 The Fingering Forum
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Author: Simon
Date: 1999-12-03 06:12
Hi, i currently play the drums (2 years) and the clarinet (5 years). I have decided that i would move on to another instrument. The thing is, I want to learn ALL the instruments, but i know that isnt possible (yet). I've narrowed my choices down to an alto sax, a trombone, trumpet, and oboe. Can you tell me what I should go for and why?
thanks.
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Author: Eoin
Date: 1999-12-03 07:55
The choice of instrument depends on three things:
Technical considerations
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The saxophone is certainly the closest to what you already know. It is a single reed instrument, so the embouchure is fairly close to the clarinet. The oboe is a double reed instrument, so it has a different way of holding the reed. It is generally considered to be quite a difficult instrument to play. Both the trombone and the trumpet are brass instruments. They work by making your lips buzz to produce the basic sound which resonates in the brass tube. This is totally different to a reed instrument. I've heard it said that this buzzing requires your lips to be very flexible, which interferes with your clarinet embouchure. So if you're serious about clarinet, forget brass. The trombone, although generally reckoned to be a fairly easy instrument to play, has an additional complication: there are no fixed stops to mark the position of notes, so you need a good sense of pitch (intonation) to be able to pick the right note, just as a singer or a violin player must do.
Intended use
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Are you going to join an orchestra, play in a night club, march in a band, etc? Obviously each instrument occupies a different niche in the music scene.
Personality
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Do you play along with other people, providing harmony to their tunes or do you have to be out there in front hogging the limelight? If you're the man in front, then the trumpet is the instrument for you. They're great for making lots of noise. The alto sax and oboe players would be more into making music as an equal member of a group with an occasional solo number. Finally, if you're content to sit in the back and play harmony and bass lines all day, then the trombone is a wonderful instrument.
Eoin
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Author: Patti
Date: 1999-12-05 13:54
Eoin gave a great response for helping to make a decision on a third instrument. I only wanted to add an factor to include: Are you involved in a marching band that uses primarily brass? Do you desire to audition for a drum and bugle corp - many performing corps travel through the summer from festival to festival in different states. If any of this applies then you would strongly consider a brass instrument. A saxophone can still be played in marching band, but some directors dictate a preference for all brass if possible. (Brass bands make a strong impact with audiences at football games or competitions)
Learning to play the clarinet and sax gives you more opportunities to play in dixieland or polka styles of music. All the members of the sax family, (alto, tenor, bari, and soprano) are extremely popular instruments right now. There are great music books with compact discs that allow you to play along with piano accompaniment, jazz combos, etc. You may hook up with other sax players later in life and have great jam sessions together.
I guess the only other factor to consider is the financing of an additional instrument. Does your school provide instruments or only those instruments that are unique like sousaphone or french horn. A quality beginner sax runs at least $800 retail and rental for 3 months can cost $90. Sax reeds are slightly more expensive than clarinet reeds and you will need a neck strap.
Finally, have you tried the other members of the clarinet family - like the alto or bass clarinet? If you like playing the bass clarinet lines, you might like the trombone or baritone because melody lines often mimic each other.
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Author: Boomer
Date: 1999-12-05 18:08
As a primary percussionist band director, I would suggest going to a brass instrument. If you want to learn all the instruments, as a clarinet player you can quickly apply that instrument to the entire woodwind family. Your percussion experience allows you to translate motion into musical expression, however, the concepts of partials and isometrics involved in playing a brass instrument would be different enough to be fun. I myself have a number of students crossing families for this very reason. Some how get in front of a trumpet, trombone, and tuba. Have a brass player explain the 'bronx cheer' and how to produce it (the buzz). Try to play three different pitches on each instrument (without using valves/slide). The instrument you are most comfortable with, go with for awhile. My secondary instrument is tuba/euphonium. However after awhile the trumpet came under my command (up to the 'e' above high 'c'). Next, I would suggest the viola. Its not as common as the violin which means even at a low playing level people will want you to be part of an orchestra.
Boomer
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Author: Brian Lim
Date: 2000-11-14 06:02
my friend choose the tenor saxophone, if you are a macho man you should try the tenro cause it is beyond the music range. it portrays your true self
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