Pay the Piper
What instrument should I play?
Things to ask yourself
.....
• what instrument do I really fancy?
• what instrument do my friends play? - playing with others is
more fun, and if you have your lesson in a group you can often learn
faster than if you were on your own
• what kinds of tuition are available in my school? -
school-based tuition is often cheaper than private tuition
• does my school offer free or cheap instrument loans? what
kinds of orchestras or bands are common in my area? If you live in a
place where there are lots of brass bands, it would make more sense to
take up the trombone than the violin, for instance
• how big is the instrument? Can I carry it, or will I need my
parents to transport me in the car all the time?
• what instruments can I afford to buy, or rent? Some
instruments are really expensive, but if you can afford it there's an
advantage to playing something no-one else does!
Instruments are divided into "families" - string, woodwind,
brass and percussion. Each family offers certain drawbacks and
advantages ....
Strings
Orchestral string instruments are good if you want to play in an
orchestra (well, obviously!). Few orchestras can get enough of them,
which is to your advantage. The main orchestral instruments in the
string family are the Violin, the Viola, the Cello and the Double
Bass. On the non-orchestral side the most popular string instrument is
the guitar in all its forms - classical guitar, folk guitar, Spanish
guitar, electric guitar and electric bass guitar.
• the Violin can be started at a very early age and it doesn't
cost as much as most other instruments. Later on it offers excellent
opportunities to play with other people as orchestras need an awful
lot of violinists. It's of little use in wind bands, brass bands, jazz
bands or rock groups (although on the commercial music scene there has
been an upsurge of interest in the Violin lately, often using Electric
Violins. These aren't any easier to play and are not suitable
instruments for beginners, though)
• the Viola can be started at a very early age and it doesn't
cost as much as most other instruments. Later on it offers really
excellent opportunities to play with other people as orchestras are
always short of violists. It's of little use in wind bands, brass
bands, jazz bands or rock groups
• the Cello can be started at a very early age and, while
expensive compared to the Violin or Viola, it costs no more than many
woodwind or brass instruments. Later on it offers excellent
opportunities to play with other people as orchestras need an awful
lot of cellists. It's of little use in wind bands, brass bands, jazz
bands or rock groups
• the Double Bass can be started at an early age if you can get
a small enough instrument, but is usually started at age 12-or-so or
even later. It's a very suitable instrument for those who play a
non-orchestral instrument (say, the piano) and want to adopt a "second
instrument". It is fairly expensive. Later on it offers excellent
opportunities to play with other people as orchestras are always short
of bassists. It can be used in wind bands, jazz bands and sometimes in
rock groups. It is exceptionally difficult to transport and will make
heavy demands on the "parental taxi service"
• Guitars can be cheap to buy. Classical guitar is difficult,
Folk Guitar is not so hard. The Electric Guitar can be used in jazz or
rock groups and sometimes in wind bands. The Classical Guitar does not
offer good opportunities to play in groups - it's too quiet.
Woodwind
Among all instruments the Flute and Clarinet are the most popular
with young people, which is a good reason to steer clear of them,
lovely instruments though they are. The Oboe and Bassoon (and
Saxophone to a lesser extent) are a better bet because fewer people
play them.
• the Flute is reasonably inexpensive, can be started at age 10
or so, but is incredibly popular which is a drawback when it comes to
finding a place in an orchestra or band. It can be used for
orchestras, wind bands and some jazz bands but not brass bands or
(usually) rock groups
• the Oboe is quite expensive. It can be started at age 11 or
so, and is not particularly popular which is an advantage when it
comes to finding a place in an orchestra or band. It can be used for
orchestras or wind bands but not jazz bands, brass bands or rock
groups
• the Clarinet is reasonably inexpensive, can be started at age
10 or so, but is very popular which is a drawback when it comes to
finding a place in an orchestra or band. It can be used for
orchestras, wind bands and some jazz bands but not brass bands or
(usually) rock groups
• the Bassoon is very expensive, can be started at age 12 or so,
and is quite rare which is a big advantage when it comes to finding a
place in an orchestra or band. It can be used for orchestras or wind
bands but not jazz bands, brass bands or rock groups. It is fairly
large and heavy
• the Saxophone is quite expensive, but in its smaller sizes can
be started at age 10 or so. It is popular but not so much that you
will have difficulty finding a place in a band. It can be used for
orchestras only rarely, and is most useful in wind bands and jazz
bands and some rock groups, but not brass bands
Brass
With the exception of the Trumpet, brass instruments are in a bit of
a "trough" at the moment - more young people are choosing
the Flute or the Clarinet. This is a shame, as brass instruments are
versatile, need not be ridiculously expensive, and are not
particularly difficult to start. We particularly recommend the
Trombone which is becoming a bit of a rarity in some areas - we don't
know why.
• the Trumpet or Cornet is reasonably inexpensive, can be
started at age 10 or so, but is quite popular which is a drawback when
it comes to finding a place in an orchestra or band. The Trumpet can
be used for orchestras, wind bands, jazz bands, brass bands and some
rock groups. The Cornet can do the same things and play the same
music, but is really at home in the brass band
• the French Horn is quite expensive and difficult to play. It
can be started at age 11 or so, but it is not uncommon to transfer to
the Horn from other brass instruments at a later age. There are never
enough Horn players around which is an advantage when it comes to
finding a place in an orchestra or band. It can be used for
orchestras, wind bands, some brass bands but not jazz bands or rock
groups
• the Trombone is reasonably priced, can be started at age 10 or
so, and is not at the moment very popular which is an advantage when
it comes to finding a place in an orchestra or band. It is very
versatile and can be used in orchestras, wind bands, jazz bands, brass
bands and some rock groups. It is bulky to carry
• the Tuba is very expensive, and can be started at age 11 or so
although many players start on another brass instrument like the Tenor
Horn or Euphonium and transfer later on. There are rarely enough Tuba
players which is an advantage when it comes to finding a place in an
orchestra or band. It can be used for orchestras, wind bands, brass
bands and some jazz bands, but not rock groups. It is bulky and heavy
• there are other types of brass instrument such as the
Euphonium or the Flugel Horn, mainly of interest if you live in an
area where brass bands are popular. See the page
"Other Brass".
Percussion
• strangely, the Piano is a percussion instrument. It is the
most versatile instrument of all, finding a place in almost every type
of music at some time or other. It is expensive to buy and cannot be
transported. Playing it can be a solitary pursuit until you are a
pretty advanced player.
