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 Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 12:31 pm
So most of us probably play multiple instruments. But what I've personally seen is that people often stretch themselves too thin and end up being pretty crappy on all of the instruments they play. I myself play euphonium, but I play trombone in jazz band. They're different instruments but they're so similar in so many ways. I think of this much like a flutist playing piccolo. But other than those two instruments I don't play any others. Then there are many other instruments that I could play. These include but are not limited to flute/piccolo, tuba, trumpet, contra bass clarinet, and alto or tenor sax. All of these instruments I have picked up and played a little bit yet, although I have a basic knowledge of them and could very possibly pick them up and with a little work be competent on them, I don't count them as instruments that I play. But then where is the line between can play and do play? People often give a massive list of instruments that they play, but surely unless they be an ungodly musician they must undoubtedly suck at most of them if not all. But then as I am going into music education I will eventually be required to learn how to play most instruments so as a band director I can instruct the entire band, although I will still need to have a major instrument. And seeing as this is only my third year in band and I am a senior I'll need all of the practice I can get on my major instrument before college. Although it might be a little different for someone who has played their instrument since middle school, but seeing the middle schoolers here I have my doubts. So what I ask of you is this: How many instruments is too many, and what exceptions could there possibly be?
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Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 2:13 pm
In general, I agree with you.
I too want to become a band director, or something of the like, so last year I decided to achieve a basic knowledge of as many instruments as I can before high school lets out.
Usually, when people ask me what I play, I tell them the clarinet is my strongest, followed by the sax, and then the flute. I tend to leave out the fact that I have experience with three different types of clarinet (Bass, alto, and soprano) and two types of sax (Tenor, and alto). I personally think that this information is irrelevant.
When it comes to sucking at all of them, I can proudly say that this isn't true for me, at least to an extent. I play the clarinet at least twice a day, am first chair, and made districts (Not to brag. Just proving myself.) I play my tenor sax in jazz band at least four times a week, which would probably put me somewhere in the seconds if I were to play in concert band. The flute isn't played quite as much and I don't know as many notes, so I would probably be bumped down to the thirds.
On the other hand, if I were to try to take on another instrument that was drastically different, let's say the tuba, I'd probably majorly suck. Different key (I think.), different fingerings, and it's bass clef, not treble.
So I suppose, my answer would be that it depends on what instruments you are trying to learn, how often you practice each, and how well you understand music fundamentals in general.
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Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 5:45 pm
Sure, a lot of people can play a lot of different instruments, but that doesn't mean they're good, as you said. My difference for "can play" and "play" is if I play them for something. Like, I play alto sax for marching band, tenor sax for jazz band, and oboe and english horn for concert band and pit orchestra. I excel on oboe, because I play it the most, and I think that's the case for most people. I know I've definitely regressed in my tone for saxophone due to starting oboe about a year and a half ago. Personally, I'd rather just play one and be really good rather than be mediocre at all of them. As for playing them as a band director, this is just what I think, but I think you should be able to play all of them and know the mechanics for playing well, but not be able to play them professionally, if that makes sense.
I feel like none of that made sense. Oh well. xd
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Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 7:42 pm
I definitely agree with you here.
Since I'm not in school right now, I guess I can't say there's an instrument that I actually DO play, (which could explain why I've been so bored, I should probably go pick up an instrument and get my butt busy.) but there's several that I CAN play. smile
Flute
Trumpet
French Horn
Alto Sax
Euphonium
Bass guitar
Piano
I'm not like, EXTREMELY good at any of these since I changed instruments often (too A.D.D.) but I'm not horrible.
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Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 8:58 pm
I'm minoring in music, and agree whole hearted about the way two many instruments. Personally, if your going into music education I would suggest at least being experienced in 3-4 instruments. I'm a flute player, but I also know how to play sax(alto), oboe, and piano.
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Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 9:19 pm
Well, most people who attempt multiple completely different instruments are the typical "OMG i LUV BAND Itz mai LIFE!!1" band members. There are the few musicians who recognize within a year or two of playing one instrument that the fingerings are similar on a similar instrument, and where they are different, they correspond logically.
I'm a mostly self-taught musician, except for one instance where a friend of mine taught me to read treble clef in about 3 minutes. He taught me to read treble, then let me borrow his trumpet for a night, and the next morning I could have made at least second chair in the trumpet section, second only to the guy who taught me earlier, if not first (I'm better than him now, after a year and a half of playing).
I looked at a fingering chart for a few minutes, figured out how the fingerings corresponded to slide positions, and transfered trumpet knowledge to baritone, tuba and mellophone, all of which I could, at this point, sightread a difficult piece with few mistakes (mellophone being the exception, that's still a work in progress).
While I have played many instruments, I still hold above-average skill on trombone, making every honor band I have tried out for, and being ranked highly in each one (my latest band, I was second chair in the symphonic band, while first chair was a girl who played the same instruments I did, along with the entire saxophone family.)
The point to this anecdote: Based on one's intellegence, it can be possible to branch out into different sections successfully.
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Paintbrushes and Oral Sex
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Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2010 11:51 pm
I guess there's an ability to play an instrument, and then actually PLAYING the instrument (y'know, playing often and specializing in it). I don't really count close family instruments, like flute-piccolo, bari-tenor-alto-soprano saxes, since it's kind-of a given you should be able to play one if you play the other.
I play flute and picc, and can play very minuscule amounts of clarinet and piano. My boyfriend plays tuba, piano, trombone, and bassoon, but can play a variety of instruments (music major, of course).
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 3:25 pm
In my opinion, you don't play an instrument unless you can actually play it, as in, accomplish a song of at least grade 2 and can play most if not all major scales with musicality, not just farting out the notes. It has to sound decent.
As for having too many, if you can meet the above requirements, you are fine. I think this is different depending onthe player. More dedicated members will probably find it easier to play multiple isntruments.
As for me, I play:
-Clarinet
-All saxes
-Oboe
-Trombone
-flute
-piano
-violin
-bass clarient
-guitar
-percussion
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 7:09 pm
You can never play too many instruments.
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 10:47 pm
I had a phase of doing that.
Until, I realized, as an underclassman in high school, itd be more effective to stick with my primary two Winds: Clarinet and Bass clarinet.
But, the thing is, I dont really categorize my ability to play guitar and bass with the main instruments, because, theyre completely different then the clarinet and bass clarinet.
I mean, Granted, I have 3 years of bass clarinet and clarinet, but 7 of guitar and 3 of bass...
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