Just wondered how many of you chose the instrument you are currently playing. Did you have any influence from parents, teachers, school or anyone else? If so are you happy with the instrument you are playing, and is there one you want to play instead/also? Love to hear your stories!

I play the viola and chose it because i wanted to be different! I thought that everyone else played the violin so i'd play a viola. v glad i did don't know many other people that play it!
jess

When I was at school (7 -8yo) I learned to play the violin. It was the school s suggestion really.
I played until I left secondary school.
Whilst I was in secondary school, I always wanted to play piano but wasn't allowed as I already played violin and everyone wanted to play piano !

My break and lunch times were spent in the music room watching/listening to my friend play Fur Elise and Moonlight (Beethoven) I could play them both before I left school by ear (couldn't read music for piano - or violin for that matter. Violin was taught by fing no's)

When I was 28, I decided to buy a cheap Casio 5ish octv dig piano to tinker on.
It was brilliant being able to play piano at long last !

I upgraded to a battered piano which sounded great and then a year ago, a brand new Kawai.

Since I took up piano (last 4yrs) and the grade work, I've never looked back !

As for violin, I have strted playing again but by reading the music this time around.
I'm even joining a local orchestra for some experience.

I'm lovin' it !!!

Fiona

QUOTE (nutter @ May 19 2004, 05:10 PM)

I play the viola and chose it because i wanted to be different! I thought that everyone else played the violin so i'd play a viola. v glad i did don't know many other people that play it! jess

I wouldn't mind having a go at the viola.

I've already decided that I'm going to take up cello when I get a bit more spare time.

playing the viola's great! if u ever get a chance have a go. all orchestras luv u!! i had a go on a violin once and i was shocked at how close together u have 2 put ur fingers on a viola u space them out a bit more! Have fun with playin the cello

i ended up playin clarinet cause it was offered at primary...... i love it but really really want to play oboe or cor anglais and wouldn't mind a wee shot at violin or viola!

I'd love to play piano, cos i think it would be really useful if i decided to be a music teacher. Also, I'd like to have a go on the viola, cello or clarinet. I've listened to my friend playing the clarinet and I really love the sound.

I decided to play the violin cos I just thought it would be good cos not many people played it at my primary school, and i don't really know why I chose the flute...i had the choice of the clarinet or flute so I just chose one of them!

I started with piano 'cos we had one at home and my mum had always wanted to play ................ ! still I quite enjoyed it and did ok, although I remember aged 6 being a weeny bit disappointed that even though I had lessons now it still didn't sound as interesting as an orchestra lol

when I was 12 I changed teacher and my new teacher wanted to give me organ lessons - aaaaaahh now I had some different sounds to explore - maybe this what I 'd been looking for all along??

Maggie

my mum forced me to start piano when i was 9 and now i'm thanking her cos i love it and i don't know what i'd do without it!!!!!!!!!!
thanks mum!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All my family played the violin- my mum and my brother and sisters and all my cousins and uncles and aunts etc! It's cos my grandfather was a concert violinist and he taught all his (seven!) children. All the children in the family begin learning at about 4 or 5, but when I was that age I saw a horn in a concert and decided I really wanted to play it! I refused point blank to learn the violin.
After much struggle and about 7 years of begging, I finally got a horn. I've never regretted not playing the violin because the fact I dont makes me different and I don't think I could have stood the pressure if I'd played the violin. One of my youngest cousins is a prodigy- he's only 7 and he's done grade 5- how could I have competed with that??! It would have taken all the enjoyment out of it for me.

Yes, I agree. I couldn't think of anything more demoralising than someone younger constantly competing (and 'winning') with you! Glad to see that so many of the people using the forum seem genuinely happy with instrument they are playing..I've seen so many people not progress as well because it was their parents choice etc.

Thanks to everyone who has commented!

I wanted to learn viola, again, because it was different. and my best friend wanted to play violin so I thought we could duet together. Things go like that when youre in Primary school.

My mum pushed me towards a woodwind instrument instead though, she was a bit concerned about how awful a badly played viol sounds, I think. Plus I had been playing the recorder (on and off!) since I was four. I chose flute because someone in my year already played clarinet quite well, and I didn't want to be outdone and the clarinet just looked like a big recorder! (please remember I was little!!) there wasn't much else of a choice.

Since then I've never looked back!

But now....

Well the posibilities...

It's a shame I'd never be able to afford to learn a second instrument. Why does it have to be so expensive

QUOTE (nutter @ May 19 2004, 05:30 PM)

playing the viola's great! if u ever get a chance have a go. all orchestras luv u!! i had a go on a violin once and i was shocked at how close together u have 2 put ur fingers on a viola u space them out a bit more! Have fun with playin the cello

Oh my gosh, you play the viola too? You're the first person I've met who plays the viola, no one, and I mean no one plays the viola around here, except from me.

I played the violin before I started the viola, and it was a BIG shock when I started trying to play it like a viola, bigger gaps between the fingers and I found I have to move the bow slower. I only really started the viola because I didn't like how high the E string was, it always made me feel like my ear drums were going to burst, but now the viola is my first instrument, with the piano as second, and violin as third.

thats just like me no 1 else in my school plays a viola and i only know 2 other people that play it elsewhere! what grade r u doing isabel?

QUOTE (tamsin @ May 20 2004, 06:13 PM)

I wanted to learn viola, again, because it was different. and my best friend wanted to play violin so I thought we could duet together. Things go like that when youre in Primary school. My mum pushed me towards a woodwind instrument instead though, she was a bit concerned about how awful a badly played viol sounds, I think. Plus I had been playing the recorder (on and off!) since I was four. I chose flute because someone in my year already played clarinet quite well, and I didn't want to be outdone and the clarinet just looked like a big recorder! (please remember I was little!!) there wasn't much else of a choice. Since then I've never looked back! But now.... Well the posibilities... It's a shame I'd never be able to afford to learn a second instrument. Why does it have to be so expensive

[/QUOTE]It's a shame I'd never be able to afford to learn a second instrument. Why does it have to be so expensive [QUOTE]

my point exactly! i would love 2 play an electric guitar but where on earth do u get the money from?!

jess

You can't afford £70 for a budget electric guitar?

I'm choosing my piano all by myself. The only reason in choosing the One is that it fits my needs and budget.

I'm contented with my CVP208 but I will always dream of a grand, too bad there's not enough space for me.

QUOTE

You can't afford £70 for a budget electric guitar?

well considering im only in yr 10 no not really! not unless money grows on trees...

It was year 10 when I bought my second saxophone, and year 11 when I bought my first clarinet.

Can't you:
a) Get a part time job (you have to be careful where as you're under 16, I assume)
Save up Christmas/Birthday money
c) Beg for a guitar from your parents
d) Bribe your parents (i.e. cleaning the house top to bottom for a month)

QUOTE (nutter @ May 20 2004, 09:02 PM)

thats just like me no 1 else in my school plays a viola and i only know 2 other people that play it elsewhere! what grade r u doing isabel?

I started in March, and was going to do grade 2 at Christmas, but the pieces have bored me to death so I'm doing grade 3 instead now. What grade r u on?

It's not just buying an instrument though is it? Lessons and exams aren't exactly cheap!

QUOTE

I started in March, and was going to do grade 2 at Christmas, but the pieces have bored me to death so I'm doing grade 3 instead now. What grade r u on?

i should b doing grade 5 in july. were u doing the Habanera 4 grade 2?

when i was about 8 i played the guitar but i found it hard as i am left handed and therefor the guitar was stringed up for left hand but it never felt right so i decided to go back to the recorder .
a few years later i decided to take up the clarinet which i have now been playing for 5 years. i really enjoy playing the clarinet and love doing solo performances.
i am now wonting to go on to play the tennor saxophone but am unable to find one which i can affoud.
i cont wait till i get one as i will go though my grades and hopefuly go on to join the RAF band

QUOTE (sazzy34 @ May 23 2004, 08:38 PM)

i cont wait till i get one as i will go though my grades and hopefuly go on to join the RAF band

that will be exciting!

my only problem is finding one which i can afoud as i have very little money as i am still at school
well for exams anyway

ye i dont have that much money and i need sooo many things!! have u tried looking in lots of differetn music shops and if u buy through school u dont have to pay VAT!! what part of the uk do u live in

i have been to all the music shops in derby and can not find one cheep enough and my school has every instrument but a saxophone

thats unfortunate- you will just have to start saving if u want to play it that badly!

a long and painful process

QUOTE (sazzy34 @ May 23 2004, 09:37 PM)

a long and painful process

yes i know-im trying it myself!!

Yes correct. Sometimes it's the money issue.

Myself have that problem too. And I'm trying really hard to save up...

QUOTE (nutter @ May 23 2004, 07:09 PM)

i should b doing grade 5 in july. were u doing the Habanera 4 grade 2?

No I wasnt, I wanted to do that, but I couldn't be bothered to buy the book, I was going to do The Ceilidh. Where abouts in the country are u?

im in london wot about u?

I'm right in the south, couple of minutes drive away from Brighton.

lucky u is it nice living there? r u doing ur grade 3?

its actually kinda dull round here since im not in the centre of brighton, just a little village on the outskirts. And yep i'm doing my grade 3 at xmas.

good luck! i did mine last xmas wot pieces r u doing?

I'm doing the theme from Jupiter by Gustav Holst, but I haven't really decided on any of the others, what would u recommend as my 1st and 2nd pieces?

wot books do u have?

i've got fast forward, time pieces for viola vol. 1 and starters for viola

ah i didnt have any of those books! i had first repertoire 4 viola book 3 the bourree in there was quite good and big foot lou was fab dont think they r in the syllabus anymore though! how u finding the scales?

Yeah they're all in the old syllabus. The scales are going ok, quite a few more than grade 2, only ones im having trouble with is the 1s with high third fingers!

yeah they r a bit of a pain! dont like 4th fingers either i have a short little finger i find it hard! wait til u get 2 grade 5 though u have high 3's and high 4's its evil!

High 4ths! Oh man, I have tiny little hands too, I'm gonna have to get a smaller viola! I can't even stretch to 4th finger anyway, I always have to change strings.

yeah its quite hard! how bigs ur viola if u dont mind me asking how old r u?

My violas a 16 and a 1/4, and I'm 14, u?

my viola's only 15 1/2! im 15 in yr10. just been practising scales there r so many its mad!

E-mails are your friends. Don't waste forum space else you'll end up regretting it - I speak from experience

My grandparents have a piano and I like to play made-up tunes with it. Then I thought it would be a good idea to learn the piano.

oops