Any ideas about what instrument to focus on for a schoolteacher learning music from scratch? I never learned to read music, sing or play an instrument as a kid. At work, I see a lot of my colleagues singing, playing instruments, as well as my pupils, and it has motivated me, at the age of 33, to plug that gap in my knowledge. Currently teaching myself the basics of music reading and taking basic lessons on the viola to see if that instrument suits me.

Obviously, I'm doing this for my own enjoyment, but I'd be interested to hear what sort of instruments other people working in schools play. I sometimes wonder whether learning a 'school' instrument, like the recorder, would be an idea, or whether to stick with an orchestral instrument.

Music is a new world which is just starting to open up for me, and no one instrument jumps out and says 'play me!'. In practical terms, cello or viola would be better, but then I visit the music shop, and have variously considered the mandolin, banjo, double bass, clarinet and sax.

My listening tastes are 70s/80s rock, overlaid with lots of ambient, bits of classical (generally 19th & 20th c. - Elgar, Britten, Gershwin, Prokofiev, Mussorgsky...), Jazz, Bluegrass and world music. I have wide-ranging tastes, but obviously very poor understanding of different musical traditions. There's no 1 clear choice of instrument.

Apologies if the post seems rather naive - in this case, absolute beginner means just that...

Thanks a lot,

Tatman

Hi there,

Not at all naive.

I'd normally say whatever instrument takes your fancy, but your post seems to suggest that you're just starting to take note of all the wonderful instruments and styles of music you might like to play.

Personal experience tells me that doing a year or so of piano is a good way to get started.(I play 'cello and some piano). Most string teachers prefer any pupil who comes to them to have had some piano lessons first.

There are reasons for this.
1. You will learn to read the two most commonly used clefs: treble and bass
2. It's easier to get a decent sound out of more quickly than many other instrument.
3. The keys on the piano don't move. There will be no frustration when trying to find any note. It'll be exactly where you left it before (Intonation is a major issue for most string players; you always have to find the first note before you can started !)
4. It's easier to understand intervals etc when you can actually see something tangible (the notes) in front of you.
Basically, the piano makes for an easier visual representation of the theory you will need to get to grips with.
In addition, the instrument lends itself to most styles of playing - jazz, classical, pop, rock whatever....

I know the piano is a large beast and you can't exactly carry it around, (believe me that can be a bonus), but there are some decent small digital pianos out there to get started on.

I think having done that you'd be in a more knowledgeable position and could then think of transferring the skills you'd have acquired to a different instrument. You'll find that most musicians have some keyboard skills, whatever their main instrument is. It's pretty much essential.

One word of warning (viola jokes aside ), the viola is a beautiful sounding instrument but you will learn to play/read in alto clef which is a little more unusual. With treble and bass, you'll find it easier to follow scores, and read piano reductions etc. and to transfer your reading skills to other instrument.

You've already mentioned voice......definitely easy to carry around ( ). Guitar of course. A fretted string instrument is arguably easier to get to grips with more immediately than an unfretted one.

If you are thinking of the sociable opportunities music playing offers , things like guitar and violin will transfer to folk settings as well as pop/rock gigs. In terms of orchestral strings, the 'cello may be an easier alternative than the violin, physically speaking, because of the spacing of the notes on the fingerboard. (Adult fingers on a tiny fingerboard without any prior training can be a frustrating experience).

Lots to think about I suppose. I'm sure other will have more to add. The main thing is though....Enjoy it and have fun with it . Whatever 'it' turns out to be.

All the best
iona

Further to Iona's comment I would also recommend a piano, although perhaps consider buying a good digital piano with full 88 keyboard to lower cost, and to get a better deal than an old piano. Suggest a Yamaha P90/120/250 for compactness, low cost, and great 'grand-piano' feel keys.

Or given your wide music taste, take a look at the Korg Triton Extreme 88 key music workstation. Not just a piano sound but zillions more thrown in to help you create music. And a proper grand piano feel keyboard as for the Yamahas.

The guitar is also a good idea, but having just picked one up after many years of non playing, you need to be prepared to toughen up the ends of your fingers. Those steel strings really bite (slice) into you!

Good luck with whatever you go for. But go for something and enjoy.

Richard
Hong Kong

PS. A chromatic harmonica is also not bad for learning on. And goes well with training your ear/voice/lungs too.

I would say whatever instrument you feel attracted to. This may be because of the sound or even the look of it or some other reason.
Or maybe your choice may be determined by available teachers in your area or the cost of the instrument?
Of course a piano playing teacher is always in demand... but it may take a little while to get to the 'useful' stage.

Given your taste in music, you might also want to look at the guitar. I don't play the piano, but do sing, play the guitar and the cello, a bit of trombone, and used to play the violin. I've never had a teacher look at me askew for want of ivory tickling abilities.

Hi tatman, and welcome to the forums. And to music-making generally

In terms of choosing an instrument to start with, go for what appeals to you the most. But if you absolutely can't decide, I'd suggest start with singing. Cheapest equipment going . And it helps develop your sense of pitch, which is then transferrable to other instruments. Not only that, but the chance to make music socially comes a lot earlier into your skills (orchestras - with a few honourable exceptions - tend to want a fair bit of experience before you join, but you can quite often find beginner choirs to sing with).


Of course, I'm a bit biased - I'm a singer! But singing is fun, and a good way to get into music.

Anyway, one way of making a decision is to have a listen to all sorts of instruments being played. And talk to the players about their instruments and repertoire, either among your school colleagues or by coming to a Forums event - for example the Adult Learners' Concert on 18th February . Click here for details.

Whatever you decide, enjoy your music-making, and keep us posted on how it's going.

Cheers

katyjay

I'd agree with katyjay to play something that appeals. From what you've said, you don't have a clear cut "I really want to play *that*", but play something that you like the sound of and think you will enjoy rather than something that you think you "should" play.

Singing is a good bet in terms of outlay on equipment, as katyjay says beyond that, keep trying out instruments to see if anything suddenly "clicks", and listen to lots of music just in case the sound of an instrument jumps out at you.

Many thanks to everyone who has taken the trouble to post and for all the advice so far - especially about the advantage of learning piano first. Sadly, I just have a small rented room, with no room even for an electronic keyboard. I had a taster lesson on the bass, which I quite enjoyed, but had to decline for the same reason. The suggestion of trying guitar is one I'm going to have to look into. For some reason the mandolin and banjo have intrigued me for a while, but that's a complete tangent - I've no idea what I'd do with either.


Purely in terms of sound, the instruments that do jump out at me are the cello, clarinet, ( especially bass clarinet) and sax. I'm not so keen on the violin, oboe or brass in general. I don't have the technical vocabulary to describe it, but I love that deep, warm sound, and especially, I like the broad range of the clarinet and cello, though I'm aware these are also the most popular for adult learners....


Thanks again,

Tatman


I'd be interested to know whether there are any other teachers in the same position - entering a very musical school, with no musical background

I'd agree with others that the piano is a good instrument to learn, for all the reasons already given. Is there a piano you could use at school? For personal satisfaction, cello is beautiful, but it does take a long time before you can get good intonation and play it well. Singing is great - you can make music socially very quickly. Recorder is a good way to learn basic music skills, and is also a proper instrument in its own right (something that many people don't realise), with plenty of opportunities for social music making - see here. Guitar could be usesful in a school situation too.



This is a bit worrying - what about your neighbours? You can get electronic versions of the stringed instruments, with headphones, which would avert the noise problems.

Good luck with whatever you choose - and make sure you get a good teacher.

If you have room for a bed and a table to eat at, you have room for a Yamaha P90 or similar portable digital keyboard! Just construct something above the bed or use your table.

And a chair is all you need for the guitar. And anywhere (bathroom) for the harmonica.

No excuses... now go for it.

Richard
Hong Kong

PS. Are you from Hong Kong? Can appreciate your space problem if so. But be creative.

In terms of noise, I'd say you'd be ok with an acoustic guitar, if you're worried about disturbing neighbours. You might also want to look at practice mutes if you're doing any of the more noisy instruments. I have a bog standard one for my trombone, which works well, but I've seen a range of silent ones by yamaha that silence your instrument completely but give you feedback through a headset. I thought those looked pretty nifty, but I've never tried one so couldn't recommend.

Since you're really unsure, remember most music shops have an instrument rental scheme - you might want to look into that, and try out a few different ones over the next few months, before settling.

You mention that your school is very musical - what sorts of resources do they have that might help support your interest? What kinds of teachers? If you're friendly with them, might they 'give you a go' on one of their instruments to try it out? Is there a library of instruments for the children that you might be able to tap into? I remember when I was a kid, under the prethatcher school music programme, we were just given loads of instruments to try out, and encouraged to play the one that we enjoyed, and that we could actually get a noise out. That's how I ended up playing instruments like the trombone and the tuba, because I was the only one who could get any sound out of them! (And bang went another gender stereotype! )

Don't know what the Yamaha P90 is like, but if you do decide to go for piano, try to find a keyboard that has full-size piano keys, and that the keys are 'weighted' like an acoustic piano would be.

I have an adult learner who started from scratch 18 months ago and she is really enjoying it (BTW I teach piano) but if you really prefer another instrument, go for it. Make sure you don't practise at anti-social hours though!!! As far as noise levels are concerned the quietest of those 3 you picked out would probably be the cello followed by the clarinet and the loudest is the sax. I say this from the point of view of a teacher who teaches in a small practice room in a school surrounded by other teachers of other instruments, and find that it tends to be the sax which carries most through the wall...... (apart from the drums, but that's another story....!!)