The saxophone. Also a single-reed instrument. And the love of my life. I started playing the saxophone after about a year of clarinet. My first sax was a used Selmer Bundy II alto. Nothing wonderful, but I was thrilled! I remember practicing in my room for hours. I would play any piece of music in the house. My mom was learning violin and so had some fiddle music. After going through the basic method books, I would play the fiddle and violin music on clarinet, saxophone, and eventually the flute. I'm pretty sure that my parents went crazy hearing "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" on every instrument I knew how to play. This includes a small, cheap keyboard and my own scratchy attempts on my mom's violin.
Because the saxophone is so much louder than clarinets, it was around this time that I was banished to the basement for my practice sessions. At first, I was a bit offended, but then realized that it would be cool to have my own little studio. So I made it my own little studio. I got a small file cabinet to put all of my music in, and put up some posters and my music stand. After school and homework, every day, I'd go downstairs and play as long as I wanted.
I have recently been reunited with the ol' Bundy II. One of my cousins had it for a long time (when I got my good Keilwerth just before going to college, I didn't need the student horn anymore.) I had it sent through repair for a tune up and it is now a loaner of sorts for my students who "forget" their instruments at school or whose instruments need some repair.
Interestingly, my first clarinet was also a Bundy II, and I still have that, too. It also has a place in my teaching studio. They are both kept for practical reasons, but they are also reminders of where the most important part of my life began.
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