<p>^Yeah, there are, especially in more modern music. Where there isn't, school orchestras will generally have saxophones double on clarinet (tenor, alto) or bassoon (bari).</p>
<p>
[QUOTE]
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?
[/QUOTE]
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<ol>
<li>No, pianos are generally not in the standard instrumentation for orchestra or band, but there are many exceptions. Piano concerti usually have orchestral accompaniment, too.</li>
<li>Saxophone is more competitive than, say, english horn, but less than piano, trumpet, clarinet, or violin.</li>
</ol>
<p>
[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.
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<p>I've heard that too, especially that it was difficult to play very quickly, but it's still easier than oboe, bass, or viola.</p>
<p>For all of you who say sax is easy--yeah, it's easy to get a sound out of the instrument, but it's just as hard as any other instrument to make that sound into music. Any wind instrument could potentially take years to master because it's hard to develop the embrochure in just a few months.</p>
<p>Flute is actually hard to play because of the sheer amount of airflow needed (which rivals the amount needed for tuba). Any brass instrument (i.e. trumpet, french horn, trombone, baritone, tuba) is hard to pick up because you need to make notes with your lips, rather than just pressing down keys. Sax and clarinet are both good options for beginners, but don't expect to be able to play in band in just a few months (unless you start taking private lessons).</p>
<p>Well, of course nobody would expect to master the instrument in such a short time, but compared to virtually every other major instrument, sax is easier to play.</p>
<p>i'm not exactly "musically inclined," but i thought learning to play the trombone, piano, and guitar (i learned guitar when i was 15/16) wasn't extremely difficult.</p>
<p>Contrary to what some have said, I believe it's easier to learn to play new instruments as one gets older. It's not exactly like learning a foreign language, where a whole new thought process is required. Yes, you have to learn the details of your instrument, but the music is the same.</p>
<p>Most students that play piano start when they're very young. Usually this means 5 or 6 years old. However, I didn't start until I was 12. I can play as well or better than many of these students that started when they were young, because I've been engaged the whole time (it was my choice, not my parents' choice) and I could read music very well when I started learning. If you already know something about the way music works, you're well on your way to learning to play a new instrument.</p>