If you could start again ..., ... which instrument(s) would you have picked! Options

[corenfa]

I don't know how you can do a poll that lets you choose more than 1 option (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Flossie - I think a lot of people end up playing instruments they don't really want through school music services. For some reason they seem to think "a cello is a big violin" or "we haven't got an oboe, erm, a clarinet is black with silver keywork and has a reed" etc. etc.

I did exactly that- I ended up playing alto horn in school band then "proper" (French) horn, but I did grow to love the instrument. Reason I ended up on horn - couldn't make a sound on any of the other instruments on offer, teacher looked at me and said, I think you can play horn (!)

[Hooplah]

I'd still of picked the Cello, just rather it had been 30 years earlier, instead of hop-scotching my way through various brass and the guitar.

If I had to pick any other instrument, it would be the Oboe.

[Flossie]

I don't know how you can do a poll that lets you choose more than 1 option (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Flossie - I think a lot of people end up playing instruments they don't really want through school music services. For some reason they seem to think "a cello is a big violin" or "we haven't got an oboe, erm, a clarinet is black with silver keywork and has a reed" etc. etc.

I did exactly that- I ended up playing alto horn in school band then "proper" (French) horn, but I did grow to love the instrument. Reason I ended up on horn - couldn't make a sound on any of the other instruments on offer, teacher looked at me and said, I think you can play horn (!)

What's an alto horn? I've never heard of one of those. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

[Tixylix]

I picked piano, because I started the violin at 8 and the piano at about 13 and I wish in hindsight I'd started with piano because I love the piano so much more and don't really like the violin, or maybe started off with viola rather than violin. I don't regret playing the violin, but if I'd started the piano earlier I'd probably be working on a diploma now rather than Grade 8. Still better late than never!

In a way I suppose it's better than I started the piano later, because now I intend to teach and I think it'll be good to be able to show that you don't have to start at the age of 3 in order to be any good and to have a career in music.

[sbhoa]

I don't know how you can do a poll that lets you choose more than 1 option (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Flossie - I think a lot of people end up playing instruments they don't really want through school music services. For some reason they seem to think "a cello is a big violin" or "we haven't got an oboe, erm, a clarinet is black with silver keywork and has a reed" etc. etc.

I did exactly that- I ended up playing alto horn in school band then "proper" (French) horn, but I did grow to love the instrument. Reason I ended up on horn - couldn't make a sound on any of the other instruments on offer, teacher looked at me and said, I think you can play horn (!)

What's an alto horn? I've never heard of one of those. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

Is it another name for tenor horn?

[corenfa]

I don't know how you can do a poll that lets you choose more than 1 option (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Flossie - I think a lot of people end up playing instruments they don't really want through school music services. For some reason they seem to think "a cello is a big violin" or "we haven't got an oboe, erm, a clarinet is black with silver keywork and has a reed" etc. etc.

I did exactly that- I ended up playing alto horn in school band then "proper" (French) horn, but I did grow to love the instrument. Reason I ended up on horn - couldn't make a sound on any of the other instruments on offer, teacher looked at me and said, I think you can play horn (!)

What's an alto horn? I've never heard of one of those. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

Having looked it up - it's the same as tenor horn, here. It was called E-flat alto horn in all of the band music we played but that was all American, and it's called alto horn there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alto_horn

[Barry Toner]

I was "given" piano lessons at a young age, but never got on with them as I can't move my hands independently (I still can't (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif) ).

I did learn the recorder at junior school and did well with that. When I sang in Bach St Matthew Passion in my 20's and heard the oboe obligato in "I would beside my Lord", I knew that was the instrument for me. This was the days before wife and children, so I bought one. I have never regretted that, even though it needs regular practice to keep any sort of stamina in the lip.

Since retiring six months ago, I have given it the time and concentration it deserves and am sure I don't regret the decision. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[TSax]

Trumpet

It's practical as an instrument - not prohibitively expensive, fairly robust, easily transportable

...and you can play it in just about any genre of music (except maybe heavy metal and guitar rock) - classical, orchestral, brass band, big band, jazz, funk, soul, pop

it sounds pretty cool too, even as a sax player Miles Davis is one of my idols, not just because he was at the forefront of many of the movements in jazz since the 50s, but also because his playing is so beautiful. His trumpet really becomes his voice and he has something to say and it's worth listening to.

It's more difficult to play than sax though, so maybe I made the right choice after all.

[I'd also love to be able to play double bass, but I'd hate to have to cart it round on the tube]

[lottie]

I have chosen viola which is what I play just now. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)


I have played a lot of instruments over the years: piano, clarinet (briefly as a professional), flute, oboe, violin but I see now that the viola utterly suits my personality and if I'd heard one played well when I was younger we may have 'joined up' sooner. I have played clarinet in a LOT of orchestras over the years too and I KNOW I would have been happier in the viola section.

With hindsight this may have happened as a child because I started violin lessons when I was six but HATED it because of the really nasty teacher I had. I remember screaming the house down in order to give up (because my parents were seriously forceful about it!) and the compromise was the piano which I did love as a teenager.

However, no point in regrets - I'm in love with my music now again which is lovely (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

[oldnotes]

I would have chosen three. First piano, second classical guitar, third cello. I do play/have played the first two, but never a cello.

[kenm]

What's an alto horn? I've never heard of one of those. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

Having looked it up - it's the same as tenor horn, here. It was called E-flat alto horn in all of the band music we played but that was all American, and it's called alto horn there.

We in the UK are the odd ones out. The French, Italians, Germans and Spanish all consider it the contralto member of the saxhorn family.

Similarly:
Baritone horn (UK) = Tenor horn(US)

[sbhoa]

Trumpet

I much prefer cornet. My brass band roots. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

What's an alto horn? I've never heard of one of those. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

Having looked it up - it's the same as tenor horn, here. It was called E-flat alto horn in all of the band music we played but that was all American, and it's called alto horn there.

We in the UK are the odd ones out. The French, Italians, Germans and Spanish all consider it the contralto member of the saxhorn family.

Similarly:
Baritone horn (UK) = Tenor horn(US)

Isn't it generally the brass band instrument where the french horn is orchestral?

[Mad Tom]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/howDoYouDo.gif)

What a great excuse to use some smileys (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

The problem with the piano (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piano.gif) is that you can't (easily) carry one around with you, and it is becoming rarer and rarer to find a good piano in any likely venue (community centres, pubs, restaurants, even schools ...)

However I already play one of the most portable of instruments (harmonica/blues harp), and have just started to learn another that can be carried without too much trouble (guitar (IMG:style_emoticons/default/guitar.gif) ). The attraction of the guitar is that (like the piano) it can make complete polyphonic music all by itself. But it is less intimidating than the piano. A much more friendly instrument to bring out towards the end of a party.

I did not enjoy the viola (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sadvio.gif) , and chickened out of buying a Saxophone (even though I should have a head start there from once spending a couple of years with the clarinet (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clarinet.gif) ).

But starting again, I would learn to SING (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sing.gif) properly. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chorale.gif) You always have your voice with you.

[schraeubchen]

I choosed cello, because that is the instrument I would have loved to learn as a child. Financial issues where (as far as my parents told me) the reason why I wasn't allowed to.
The funny thing is, one of my elder brothers did learn the violin and would have picked the cello to if he would have had the chance.

After I started to learn the flute for several years, I played the trumpet for a while (in the brass band of the church) and got some advice on the cello from a friend (not a teacher and even younger than me), but I had no instrument to practice and thatfor it didn't make any sense.
Then I learned to play the piano for three years, but today I would say I can't play at all.
And later I learned to play tenor saxophon for a while.

If I could have voted for more than one instrument, I would have also voted for

church organ (the queen of instruments)
oboe (maybe because Bach wrote so many beautiful parts for the oboe in his works)
bassoon (because I like the sound of it and it would be more easy to get into an orchester with this)

[Cyrilla]

But starting again, I would learn to SING (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sing.gif) properly. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chorale.gif) You always have your voice with you.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)