Currently, my main instrument is Piano. Second instrument is Violin, I'm keen to take up Cello, that is also from the same string instrument family. But, the Cello teacher told me that I can only choose one of them (Violin or Cello). The reason being of different posture, technique and it will be overlapping each other. It is true that we can only learn one instrument per family.

My violin teacher told me the same when I wanted to take up the cello. If you want a lower-sounding string instrument, why not take up the viola instead, which will not destroy your violin technique

Does anyone have any experience of playing both cello and double bass - or would this also be difficult? Grateful for advice.

Also, are there any woodwind instruments that could be played alongside flute without too much negative impact?

I play oboe and flute, but have never taken flute very seriously. I play Grade 7 / 8 pieces on oboe, though have never taken exams.

QUOTE (krl @ Sep 8 2004, 08:39 AM)

are there any woodwind instruments that could be played alongside flute without too much negative impact?

sax !
my teacher does both with ease.

-

I don't see why it should be seen as a problem.
Surerly you would play violin like a violin and cello like a cello.

As each instrument you start is a new skill then I wonder how real the problem is?
Is it a case of some people looking for difficulties where there are none?

QUOTE (krl @ Sep 8 2004, 10:39 AM)

Also, are there any woodwind instruments that could be played alongside flute without too much negative impact?

This isn't really what you asked for, but here it goes...

I play tuba as my first instrument, and flute as my second, works great if you ask me
I usually play 1st flute or piccolo.

You may think that it's not a very good combination, but actually it is. What you normally don't practice when you play the tuba you practice when you play the flute, and also what you don't normally practice when you play the flute, you practice when you play the tuba, so they're compensating each other so to speak

Well, my old flute teacher also played the clarinet, oboe and sax, so i don't think there's any problem with playing loads of woodwind instruments!

QUOTE (josax @ Sep 8 2004, 12:37 PM)

QUOTE (krl @ Sep 8 2004, 08:39 AM) are there any woodwind instruments that could be played alongside flute without too much negative impact? sax ! my teacher does both with ease.

That might be a harder coombination because of the flute enbrouchure. Its not really smilar to any other wood wind becasue flute is the only wind instrument without a reed.

QUOTE (Subatomic_Star @ Sep 8 2004, 07:28 PM)

QUOTE (josax @ Sep 8 2004, 12:37 PM) QUOTE (krl @ Sep 8 2004, 08:39 AM) are there any woodwind instruments that could be played alongside flute without too much negative impact? sax ! my teacher does both with ease. That might be a harder coombination because of the flute enbrouchure. Its not really smilar to any other wood wind becasue flute is the only wind instrument without a reed.

Yeah, If it was clarinet and sax it would be ok. I play clarinet and flute, and I can't play my flute on the same day that I play my clarinet for more than an 1 1/2, because I can't physically get my mouth to make the flute embourchure (sp?) , although I can change from flute to clarinet without any problems.

QUOTE

That might be a harder coombination because of the flute enbrouchure. Its not really smilar to any other wood wind becasue flute is the only wind instrument without a reed.

<Coughs> <splutters>

Recorder. Penny whistle. Fife.

Do these not count as instruments...?!

QUOTE (tamsin @ Sep 9 2004, 05:18 PM)

QUOTE That might be a harder coombination because of the flute enbrouchure. Its not really smilar to any other wood wind becasue flute is the only wind instrument without a reed. <Coughs> <splutters> Recorder. Penny whistle. Fife. Do these not count as instruments...?!

lol. what about the piccolo?

Anyone out there plays violin & cello?

My age is 58 and I want to learn brass instrument , can any one suggest which is easy for my age. My 1st instrument is Piano and I teach also. Please give me more tips if I want to learn trumpet.

What?! That sounds to me like saying that a lead guitarist cannot play bass? Excuse my nievety if I'm wrong but go for it.

QUOTE (freda_bloogs @ Sep 14 2004, 04:13 PM)

What?! That sounds to me like saying that a lead guitarist cannot play bass? Excuse my nievety if I'm wrong but go for it.

Sorry. I don't mean that. I just would like to clarify this matter. I love both instruments.

QUOTE (Jade @ Sep 9 2004, 07:20 PM)

QUOTE (tamsin @ Sep 9 2004, 05:18 PM) QUOTE That might be a harder coombination because of the flute enbrouchure. Its not really smilar to any other wood wind becasue flute is the only wind instrument without a reed. <Coughs> <splutters> Recorder. Penny whistle. Fife. Do these not count as instruments...?! lol. what about the piccolo?

Um... ooops! Sorry if i offended people!! I completely forgot about recorder penny whistle and fife.

Playing cello and violin has a negative effect on both instruments - the left hand position is completely different for each and you'll find yourself getting very tense playing the instrument that you're not used to. Also, bow technique on cello and viola is a lot heavier than that on the violin - you'll find yourself scratching a lot on the violin and making pretty feeble sounds on the cello - sorry to sound discouraging! Take something else up - a wind or brass instrument, for example, or the viola. Violas rule. As do French horns.

Having said that, there's a teacher at my music centre who is proficient on all the string instruments... She mostly plays viola and double bass...

Cello and double bass is a definite option though. I have several friends that play both - the major difficulty is that the bass is set in fourths and the cello in fifths so you'll need to learn all your fingerings again, but if you're determined, go for it! Also you'll need to use a lot more bow power for the double bass than for the cello, but hey, it's fun!

One more thing about taking up more instruments - make sure you have time! I didn't and now I don't have a life!

QUOTE (samson @ Sep 14 2004, 04:55 AM)

My age is 58 and I want to learn brass instrument , can any one suggest which is easy for my age. My 1st instrument is Piano and I teach also. Please give me more tips if I want to learn trumpet.

take up whatever you like! trumpet is probably the easiest but they've all got their difficulties - if you want to impress people take up the french horn!
tuba is good if you've got a large lung capacity. you don't have to have such a tight embouchre for that either.

QUOTE (krl @ Sep 8 2004, 08:39 AM)

Does anyone have any experience of playing both cello and double bass - or would this also be difficult?  Grateful for advice.

Yes, I play double bass quite a lot in good amateur orchestras and in the larger chamber works, and the 'cello mostly in private with friends on easy continuo parts. I started on 'cello and had a few excellent lessons, then transferred to double bass after moving to a different area. I then abandoned 'cello for about 10 years. When I tried to take it up again, I became very confused because of the different tuning (fifths on 'cello, fourths on bass) and fingering. However, I tried again more recently, after retiring and doing a lot of music, and found that I was much less confused. My teacher used to say, "Eventually, you make friends with the fingerboard." (i.e. you know where the notes are without thinking too much about it). You have to play both your instruments enough to make this happen. 'Cello and bass bowing are somewhat different, because of the heavier bass bow, but the hold is similar (and different from violin and viola).

I have met musicians who played both violin and double bass to a good standard. There are still too few bass players in amateur circles, so it gets you into ensembles with players of a higher standard than your own.

QUOTE

Also, are there any woodwind instruments that could be played alongside flute without too much negative impact?

On Broadway, the woodwind players in the pit orchestra typically play several different instruments. This allows the orchestrator to use rare combinations for just one number; e.g. I believe there is a number in one of the Bernstein musicals that needs four alto flutes! The usual place to start is to add clarinet to flute. Then all the saxophones and the other clarinets are easier to add, since the saxophone has the same fingering as the modern flute and uses a single reed like the clarinets (though the embouchure is not as tight). Bassoon is rather more different, and oboe probably the hardest.

In Mozart's youth (before the clarinet became common), it was quite usual for the same player to play flute and oboe. There is an early Mozart symphony in Bb with 2 oboes in the fast outer movements and 2 flutes in the middle one. In those times, flute and oboe had more similar fingerings than they do now.

If you want to play two similar instruments to the same standard, you probably need to start by practising more than twice as much to overcome the confusion between them. However, eventually you start winning because you will learn a piece of music on one instrument and then find that you know it when you play it on your other one. The best example I know of that is Ian Brown, the pianist of the Nash ensemble. As a teenager he played trumpet, bassoon and 'cello, all to a good standard. This gave him his excellent understanding of the other instruments in his ensemble and in the orchestras he conducts.

QUOTE (samson @ Sep 14 2004, 04:55 AM)

My age is 58 and I want to learn brass instrument , can any one suggest which is easy for my age. My 1st instrument is Piano and I teach also. Please give me more tips if I want to learn trumpet.

The problem with the brass generally, and the trumpet especially, is physical stamina. In the early days of brass playing (up to c. 1950) you were often taught to get higher notes by pressing the mouthpiece harder onto your lips. This is very tiring, because it reduces the blood flow and stops the lip muscles from working properly. Nowadays, better methods are known and used. Make sure that you get a teacher who knows how to teach you a low pressure enmbouchure.