<p>Funny how all these CC overachievers are wishing they'd taken an easier route. I figured most of the ppl on this bored would've been dying for the competition. ;D</p>
<p>For sheer numbers and thinking longer term, trumpet is the most needed instrument for college marching bands, and the world could use a female Miles!</p>
<p>Tuba, both for concert and marching band.
If your're a girl, more better.</p>
<p>"Funny how all these CC overachievers are wishing they'd taken an easier route. I figured most of the ppl on this bored would've been dying for the competition. ;D"</p>
<p>i dont consider learning how to play bassoon, oboe, or french horn as easy. for sure you're going to go through some growing pains like messing up many times during rehearsal on a potential solo part. and playing tuba isn't easy too, and if the tuba section isn't strong, then the rest of the band (especially marching band) will be hurt. of course, building stamina to carry a sousaphone isn't easy at first either. </p>
<p>an analogy would to say like, if my kid wanted to start a sport, which sport should he start on? if it's for college purposes, then it probably won't be something like basketball (flute/clarinet) that everybody plays, but rather something more rare like say, squash (bassoon/oboe).</p>
<p>I taught myself french horn. Great instrument. Highly recommended if you like the sound and willing to spend a lot of time learning it.</p>
<p>Brass
More Power Baby</p>
<p>i just want to point out that if you play tuba or baritone / euphonium, you have to carry those when you march. They are slightly heavy, especially if the school uses contras instead of sousaphones, though I'm pretty sure most high schools use sousas.</p>
<p>bad french horn players hurt my ears.</p>
<p>you have to choose an instrument you enjoy, or you won't be playing it very long.</p>
<p>... and I don't think you people should quit band because there are other people in the state / country who play it better than you.</p>
<p>She should choose and instrument she is interested in learning. Oboes, bassoons, and lower brass are rare, but are they worth learning if she will not enjoy it. Contact the band director and ask which are options in the middle school. She may have to start out on something other that what she wants. Oboes usually start out on flute, trumpets start out on cornets, saxes start out on clarinet, etc. It's different for every school system.</p>
<p>woah...whoever thinks that oboe is the easy way out b/c there's not much competition or w/e is so wrong...why don 't you try playing oboe and then you'll see why the competition is seemingly less. Actually, oboe and bassoon have plenty of competition. Just b/c less people play those instruments doesn't mean you're allowed to suck at them. They are two of the most important instruments in symphonic bands and orchestras. In a marching band, oboists will probably play mallets and bassoons will either play mallets or tenor sax.
I play oboe...it's fun...but it's hell, so naturally I recommend it. I wish I played bassoon, though. Bass lines are awesome!</p>
<p>xalvadora, you are right on; but if you love and can master the oboe it can be a wonderful opportunity as well as an amazing sound. I am so in awe of those who play the oboe, bassoon, and English & French horns!....as well as all the other instruments...I love the strings etc.</p>
<p>Jazzfan, oboes can start out on oboes...it is just a slow uphill climb for a 7 year old until some miracle occurs years later and the musician gains competency!</p>
<p>Just let her pick whatever she would like to play. I wanted to play the electric guitar when I was a child, but my parents, being the azns that they are wouldn't allow me to. They made me play piano instead, which I ended up hating and quitting anyways, so I suck at it now.</p>
<p>Everytime I see an awesome guitar player, it makes me kind of mad that I wasn't given the opportunity. Whatever your sister would like to play, just let her play it, no matter what anyone else's opinion about it is. Go to a large music store. Let her hold any of the instruments that she wants, and she should be given a chance to hear what each instrument sounds like.</p>
<p>Bassoon worked out well for D1. She enjoyed it and it opened doors for her, and she continues to play it in college. She became a pit percussionist during marching season, because in her band the bassoons don't march. She enjoyed the percussion too. Warning: If your sister gets serious she may want to get her own bassoon and they are very expensive. It's like buying a piano.</p>
<p>D2 is playing the French Horn. She enjoys that a lot too. Whatever instrument is chosen, it has to be one that the musician wants and enjoys, otherwise it will never stick.</p>
<p>Bassoonists might start out on something else too. I personally was recommended to start out on flute first before bassoon, so I did. Hmm... I didn't know bassoonists become pit percussionists or mallet players during marching band season. I played baritone instead during marching season. But if you attend a huge and powerful band program like Arcadia h/s in california, they actually have a SECTION of MARCHING BASSOONS.</p>
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<blockquote> <p>I didn't know bassoonists become pit percussionists or mallet players during marching band season. I played baritone instead during marching season. But if you attend a huge and powerful band program like Arcadia h/s in california, they actually have a SECTION of MARCHING BASSOONS<<</p> </blockquote>
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<p>Yes, I've seen Arcadia's marching bassoons at some competitions. I don't know how they manage it. Most schools turn their bassoonists into something else during marching season. Another bassoonist I know switched to flute to march, but in our HS they all go into the pit.</p>
<p>someone marches bassoons.....?</p>
<p>do you think that's easier or not as easy as marching /w a bari sax?</p>
<p>definitely piano!</p>
<p>i play piano in concert band, marching band and used to in jazz band (my only real challenge, i quit).</p>
<p>electric bass is another cool instrument to be seen in all three bands</p>
<p>your high school has a piano in the pit??? Or do you play marimba or xylophone in marching band?</p>
<p>not all schools have an electric bass in marching band. It's definitely not fun to play it in the rain, that's for sure. And I have not seen a concert band with an electric bass... jazz bands, I'll give you that it's common there, unless the director wants a stand up bass.</p>
<p>i play piano in marching band but i play the bass/tuba music with some added touches. we also have a bass player.</p>
<p>rain haha. we've avoided that all year...it was definitely not fun memorial day last year, raining cats and dogs.</p>
<p>wow i've never seen a piano in marching band.</p>
<p>since this thread of is about instruments for college apps, i do want to note that piano is so common among applicants to top colleges that it's almost the same as being in honors, so it's not an advantage whatsoever unless you're really good.</p>
<p>Depends on what she likes and her personality.</p>
<p>I always thought sax was cool. If she likes to be loud, brass is what she needs to do!</p>