If you are in a school band, where did you learn to play your instrument?

Question

Did you have private instructions? At school or somewhere else? Or do you just get taught by the band instructor? When did you start playing? Does the band teacher really know how to play every instrument?

Answer 1

i took private lessons!

Answer 2

I taught myself then I learnt from private teachers when music got a little serious! I am a Flute/Clarinet teacher and have had to correct several students on bad 'habits' that they have been taught by their band instructors! Some of these instructors have NO IDEA about how to play some instruments! It really frustrates me and my students when they I have to correct things that are NOT good for their playing! There is over 15 instruments that can be involved in a school band! To expect one teacher to be an expert in every single one is a bit much to expect! If you are in a band Go to private lessons! Even finding a student teacher from the local music school is better than somebody who doesn't know what they are doing!

I am sorry if this seems to be negative against band instructors! I know what they have to achieve in schools in a very little amount of time and I admire they for being able to keep kids and their instruments under control! But I get SO frustrated when my students come to me and say that their band instructor wants them to do or play something that they are in NO WAY ready for! It does nothing for their confidence and sets them up for failure. If the band instructor specialises in your instrument then go ahead take lessons but if not find someone who does!

Answer 3

I started band when I was in the 6th grade. I wanted to play Alto sax, but come to it, I didn't have the lungs for the instrument. Lucky for me, I had been taking piano lessons and I asked if I could play the bells. Since then, I've been the top mallet percussionist in class. My percussion instructor's wife (who has had her share of the horn line, percussion, and drum majoring) taught me in about July to play with a 4-mallet grip. I love it! Even though I'm a Junior, my instructor says that I'm really on a college level with my mallet skills. I've branched out since about 9th grade and can play snare, bass, timpani, cymbals, and other percussion instruments. I never did have private lessons in percussion. I got my help from my instructor at school. I only had lessons in piano.
My band director knows how to play a variety of instruments, but not all. He can help and know some of the fingerings because some instruments have the same fingerings. But he's basically a trumpet player. My percussion instructor can help out in the band, also, but he's basically a percussionist.

Answer 4

I started in 4th grade. We had lessons once a week with other people who played the same instrument. In 6th grade we had band every day. After the 6th grade, I started learning other instruments on my own. In later high school, military, and college, I had private lessons on some instruments.

Private lessons are a great advantage in addition to band class. Most people don't do lessons until they're in high school though. If you have the opportunity, it's very worth it.

Yes, the band teacher really had to learn every instrument (singing, conducting, and music writing too). They don't have to learn to play a concerto on it but they have to play it. I know a college student who is in the "learn to be a band director" program (Master of Arts in Teaching) right now. He's a tuba player. He was handed a flute yesterday and told to know the two octave chromatic scale and Bb concert scale by next Monday. ☺ Then he'll have a week to learn the clarinet. He learned percussion and strings over the summer. All of that while he does homework for other classes and, since it's the holidays, we musicians are really busy playing too.

Some know how to play every instrument better than others. I can play every woodwind and brass instrument well enough to make money at it as a seat musician but not well enough to be a concert soloist. We all have our main instrument though - mine's flute. I know plenty of band directors that play instruments well enough to pass them off in class but wouldn't be able to play in an orchestra on it.

We all have our weak area too - mine is strings. Might be a bad idea for me to teach orchestra. ☺

Answer 5

In order to get a music education degree, a teacher has to take what are called "methods" classes. They learn the basics of percussion, brass instruments, single reeds, double reeds, flute, and string instruments. This is not a great deal of training, as there is only one semester spent in each area, but a good teacher will have put in enough effort to at least start a beginner on any instrument.

I personally learned from my band directors, and my father, who was also a brass musician. I didn't have private lessons until college, and I'm now a DMA student in horn. This isn't common - most people who major in music have had private lessons with a teacher of their instrument.

Answer 6

I started band when I was in the seventh grade because that was the earliest it was offered. My band teacher played the French horn extremely well and even played with a drum corps (the Crossmen and Carolina Crown). I played the French horn too, so I got a really good education on how to play it just from taking band class. I was going to take lessons, but I decided I'm not that serious about band because I just do it for fun. I think taking band was an awesome opportunity, because I made so many new friends that I would have never met before. Good luck with your adventures in band!

Answer 7

I started in the HS Band with the formation of a Color Guard then tried to learn the Clarinet then moved onto the 'Brass Tuba" and ended playing the 'Baritone Horn'. The band director taught many of us how to play our instruments. He was a very good 'Trumpet' player'.


I spend nearly 5 years in band as I started in Jr. High and got my sweater letter which I cherish to this day nearly 45 years later.

Answer 8

I started to play the flute when I was seven, when my brother, who was 9, joined the school orchestra. I was too young for the band but I am soo glad I had to start with a private teacher because it gives you a different perspective of the intrument and classical music all together.
Also, look for local youth orchestras. They introduce you to orchestral music which is so much more beautiful and exciting than band music. Good luck!

Answer 9

played percussion i was taught in middle school started in 7th grade this hs school dosen't