<p>I am almost 18 years old, want I never played instrument before. Is it too late to start playing an instrument? If no, what should I start playing with? What's the easiest instrument in jazz and concert band and orchestra? If I can practice two hours a day will I earn a spot in the school band after one semester?</p>
<p>It's never too late to learn, but it does become increasingly difficult to learn to play instruments well with age. It is hard to say if you could get a sport in the band/orchestra. Some people are naturally musical and can learn how to play more quickly than others. It also depends on how good the music program at your school is. As for what instrument is "easiest"...I am not sure. A lot of people do start with the piano or guitar.</p>
<p>Saxophone is fairly easy to get the hang of. So say most people, and I can back them up w/ experience. But, like any other, it's hard to play very well.</p>
<p>It's never too late. :)</p>
<p>I'm going to echo Janelle09...it's hard to say what you'll do well with. I'm starting to teach myself guitar at age 17...although I'm going to get lessons pretty soon.</p>
<p>If you want to avoid harder instruments, it's best to stay away from strings (except guitar) in general, especially lower strings (bass, cello, viola). Also, stay away from double reeds (oboe, english horn, bassoon) until you have some experience with other winds. French horn is also quite hard, I hear.</p>
<p>Clarinet, saxophone, guitar, flute, piano, trumpet, trombone, and possibly violin would probably be easiest.</p>
<p>Man...I tried violin for a year and I hated it.</p>
<p>But that was because I wanted to be in choir and my stupid school wouldn't let me. XD <em>shakes fist at school district</em></p>
<p>try saxophone</p>
<p>its easy and it works with jazz and concert band</p>
<p>there are also plenty of teachers out there for it</p>
<p>remember, if you're going to play in a school band, you're probably going to need to learn how to read music, if you can't already. some people find that easier than others.</p>
<p>Try playing an instrument that is not that popular in your band. Ask the teachers what instruments they need in the band, and you may have a better chance of getting a spot in it. For example, there's probably a lot of flute, alto sax, clarinet and trumpet players, but not as much tuba, euphonium or bari sax players.</p>
<p>Or piano? You don't need to blow or suck on it to get it to play and it's always in demand.</p>
<p>God that sounded dirty. But again, look into it. The only negative is actually GETTING a piano, gigantic monstrosities that they are.</p>
<p>
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For example, there's probably a lot of flute, alto sax, clarinet and trumpet players, but not as much tuba, euphonium or bari sax players.
[/QUOTE]
</p>
<p>That's true, but the sheer weight of tubas and euphoniums (euphonia?) overwhelms some beginners (not that I have personal experience, but based on testimony from others). They aren't particularly hard to play (once again, no personal experience), but bari sax sounds better. Even then, most people would generally recommend starting with alto and then progressing to bari.</p>
<p>So what instrument can I play in both Jazz, Concert band and the orchestra?
I though piano is useless in these band, correct me if I am wrong.</p>
<p>If you want to play in jazz band, concert band, and orchestra, try trumpet, trombone, saxophone, clarinet, or percussion.</p>
<p>no instrument is "easy to learn"
i've been playing sax for about five years, and i'm still nowhere near to perfection.
Listen to some records and find a sound that you like and learn to play that instrument.
work your ass of and you'll be fine.</p>
<p>My oboe player says saxophone is the easiest instrument, and he is backed up by his band teacher who told the class that. His friend who is over, the viola player, says trumpet is easiest.
Avoid the oboe, my son picked it because it represents a challenge.
Sax is played in all 3 types of bands. Trumpet also.</p>
<p>
[quote]
You don't need to blow or suck on it to get it to play
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lol</p>
<p>10 char</p>
<p>Basically, it would be a good idea to try saxophone unless you have an objection to it. Unfortunately, you do have to blow and suck on it to get it to play. If you don't like saxophone, try kazoo.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Clarinet, saxophone, guitar, flute, piano, trumpet, trombone, and possibly violin would probably be easiest.
[/quote]
Trombone is actually quite hard to learn because it has the same problem as string instruments, in that the intonation is very tricky, you really have to be able to hear the note in your head before you play it. This presented a special problem to me, as I have a hearing loss (pm me and I'll tell you my secret to getting around it). You can't just press down buttons and expect a fairly in tune note to come out. You have to listen and your slide positions tomorrow may not be exactly the same as they are today, or the same as they were yesterday.</p>
<p>IMHO, piano is the funnest instrument once you learn it...it's not too terribly hard to learn, but it's harder than most instruments to master.</p>
<p>Can I play piano in band and orchestra?
Since saxophone is easy, it must be many people playing it and it will be competitive, so for those of you playing sax, how long after you pick up this instrument you get the chance to play in the band or orchestra?</p>
<p>I thought saxes were practically verboten in orchestras? There's virtually no orchestral music w/ saxophone parts, or so I hear.</p>