist must change the amount of embouchure hole coverage with the lower lip i.e. cover more of the embouchure hole when playing loudly and cover less when playing softly. Imagine the head hinging at about your lower jaw and slightly raise and lower the head to change the amount of lower lip coverage of the embouchure hole. Raising the head position will allow for less coverage of the embouchure hole and will help raise pitch. Lowering the head position will allow for more coverage of the embouchure hole and will help lower pitch.