How to Choose a Musical Instrument to Play

The ability to play a musical instrument is very fulfilling. There are no regrets. Choose an instrument and start learning.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Music Stands
• Jazz CDs
• Symphony Tickets
• Sheet Music
• Classical Music CDs
• Concert Tickets

1. Expose yourself or your child to the different instruments in the families of strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion.

2. Attend local band or orchestra concerts with a knowledgeable friend. Bring your child. Talk afterwards about what was seen and heard.

3. Listen to the timbres of different musical instruments and the different musical pieces and styles in which they are featured.

4. Consider your physical restrictions when choosing an instrument. Some instruments, such as the sousaphone, may be too heavy or too large for a petite person, and some instruments may require longer fingers or certain facial dexterity.

5. Have a professional music instructor help you analyze your potential. A professional will be able to assess facial, physical and even personal characteristics that may affect your choice of instrument.

6. Set a budget for your musical instrument. Some instruments, such as French horn, tuba, bassoon and oboe, may be a bit on the pricey side, but school instrumental music departments usually have a small number of these instruments in their inventories.

7. Try playing a few instruments by borrowing one from a friend, relative or acquaintance. Aptitude can be discovered this way.

8. Keep your lifestyle in mind. If you intend to move around quite a bit or have very little space in your apartment, a grand piano or harp is not the best choice, whereas a guitar, clarinet or trombone is portable.

9. Consider the social aspect. Band and orchestral instruments allow a person to participate in small and large performing groups. Piano can be rather isolating. Make a choice that gives you pleasure.

Tips & Warnings

• Music instructors may allow promising students the free use of school instruments.
• Music departments from your public school district and at local colleges and universities are an excellent resource for getting answers from qualified professionals.
• Private instruction is perhaps the best way to learn to play a musical instrument, but joining a band or ensemble will also speed your learning.
• Begin instrumental music study at the earliest age possible. A student who has had exposure to good music instruction - in a church or community choir or even at home - will most likely be able to pick up an instrument quite rapidly.
• Piano provides the basic musical preparation for a secondary and portable instrument.
• Switching to a different instrument within the same "family," such as brass, is easy and very common.
• When you're ready to purchase a musical instrument, the Internet is a great place to find discounts. Online classified websites, like Craigslist.org, often advertise used musical instruments. For discounts on new musical instruments, browse musical instrument deals on Deals.com.

[dreergeekhr]

on 10/9/2008 sorry about this comment it was to long

on 8/29/2007 Someone said not to play a wind instrument if you have braces - this doesn't matter. I learned to play oboe with braces for 2 years, and once they were taken off, I found I had an advantage over the other player as it was so much easier! Now after 5 years I really enjoy playing, although it was a challenge for a while. The point is, don't be discouraged from certain instruments because of something temporary. Try the instrument out, stick with it if you like it, and you might find it's worth it.

on 8/8/2006 Something to consider when picking an instrument to play is what musical genres you enjoy. Most of us would do this subconsciously, anyway, but there are certain instruments that are associated with certain musical styles.

Due to the popularity of rock music, many teenagers start out playing guitar, or bass or drums.

If you enjoy blues, consider the above instruments plus harmonica, piano, etc.

Like jazz? Saxophone, stand-up bass, piano, and many others are typical of jazz.

Classical obviously provides many different traditional instruments from a wide range of groups - strings, woodwinds.

on 8/8/2006 If you are in school when you are picking your instrument, like I was, don't choose one that all of your friends are playing. Pick one that you really want to learn how to play.

on 8/8/2006 I have been playing tuba for 5 years and trombone for 3. Picking an air instrument helps your breathing, which can affect other things as well, such as weightlifting or nerves. The problem with the forte-piano is that you have to focus on two different tunes at once because you are using two hands. On any wind instrument you only play one note at a time. The point is that wind instruments help you more than others. The only setback there might be is that some instruments are large to carry (like the tuba or baritone sax), but they are a lot more portable that a piano or large harp. Another setback might be that if you choose a low instrument it will be harder to learn treble clef, but I think the pro's outweigh the con's.