How did you choose your instrument? Options

[louise1712]

Ever since hearing one of my friends play her clarinet at our first class music lesson at secondary school I was hooked and spent almost 20 years longing to play one. Just over three years ago I was in the position to be able to buy an instrument and take lessons (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I've recently also been able to try another instrument I'd wanted to have a go at for a long time, the oboe, not sure how long this journey will continue for though, will depend on how long I can have the instrument for for the timebeing.

[lottie]

I have a history of various instruments going back to childhood none of which I chose myself. My first love though was the piano but I haven't played one for over 20 years (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

I now exclusively play the Viola (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) And I chose it - love at first sight/hearing.


I was learning to play the violin a few years ago and enjoying it well enough. One day my teacher showed me the viola she had just had made by commission from a local luthier. Bravely, she let me play a few notes on it.

Well.... THAT SOUND!!! I can't describe it - it just sent shivers up my spine and I was IN LOVE (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) After that it was ALL I wanted to play and although I sometimes play intermittently due to other commitments I finally feel I have found THE instrument for me (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

Have I gushed enough? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

[anacrusis]

Piano? Well, it's the middle-class curriculum syndrome (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)
Oboe? Mum said I could add a second instrument, an orchestral one maybe. I asked for trumpet and she was appalled, offering clarinet, oboe or flute instead. Didn't like the sound of either clarinet or flute that much, opted for oboe....and sounded substantially worse than a trumpet for a very long time (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif).

Then the recorder and I chose each other by mutual agreement. My oboe'd broken, I was a student with no access to any regular piano-playing opportunities, I could only afford a recorder......and discovered that wow, I can actually learn to play this thing. The power I'd acquired in learning the oboe had to be rechannelled into proper support, the finger dexterity was also already there, and at the same time I didn't need to put so much energy into sound production. Bliss (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif). I was given twenty one of the new one pound coins for my 21st birthday, kept on squirreling any other pounds I got until I had enough, and splashed out on a decent treble, and it (eventually) took off from there (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif).

[Tenor Viol]

I have a history of various instruments going back to childhood none of which I chose myself. My first love though was the piano but I haven't played one for over 20 years (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

I now exclusively play the Viola (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) And I chose it - love at first sight/hearing.


I was learning to play the violin a few years ago and enjoying it well enough. One day my teacher showed me the viola she had just had made by commission from a local luthier. Bravely, she let me play a few notes on it.

Well.... THAT SOUND!!! I can't describe it - it just sent shivers up my spine and I was IN LOVE (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) After that it was ALL I wanted to play and although I sometimes play intermittently due to other commitments I finally feel I have found THE instrument for me (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

Have I gushed enough? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

So, just maybe, you might, at a push, find the viola to be an acceptable alternative to the violin? I wasn't sure as you seemed to be prevaricating (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

[Arundodonuts]

I have a history of various instruments going back to childhood none of which I chose myself. My first love though was the piano but I haven't played one for over 20 years (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

I now exclusively play the Viola (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) And I chose it - love at first sight/hearing.


I was learning to play the violin a few years ago and enjoying it well enough. One day my teacher showed me the viola she had just had made by commission from a local luthier. Bravely, she let me play a few notes on it.

Well.... THAT SOUND!!! I can't describe it - it just sent shivers up my spine and I was IN LOVE (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) After that it was ALL I wanted to play and although I sometimes play intermittently due to other commitments I finally feel I have found THE instrument for me (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

Have I gushed enough? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

So, just maybe, you might, at a push, find the viola to be an acceptable alternative to the violin? I wasn't sure as you seemed to be prevaricating (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

The viola isn't a substitute for anything. It's a grown up violin (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

[Tenor Viol]

I have a history of various instruments going back to childhood none of which I chose myself. My first love though was the piano but I haven't played one for over 20 years (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

I now exclusively play the Viola (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) And I chose it - love at first sight/hearing.


I was learning to play the violin a few years ago and enjoying it well enough. One day my teacher showed me the viola she had just had made by commission from a local luthier. Bravely, she let me play a few notes on it.

Well.... THAT SOUND!!! I can't describe it - it just sent shivers up my spine and I was IN LOVE (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) After that it was ALL I wanted to play and although I sometimes play intermittently due to other commitments I finally feel I have found THE instrument for me (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

Have I gushed enough? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

So, just maybe, you might, at a push, find the viola to be an acceptable alternative to the violin? I wasn't sure as you seemed to be prevaricating (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

The viola isn't a substitute for anything. It's a grown up violin (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

Now if you want an instrument that is the full size for that pitch you need a tenor viol: it sits on your lap between your knees, uses same C3 alto clef, has 6 stings with bottom string being a 4th below viola on G... what more could you want?

[Arundodonuts]

I have a history of various instruments going back to childhood none of which I chose myself. My first love though was the piano but I haven't played one for over 20 years (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

I now exclusively play the Viola (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) And I chose it - love at first sight/hearing.


I was learning to play the violin a few years ago and enjoying it well enough. One day my teacher showed me the viola she had just had made by commission from a local luthier. Bravely, she let me play a few notes on it.

Well.... THAT SOUND!!! I can't describe it - it just sent shivers up my spine and I was IN LOVE (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) After that it was ALL I wanted to play and although I sometimes play intermittently due to other commitments I finally feel I have found THE instrument for me (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

Have I gushed enough? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

So, just maybe, you might, at a push, find the viola to be an acceptable alternative to the violin? I wasn't sure as you seemed to be prevaricating (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

The viola isn't a substitute for anything. It's a grown up violin (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

Now if you want an instrument that is the full size for that pitch you need a tenor viol: it sits on your lap between your knees, uses same C3 alto clef, has 6 stings with bottom string being a 4th below viola on G... what more could you want?

Ah but....... What gives the viola it's particular gorgeous sound quality is the fact that the body is actually too small.

[clariflutegal]

First instrument as many others quoted - recorder. I remember there being several learning groups and quick as a flash I was in the advanced group, being only about Year 3, along with my brother (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) and other Year 6's (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Not sure how I got into playing the clarinet, I think I heard someone else in my year was having lessons and I fancied having a go (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I remember, not sure how, it taking a few attempts to get a note but I managed it! My first lesson, my "audition" comprised of, "play E", then "play D", then "play C" and I got lessons (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) at that time, I think the first couple of years were free, and then about a tenner a term thereafter. I progressed to doing Grades 1 and 2 at primary school and did Grades 3, 4, and 5 at secondary school. I stupidly missed out on doing my Grade 7 in my last couple of years of school to concentrate on my GCSE Music. Same happened at college. Looking back, I wish I'd done it at school as A Level Music was so much more difficult than GCSE!

Before leaving school, I remember being interested in the flute and so asked my mum about getting me one. Once I did my GCSE's she bought me a second hand Boosey and Hawkes one, really good at about ?95. Anyway, I naively thought with a scale book and a few nice books here and there, I could teach myself how to play it, and so I played it every now and again, probably avoiding it for a year, 18 months at a time! Then I was on Facebook one day and someone mentioned about having bought a flute and wanting lessons and so a friend of mine offered, and so this piqued my interest and so I asked her about them and after having a flute for 8 years I finally started to have lessons! After playing through a few different pieces she thought I was Grade 3 standard already but I started looking through Grade 4 music and took the plunge in doing my Grade 4 this term, after only having lessons since September! I'm hoping to do Grade 5 but if I'm to do it under my current teacher I need to do it next term, she leaves for uni in September/October!

I still wish I'd started having flute lessons sooner, and perhaps taking up the saxophone, and piano. But it's never too late (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[alcie-ruth]

I started playing the recorder at primary school, I seemed to be able to play the descant recorder quite easily so I was given a treble recorder. I kept up playing until I went off to secondary school, then I got back into it when I realised how much I loved Baroque and Renaissance music. I got a wooden treble for my 22nd birthday and a wooden descant for my 23rd.

My mum played the piano when she was younger and when we used to visit my grandparents I used to try and play the piano. Finally at around 8 my parents said I could have lessons and my grandparents piano was brought up to our house. I continued with that until I was 18 but A-levels got in the way and I never passed my grade 8, over the last few years I've started playing recreationally and I intend on taking my grade 8 within the next few years.

After playing the piano for a year my primary school offered some of us the opportunity to take up either flute or clarinet. I liked the sound of the clarinet so decided I wanted to play that. Fortunately I was allowed and I fell in love with it. I am now at the stage where I want to teach other people so I'm looking to doing my teaching diploma.

I then had a brief fling with the guitar, self-taught during my teens, in a few bands that got nowhere as guitarist and bass guitarist but nothing serious.

My sister started learning to play the flute but gave up after a few years. Last year I offered her some money for her flute and she told me to just have it, so I started teaching myself. I think I need to get a teacher now, but I can't afford it at the minute. I would estimate I'm about grade 5/6 at the minute based on the music I like playing.

Finally, my most recent instrument: the viola. I was trying to come up with a way of raising some money for a good cause, I came up with a physical challenge I will undertake next year (Three Peaks Challenge) and I wanted an arts related challenge. Someone suggested a grade-1-a-thon so I had a think about what instruments I would like to learn to play, and could learn to play cheaply. I went through my list of friends from music college Saturday school to see what they all played. I didn't want to learn to play a woodwind instrument because people might think that was too similar to the instruments I already play, so it was either brass or string. I wanted it to be a proper challenge, I have 4 months to learn to play it. So I came across a guy I was friendly with who played the viola, he lives near me and learning an instrument that uses a different clef to any of the others I'm used to playing added to the challenge, so I got my viola on valentine's day and fell in love with it. My grade-1-a-thon has now become at least a grade-2-a-thon and we shall see what happens in the next month as to whether it becomes a grade-3-a-thon.

[billyboy]

Born into a brass band family, and fell in love with the euphonium at an early age what a majestic sound when in a good players hands, the euph is the tenor of the band, became a decent player over the years but not premier league status still get hairs standing up on my neck when I hear the top players on cd etc, stopped playing myself some years ago because of chronic lung problems. Now tinkle on the ivories doing my grade 4 piano in session B.

[Invidia]

Everyone was taught recorder in my primary school and I fell in love with music but hated the sound of the recorder.

Then I started violin because I loved the sound of it but lost interest when it didn't sound like that in my hands (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

Then I started the oboe because two of my friends were starting it. I quit because my teacher detested boys and it was a group lesson with me and two girls who got all of the praise whereas she just moaned at me. She also made me lend them my oboe if they forgot to bring theirs to school but sent me back to class if I ever forgot mine. (As you have probably guessed, it was an ordeal and a half).

A flautist friend of my parents then came round one evening and let me try to blow her flute (oh my!) and I got a sound out of it straight away and shocked everyone so I pretty much started it because I thought I could be good at it (looking back it was obviously somewhat parent-influenced). I don't play it that much anymore but that was the first one I didn't give up

Keyboard I learned because my sister was learning it and she was too young for my parents to feel comfortable sending her to lessons alone so we had joint ones. My sister got bored (being more inclined to art and drama), then I discovered piano music and gave up keyboard and the rest is history really.

[barry-clari]

Then I started the oboe because two of my friends were starting it. I quit because my teacher detested boys and it was a group lesson with me and two girls who got all of the praise whereas she just moaned at me. She also made me lend them my oboe if they forgot to bring theirs to school but sent me back to class if I ever forgot mine. (As you have probably guessed, it was an ordeal and a half).

Off topic I know, but I hope that teacher was found out and disciplined : how unprofessional...

[Geranium]

Started piano lessons at age 9, because two of my friends were doing it. Wasn't ready, didn't practice, and got so stressed about it I had to have tablets to calm me down...

Shortly afterwards, got a wooden recorder. Can't remember why - we weren't doing it in school. Worked through through the two first instruction books and taught myself. Later bought a treble recorder and did the same thing. Was very enthusiastic, and acquired all the initial musical theory which was so useful later.

At 13, was offered an instrument from school. I asked for clarinet, but for some reason was offered a violin (I think it depended on what was in the school cupboard at the time!). Took it up and passed Grade 2 in short order.

Flushed with enthusiasm, then took up piano again as well. This time I loved it. By O-levels I'd passed Grade 5 in both piano and violin.

I think it was all down to being ready (or not) for each instrument at the time.

And from the point of view of playing in an orchestra, the violin offers more opportunities (numerically) than a wind instrument would have done!

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