So recently at my school the rather underpopulated concert band decided that they would lend instruments for free to anyone who was actually willing to play them. And I find myself thinking, why not? I can at least read music, and there aren't going to be many times in my life when someone just comes up to me and hands me a free instrument .

So the problem now is for me to decide which one. The band has openings for flute, clarinet, trumpet, alto and tenor saxophone. So I'm throwing this open for discussion. Does anyone here play another instrument after piano? How hard was it to learn? And does anyone have experience concerning the instruments listed?

I play clarinet and have in the past played alto and tenor sax. The most difficult thing with any of the instruments you named is getting the tone right - this involves the right mouth position and the correct technique for articulating the separate notes.

If you can already read music then picking up another instrument depends on how quickly you pick up the physical changes required to play another instrument - you will need a teacher to get you playing in the right way.

Once you've got that sorted then actually playing is not so difficult - I'd say easier than learning piano (not so many keys, hands stay in one position, mostly). Note that there are usually loads of flute and clarinet players so if you see a future for yourself on a 2nd instrument picking trumpet or sax might mean you are competing with fewer people for a place (although sounds like that isn't a problem in the concert band!).

I preferred the clarinet of the instruments I played, but I do wish I'd spent longer perfecting alto sax as that can be beautiful too. Depends on what type of music you like to play - there isn't a lot of classical repertoire for the saxophone...

Good luck.

My son's primary instrument is the piano, but in elementary school he picked up percussion in the fifth grade band. When he showed up for middle school the band director switched him (and two or three other kids, all of whom were good musicians) to French horn. He was perfectly cooperative, and now he's rather accomplished (for age twelve) on the horn. He rather likes the beast and it has given him a very different window into music. One advantage of picking up a less popular instrument is that bands usually want people in these instruments.

I played trumpet up through college, before I picked up piano (no, wait, that sounds too heavy...)

I loved the social aspects of trumpet and found it a very versatile instrument. I played in all types of music groups including football pep bands, classical wind ensembles, church services, theater productions, jazz groups, coffee houses, dixie-land etc... also, you don't have to worry about getting it wet and it is not too big to carry around - compared to a tuba for example.
Unlike woodwinds, you can get it wet.

On the plus side - it has volume, so you can be heard.

On the down side - it has volume, so you can be heard. You can get acoustic dampening practice mutes, like the noise cancelling headphones people use on planes. Still, having a quiet place to practice would be useful.


The other down side to playing any brass instrument is you have to keep playing to keep your "chops" in shape.

I'd echo what JohnEB said - you have to find an instrument that you physically feel comfortable playing. Spending time with a teacher will definitely be a good investment.

Good luck with your decision and let us know what you decide.

(BTW: I've since started playing a midi digital trumpet-style windcontroller, where I can use my trumpet fingerings, but don't have to "buzz" the mouthpiece. Now I drag around a 50 lb amp and shutter at the sight of rain or lightening. Still, I'm loving it b/c I can get the sound of ANY instrument. Currently playing a lot of sax)

Okay an update. I now play clarinet. Well I can now play three notes on clarinet at least .

It's an intersting experience, although a little frustrating as the pieces in the beginners clarinet book are the same annoying little ditties that I played as a beginning piano student (I thought I'd never have to see them again ). Theres also the new concept of taking your instrument to pieces and cleaning the sp- sorry, "condensation" out of it :p Overall I'm very happy to be doing it though.

I'd personally pick trumpet because I'm sick of woodwinds. But really, do you know if you want to learn brass or woodwind? Sax is very fun too, great jazz and classical instrument. I'd probably suggest the sax.

What he said!!!

"Noise" If you live in a neighborhood you might get complaints..

"Chops" I quit playing for about 12 years and picked it back up last christmas... If I skip one day of practice then its hard for me to produce a good sound not to mention I am having trouble hitting the higher notes that are above the staff.Only 2 more to go get to the "high C" though..

A midi digital trumpet with no buzz, I do declare, taking all the hard work out of a real trumpet player eh Orbit?

I would really love to learn the violin (1 year ago, I actually would enter music school for violin, but I changed my mind in the last minute), but my teacher told me that combining piano and violin is a bit TOO much.

Both take lots of time to learn.

He told me that once I can play all Chopin etudes decently, I could take violin as a second instrument