which instrument should i learn next?

Question

i'm going to be a Jr. in h.s and i really want to learn another instrument. i already play oboe, flute, English horn, a little clarinet and piano. i was thinking sax but i'm not sure. any suggestions?

i want to minor in music edu. on oboe.

Answer 1

Are you thinking about continuing to study music in college? Possibly majoring in it? If so, I would recommend at this point that you focus on an instrument now. If you are a strong oboe player you can probably get a scholarship, as oboes are not all that common.

If not, go ahead and try the sax. The embouchure is reasonably similar to the clarinet as are the fingerings. Plus, all the saxes use the same fingering, so if you learn one, you can transfer what you know to any of them.

Answer 2

Wow...your situation sounds a lot like my situation. I will be entering my Senior year of high school next year. I started out on flute in 5th grade, then switched to oboe mid-way through 6th grade. Since then, I've continued playing flute (mostly in marching band and pep band) and oboe in concert band. This year I picked up piccolo, which was easier to play than when I had first tried it. I also picked up English Horn (isn't it the coolest?) I've also played around a little with the clarinet but I've never been too good at it. But I have a working knowledge...enough to play in a middle school band, or lower-level high school band. I have a limited amount of piano skills, as well.

My solution to this problem for myself was picking up Tenor Sax. I wanted to get involved with jazz and this was the only way I could do that. I didn't do alto because 1) there were any school instruments available and 2) they usually have pretty intense parts in jazz. I thought tenor would be my match. And so far, it's been true! So I would go with the Tenor Sax. The fingerings are very similar to oboe and flute fingerings with a few differences. The embouchure is different, of course, so use caution if you want to be a really good oboe player as well. Good luck!

Answer 3

I would venture into the strings section (well piano is but still....). Guitar or Violin would be a good choice. Guitar is a concert instrument so a B flat would sound the same on the guitar as on the flute. On the clarinet it would be a C......i think you get the point. It's a whole new relm of music. Either that or percussion, but all percussion deals with is rhythmic patterns and hitting different parts of the same instrument.

But thats only if you really WANT to go into different instruments. I'd say stick with 2. I play clarinet and guitar.

Answer 4

I'm a fellow musician (senior in college). I was excatly like you in high school. Currently I teach flute and play some baritone sax on the side. Let me give you some advice and not to stretch yourself to thin when it comes to learning a variety of instruments. It can take a toll on your wrists and forearms. I don't know if you want to carry this on into college, but If you do you'll want to stick with one specific instrument. I can promise you will have no problem with fingerings on the sax, but it's not a pretty sight switching back to flute or a dbl reed instrument. It messes with your embouchure badly. It also depends on what groups you want to play in. If you pick one of the other instruments you have band figured out. If you really want to play sax you could play in jazz band tenor or baritone sax would probably be best so that it won't mess with your embouchure that much on your primary instrument. I find that the bari is a nice break from the upper woowinds! Best of luck in your future musical career!

Answer 5

I would say cello. It seems like you've got the reeds and the brass covered. The strings would be the next logical choice to understand. Yeah, I know that the piano is a stringed instrument. But your fingers play the keyboard, not the string. Of all the strings, I think the cello offers the most in the way of versatility. What a voice!

Answer 6

if you really want to learn another instrument and are interested in expanding your abilities, try a brass, strings, or percussion instrument. you have all types of woodwinds on your list, so learning alto sax would be a breeze for you. BUT, if you want to minor in oboe in college then you could focus your energies on that.

unless you are wanting a quick learn, then go for any in the sax family.

Answer 7

Definitely the French horn. It's such a beautiful sound.

Why not try strings or percussion? So that you'll get a rounded knowledge of different types of instruments. Cello is a great instrument to play. Learn to play drums, especially the snares or even the big wooden xylophone. It'll be great fun.

Answer 8

i'd say stick with oboe, piano, and flute and get really really good at them. if you want to pick up another, pick up brass instrument! trumpet is the easiest, but euphonium is easier to get used to the embouchure. trumpets have a very tight embouchure. both instruments have the same fingerings valve wise.

i play oboe, piano, bagpipes, handbells, euphonium, and a dozen other instruments as well, but i made sure i became very proficient on just a few while learning the others to expand my horizons.

Answer 9

I totally agree with the prior posts about sticking to one instrument. I know a lot of players who used to be great but then started spreading themselves out too thin. If you want to do music in college, pick whatever one you enjoy the most and play the best. Whichever one you pick, don't completely abandon the piano. You can continue that without messing up your embouchure. It will also help with your musicianship skills.

Answer 10

No! BOO! Not sax! Everyone plays the sax!! If you're open to brass instruments, play the French horn. It's brilliant. If you're stuck in woodwind, bassoon. But not sax...