If you could do it over, would you have played a different instrument?

College Majors Music Major
1

<p>I've been reading some threads and I've seen at least one person say that they wish that they had picked up a trumpet instead of a clarinet in grade school. Another said that he/she wished he/she had picked up a trombone instead of a euphonium.</p>

<p>I'm trying to help my 3rd grade son pick an instrument to begin in the 4th grade, and I'd appreciate if anyone would like to share their regrets over their instrument choices. Right now he wants to play bassoon, but his size, age, and the availability of one may mean that he has to start on a different instrument.</p>

<p>So I'd appreciate any comments on why you did or did not like your instrument choice and/or what you would or would not do if you could turn back the clock.</p>

2

<p>My advice to you is to help your kid choose something he's really excited about. If you could get a local band teacher or someone else knowledgeable who could let him spend a few minutes with a couple different instruments, and see if he has any natural ability (or aversion) to reeds, winds, etc. - that would help him make a more informed decision. I personally LOVE bassoon.</p>

<p>You can also think about a few practical considerations - are you willing to lug around a large instrument, for example? I've known several extremely talented oboists recently who have shucked it all because they got tired of trying to make the perfect reed.</p>

<p>Writing on behalf of my kids, here are our anecdotes on choosing instruments -- </p>

<p>After 11 years of lessons, and being named an Outstanding Performer, S1 seldom plays piano anymore; plays his guitar a lot. Didn't major in music, but piano gave him a solid foundation. I think he'd pick it up again if he had a piano - That's the big disadvantage to that instrument! Guitar has been his ticket to participate in social things, church activities, and an occasional gig. Don't think he'd want to switch. It's a great instrument for an amateur musician. He wanted very much to play violin, but we couldn't find a teacher when he was younger. He was also devastated in middle school when it turned out he wouldn't be able to begin there (long story). But it all worked out. As his mom, I'm pretty happy with how things turned out, too. </p>

<p>S2 also started on piano first. His second instrument was voice, which he abandoned after his voice changed. Again, he had desired violin, but we couldn't find a teacher. He started horn in middle school. I strongly encouraged him to choose a different instrument (in fact, demanded it) - but the band director reasoned with me to go with the desire and natural talent. So glad I lost that one!</p>

<p>D started on violin at age 6. Late for a violinist. She is the only one I wish perhaps had a different instrument. (Ironic that we finally found a teacher... H is a violinist, which is where the fascination with violins comes from.) I think she would have made a fabulous cellist. She plays well enough, but violin is such a crowded field and she is not a natural competitor. On the other hand, violin is a great solo instrument. During our years abroad, when her school didn't have an orchestra, she was still able to perform regularly as a soloist. Violin is certainly easier to travel with than other string instruments.</p>

<p>I played clarinet, and wish I'd played bassoon!</p>

3

<p>S and D both started on violin. As a kid I started on piano. Both kids have much, much better "ears" than I ever had. D has switched to viola in h.s. (won't major in music). S added trombone in the 4th grade and is still playing that today (in conservatory). </p>

<p>If you can stand the sound, learning to play a non-fixed pitch instrument will develop many musical skills that are transferrable, especially aural skills. Strings work well because they are available in half, quarter-size, etc. and the kids can physically manage them. </p>

<p>That said, the truth is we like what we like. Let your S try whatever he can get his hands on at school. That's the only way he can really make an informed decision. I wouldn't go through hoops to get a bassoon for him in the 3rd grade. It might be more frustrating than the other instruments at this point. </p>

<p>I don't know about you, but I have a friend with a loom in her basement. Another with a boat he just listed on Craig's list. I have exercise equipment hidden away. All stuff we were so SURE we would love. In other words, don't even consider buying an instrument right now.</p>

4

<p>Both my kids tried a number of different things before finding what would be their primary instruments. No regrets, rather the process served to broaden their horizons and make them better all-around musicians.</p>

<p>In another thread you mentioned that your son may be limited to studying with the teacher provided by the school system. That in itself may point him toward the instrument or two that the teacher is best with. Many schools expect one or two instrumental music teachers to give lessons on a wide variety of instruments, some of which they are really not qualified to teach. Avoid that situation like the plague.</p>

5

<p>Agreed with Bassdad...pick an instrument the teacher knows well and can teach!</p>

<p>I'll fill in what my kids did....</p>

<p>DS started on voice and was in a very well established children's choir. He did that until his voice changed...but also started trumpet in 5th grade. He took piano lessons as well. Continued piano until the end of freshman year in college. He's a trumpet performance major so he still does that!! Truthfully we had encouraged him to play trombone, but he loved the trumpet. At one point he considered a change to tuba but the cost of the instrument made him reconsider.</p>

<p>DD started on piano at age 6. She also was in the children's choir starting at age 8 and continued that until the end of 10th grade. She started oboe in 4th grade, a year before her school has instrument lessons. She loves the instrument and also plays English Horn. She continues to play in her college orchestra. She never considered playing any other instrument. I think her success on the oboe was aided by her vocal and piano skills and her good understanding of music notation and theory. She was able to concentrate her beginning oboe efforts on playing the instrument instead of "other". She makes most of her own reeds, and it's a challenge, but she likes it. She buys her English Horn reeds from Forrests.</p>

<p>I am a singer (not a professional). If I had to do it again...I would have begged even harder for piano lessons!!</p>

6

<p>I have no regrets about picking French Horn over clarinet or flute like my friends did. If anything, the only real downside was that at the age of 8, I wasn't at all strong enough to lug it on and off of the bus every day. I think if our school had offered it though, I would have picked violin. I've always wanted to learn, and I still look forward to learning it at college.</p>

7

<p>Whatapainthisis, you seem to believe that requesting instruments for a grade school music program is extremely important. Not to minimize your concerns, but I don't see the importance. Most kids seem to start an interest in music by singing and playing different instruments. Most kids do not develop a strong interest in music performance or become dedicated to playing one instrument. Maybe your son will develop a strong interest in music. Maybe he will find that a bassoon is his instrument. In either case I would not push. Let your son experience options and develop his own interests. With any luck he will pick an instrument other than a bassoon. We found out that borrowing a school instrument does not work and a starter high-school level bassoon is $6k. We also experienced first hand the cost of a conservatory/professional level bassoon.</p>

8

<p>When my wife was in grade school, she really wanted to study the flute because all of her friends were taking up that instrument. Only problem is, the instrument that she called a flute was actually a clarinet. When it came time to request an instrument, she asked for a flute and got one. As it worked out, there were no extra clarinets and it was going to take a couple of weeks to return the flute and get another clarinet. Since she did not want to have to go without an instrument for that long, she stuck with what she had and now plays at a professional level and teaches flute at a local college. She eventually did get a clarinet while in high school to play instead of flute in marching band, but never really took to the instrument the same way she did with the flute. The moral of the story is that you do not always know what you want at that young an age but sometimes the right instrument manages to find you anyway.</p>

9

<p>My D started out with the violin. I knew at her first recital that it was not going to be a part of her future. Fortunately, her music teacher sent a note home soon after that I should have her audition for the local children's chorus. She still played the violin through middle school, but it turns out she was born with her intended instrument.</p>

10

<p>I think 2 important criteria are that the student should choose an instrument he/she is interested in learning (and therefore will practice) and not to be wedded to that original instrument if the student wants to change to /add another at some point. Starting with piano either separately or with the instrument is always useful. Both my Ss started with piano (not happily) in K and continued until they started school band when I let them quit. They learned how to read multiple lines of music and both clefs. When you start with other instruments, you don't always learn this until much later when it's harder. </p>

<p>S1 did piano K-6, alto sax 7-13 and then quit altogether. S2 did piano K-4, alto sax 5-8, then bari sax. He's intent on pursuing a performance career and now also plays all 4 saxes, clarinet, flute & is lamenting that he didn't learn more piano when he was younger. </p>

<p>As Bassdad tells so eloquently in the story of how his D came to discover the bass as her instrument, if the student is really turned on to music, they will find "their" instrument (or maybe it will find them).</p>

11

<p>i played the flute in elementary school and middle school, and i wasn't particularly fond of the instrument (probably because i didn't stand out, and every other girl played it). i switched to the oboe in 10th grade, and i really liked my decision, so it's never late to switch!! it doesn't matter what you start out on. you still make music either way.</p>

12

<p>You've gotten some really good advice on this thread. Since my nephew is starting his search for "his" instrument, I can only add the following: my older son put together a CD of his favorite symphonic music all featuring different instruments so his cousin could hear the different instruments. Nephew liked the opening of "Rhapsody in Blue" but didn't like the sound of a clarinet otherwise, so when he narrowed down which instruments he liked best, we got him different pieces for him to hear.
As everyone has said, there may be a musical journey ahead. Both my kids had five years of piano. My older son fell in love with trumpet and is still madly in love (even after a brief flirtation with horn). My younger son insisted on violin and became very good...before he fell in love with percussion and decided that was his passion. I was very open to whatever they wanted to play...I just wanted them to love it.
If it's bassoon...I'd start with clarinet and make the progression when a good teacher thinks your child is mature enough. Bassoon can be very difficult and it's easy to get discouraged or not progress as fast as one might if one waits....just a thought...</p>

13

<p>I was a clariniet player from the 5th grade through high school. If I could do it over, I would've picked anything from the tuba, trombone, baritone, or french horn, in that order. If your school is anything like mine, there will be a lack of low brass instruments. We often lacked trombones and we had to switch students to french horn. There were also years that we didn't have tubas, baritones, and bassoons.</p>

<p>Because of this, we always had to rely on the bari saxes for the bass line, but then we never had those lower bass notes played. Our trombones hardly ever played out and we also had a hard time getting 4 trombones in the jazz band.</p>

<p>I would highly recommend the low brass instruments, because chances are that they will be needed. Here is a list of instruments that I would recommend, from the most needed to the least needed:</p>

<p>1) Tuba - Every band needs a foundation, and the tuba gives just that. The tuba has the ability to play notes below an E2, and band literature often calls for low bass notes that the bari sax/bass clarinet/bassoon can't play. The tuba is an important part of the band, orchestra, and especially the marching band. It ranks #1 because bands are prone to not having tubas at all.</p>

<p>2) Trombone - Trombones are as needed as the trumpets, as they are required in the band, orchestra, jazz band, and marching band. Like the trumpet, the trombone has the ability to blast and pierce through everything. The problem is that bands often lack that power that is needed, which comes from the lack of players or the lack of effort.</p>

<p>3) French Horn - Horn parts are unique and important in the orchestra. They also add to the texture of marching band brass. Bands often have too many alto saxes, so horns will be needed to counteract the altos. Much power is also called for from horns.</p>

<p>4) Baritone - Often plays with the trombone, tuba, and tenor sax, but occasionally has important parts.</p>

<p>5) Bassoon - Students usually don't start on bassoon, so that's why I rank it below the baritone. It is required in bands and orchestras. My school had to switch woodwinds to bassoon.</p>

<p>6) Oboe - Sometimes bands don't even have oboes. If you're thinking about playing the flute or clarinet, I would recommend the oboe because there are too many flutes and clarinets. So if you're not a brass person, I'd recommend the oboe.</p>

<p>What I don't recommend:</p>

<p>1) Flute - Bands just have too many flutes, which ridiculously offsets the balance of the band.
2) Alto Sax - Same as above. However, sometimes bands will call for tenors and baris, but they usually have the right quota. I'd recommend the sax if you're considering playing in a jazz band in the future.</p>

<p>Which brings me to my next list of recommendations.</p>

<p>If you're considering playing in a jazz band/pit orchestra, I'd recommend:</p>

<p>1) Trombone - never have enough of them
2) Trumpet
3) Sax</p>

<p>Those are probably the most versatile instruments you could choose.</p>

14

<p>I originally started on piano. I begged my mom for a few years to sign me up for lessons. For Christmas when I was eight I got a cheap Casio keyboard and was signed up forpiano lessons. That next school year when I was ten I was able to join either band or orchestra. I mangaged to choose trumpet. I'm glad I did, but I really wish I had been able to go to instrument night at the school and try out all of the instruments from brass to winds to strings. I loved trumpet, but last year I was blessed to switch to tuba. </p>

<p>Looking back, I'm greatful I didn't go for a woodwind, but I wish I had tried an orchestra instrument. I recently was able to play in a Symphonic Orchestra and was able to be friends with the Bass player and a Cellist. Now I really wish I could play either. I love the deep rich sounds. </p>

<p>I'd probably say have you next child pick up a versatile instrument. Trumpet allowd me to switch through the brass. This up and coming school year I'm going to try bass trombone. I like how I can switch throughout them. If I was told to pick up a clarinet though, I'd probably go insane with all of the fingerings. :)</p>

15

<p>I didn't choose either of my instruments. We start band in fifth grade here and I desperately wanted an instrument, but we weren't sure how we were going to afford a rental or anything. As it turned out, a family friend had a daughter who had been playing flute, but was quitting to join choir. They gave it to us for free. Problem solved, though obviously I had no choice in the matter - it was flute or nothing, and I wasn't about to do nothing!</p>

<p>Then my sophomore year of high school I went to my band director wanting to join jazz band. Our jazz band didn't allow flutes, so I was going to have to double (most of our jazz band doubled). I asked her what instrument I should learn. She told me tenor sax.</p>

<p>To this day those are the two instruments I play. I've picked up a few others but those are my main two, and I wouldn't change it for anything. Sometimes your instrument just finds you. :)</p>

<p>In any case, a bassoon seems like it would be a lot for a fourth-grader to handle. :/ If possible I'd start him off on oboe and have him switch later, but oboe's pretty tough too. Around here beginning band/orchestra students (fifth graders) can only choose from flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, violin, viola, and cello. Once they hit sixth grade they can also start playing alto/tenor sax or percussion (and I think there's rare cases of oboe or tuba, but those are probably few and far in-between). Then once they hit middle school they can pretty much play whatever as long as they can get ahold of it, either through the school or by renting/buying it.</p>

16

<p>I started in fifth grade on Clarinet, switched to Trumpet in 10th grade Marching Band, and am entering my 2nd year on Bassoon for Concert Band. My advice is, talk to the high school band teacher and ask if he'll let your son switch later on. My director is ALWAYS short on brass players so he'll let ANYONE switch from clarinet/flute/sax to trumpet/trombone/tuba. </p>

<p>My favorite instrument is DEFINITELY! bassoon, but I think if I'd started on it, I'd hate it as much as I hate clarinet now. It's gigantic and he'll definitely need private lessons. I'm glad I started on clarinet because it's easy enough that I learned quickly and became the best and learned to read music. If your son really wants to play bassoon, try to convince him to play trombone or another bass clef instrument, since it's hard to switch from Treble Clef (clarinet, sax, flute, and lots of other things play in this) to Bass Clef (trombones, tubas and bassoons use that). Good luck, and let us know what he decides.</p>

17

<p>Some instruments are much more competitive than others. Since there is a glut of flutes, clarinets and violins (because many people start out on them), it is harder to stand out in those areas. When your child goes to competitions, there may be only 20 french horns but 150 clarinets...you see what I mean. That said, you really have to love the sound of your instrument, whatever it is. Most serious high school musicians do eventually play multiple instruments anyway.</p>

18

<p>In my experience, that should read "many" serious high school students do eventually play multiple instruments. As a professional musician, in my student days I was awed by students who were successful in playing many instruments well. However, it is really rare for serious musicians to be able to play many instruments well. Some do play piano plus their main instrument well, but that's it. (Don't want potentially serious music students to feel bad if they never can play more than one instrument well!)</p>

19

<p>Although this seems to be more of a parent thread, I'll add two cents.</p>

<p>I started on piano at age 7 and viola at 10 (i am 20 now). Honestly, if i had to start again, I would have probably picked the violin and piano. I'm currently pursuing a BS EE and BA Music Performance but I had planned on being a full-fledged performance major up until senior year in HS. The viola simply does not have enough etude and graduated solo rep to prepare a student in all the difficulties pertaining to a larger stringed insrument. Not to mention the fact that the majority of dominant viola teachers/players in the world started on violin (including Roberto Diaz, Kim Kashkashian, Bob Vernon, and Primrose). </p>

<p>That said, looking back, i'm not sure if i would have started any non-fretted stringed instrument had i know the daily hours required to master simple skills for the following 10 years.</p>

20

<p>You're right, oprahorn, maybe I should have said "many", or even "some". Upon further thought, I guess I should have said that some enthusiastic student musicians in our hs at least try other instruments. Some are related (like different reeded instruments) and some try a completely different instrument (like piano). They don't necessarily play all of them well, but they experiment. I do know one kid who was genuinely good on many instruments in string, winds and brass...but that is very unusual. Another thing I have noticed is that some of the more serious student musicians begin to study music theory and composition. </p>

<p>Heck, making it in music is tough enough without me discouraging anybody!</p>