What instrument should i play?

Question

I can play the clarinet, trumpet, tuba, oboe, and baritone. I'm going off to college and i would like to conduct but i have to also major on an instrument. i have played the clarinet for the longest and probably play it the best, however my director said that i should play trumpet, i have only played it for a year but apparently have made astonishing improvements, and i like all of them equally, what do i do?

Answer 1

I think it depends greatly on the style of music you most enjoy playing/conducting. Classical or wind ensemble pieces would lend themselves better to clarinet. Orchestral or jazz pieces, trumpet would be better. Also, just because you choose to major in one doesn't mean that you should give up the other. If you enjoy all of the instruments, make time to practice on all of them and keep improving yourself: take up trombone.

Answer 2

It depends on which one you like more. It sounds like you're more attracted to the brass section, just because you play more brass than woodwinds. But you said you have played the clarinet for longest. I would ask your director why he says play trumpet. Realize that if you're going to be a band director, you're going to have to come to grips with the fact that you can't do everything. The band director who played trombone in band won't be able to tell the baritone saxophone player the correct way to shape his mouth when playing if he hasn't been specifically taught that. Personally, I would probably choose trumpet, since you said you've been playing clarinet for a long time. If you've had lessons in it, you already know quite a bit about it, while you probably don't know that much about trumpet. Learning trumpet would help you to know the difference between playing brass and woodwind instruments better. It also depends on what you want to conduct! Do you want to be a band director? Orchestra? Drum and Bugle Corps? Think about what you want to do, and what that/those types of ensembles are generally composed of, and you'll be able to choose better. Good luck!

Answer 3

You can't just pick up an instrument and play it in college. It just doesnt work like that. The people who major in music in college are performers and people who take music seriously. If you have been playing the clarinet for the longest then go for that. Don't forget that you have to audition to get into these college music programs and most schools don't accept non-proficient players. Also, most college don't offer undergraduate degrees in conducting. You would have to get your undergraduate in performance, education, composition, theory, etc, then get your masters in conducting. If you really want to go to school for music, start practicing hard, and if you arent already, start taking private lessons on the instrument you choose.

Answer 4

It really depends on which direction you are going in. If you want to get in an orchestra its much more difficult to get in on a wind instrument than on a string instrument. For band any of those would be good choices. If you want to feel more secure I would go with clarinet.

Answer 5

Oh come now, you are a literal virtuoso - ahem - and you simply cannot decide which instrument to play in college? If this is your biggest decision going to college this fall, then you are missing the mark by a mile. Why don't you ask everyone what color shirt you should wear and what you should become after college! give us a break!

Answer 6

Instruments. No question about it. I could not be more horrible at sports, and I could not love Music more. I also play Piano and I love it.

Answer 7

Learn to play viola. It has greater opportunity than any of your wind instruments.

Answer 8

I play drums I think it is a great way to lose your feelings.The beat is amzing. Play sad Play Happy. Beat the crap out of them when your angry. So think would you like that? If you don't why don't you play. It is just like drums with emotions. But most of all, Pick what you think you and yourself and your heart what you shold play the most.

Answer 9

I would play the oboe because there are fewer people who play the oboe. I would not play the trumpet or clarinet because there are plenty of people who play those instruments. If you do not want to play the oboe, play either the baritone or tuba.

Answer 10

It sounds like you want to major in a certain instrument in college. I am a college student and pretty active with the bands there as well as know a lot of the music majors here. I know a person who plays basson in Wind Quintet and Tuba in the marching/pep band. He is technically a basson major, but he is very proficient in both.

Of course my opinion is biased: trumpet of course. However, I can see values in all of the instruments that you have listed. First thing you'll need to ask yourself is what do you enjoy playing the most? Woodwind or Brass?

If woodwind is your answer, then majoring in clarinet or oboe would be your choice. I know for a fact that clarinet players are more abundant than oboists. You can make alot of money in performance career as an oboist. I do also know a oboe player in Wind Orchestra that plays clarinet both in the orchestra and marching band. I suggest majoring in Oboe but keep playing the clarinet. Both instruments are what I think "cousins" and are very valuable.

Now if brass is your fancy, then you are talking my language. I have played trumpet for 12 years, as I started on it. Since then, I have dabbed in fluegelhorn for about two years and marching baritone for about a quarter. Here is how I look at playing trumpet: it is one of those instruments that is easy to learn but hard to master. I learned how to play my instrument well in a year, but I am still after 12 years learning how to master it. Over the years, it has felt like there is more to the instrument than meets the surface. Whatever it is, I always find value in playing trumpet over and over again. I think its because trumpet parts are so versatile, as they do cover everything from melodies, harmonies, fanfares and etc.

Then there is the baritone and tuba. . . from all of the instruments you have played, it doesnt sound like you have too much experience with tuba. To be a tubaist, you have to have a deep passion for the instrument and part. Because tuba parts in general are so monogomous, people get bored from bass parts alot. However, to me, tuba has always been very attractive because in my opinion tuba parts are the MOST important part in the entire ensemble--without it there is no enriched fundamental part or rythmic interest in the piece.

If you are serious about playing trumpet or tuba, then baritone is not a good option because the baritone embrochure can be determental to your trumpet/tuba embrochure if you do not know how to control embrochures. Embrochure mastery on any instrument is fundamental in mastering the instrument itself. I know this for a fact because I played marching baritone in pep band for a quarter and trumpet for wind orchestra. . . it screwed me up. Not to the point where I couldnt play, but I noticed how hard it was to maintain tone and pitch control over one horn coming off the other. If you are serious about baritone, then you should consider playing trombone. Trombone is a much versatile instrument than baritone. I just doan see baritone too much in ensembles for you to consider it seriously. Also, since you just started trumpet, ie. 1 year, and you have come such a long way with it, playing baritone would not help your cause much.

Anyways back to my biased opinion: Even though you have the difficult task of choosing an instrument, you will naturally improve and excel in anyone you choose because college will sharpen your musicality and skill. The strongest pro I can see with trumpet is that out of all the ones you've played so far, trumpet is the most versatile instrument. Trumpets are used in jazz, ensembles, orchestras, and symphonies, whereas all the other instruments have their limitation.

Oh and since you play multiple instruments, you should definately learn to play two instruments of your choice, one primary as the other secondary. This will open you up to alot of doors for you in the future. If it were me, Id play one brass the other woodwind--trumpet and sax is what I would do. But whatever you do, you should definately learn piano as it is the most important instrument to learn for professional musicians, composers, conductors and educators.