Instruments - do you specialize?

I've began self-teaching myself the piano at age 12, then I began lessons on piano and violin. Those two are what I specialize in now. In middle school I was introduced to a whole spectrum of instruments - I chose mallet percussion. Now I'm 17 and I play flute, clarinet, horn, trumpet, and soprano recorder quite well (better than most kids in my high school band who only specialize in their single instrument, it's quite sad, really, when I'm sitting there with a Sousaphone around my neck giving fingering advice to the flute and clarinet sections and trying to help the baritone horn section with their notes). I'm only just learning tuba and I plan to learn euphonium within the next year.

It was wierd at first, somebody would have an instrument that they are giving away for free, so I would just collect them. The two that I would say were most difficult to learn at first were violin and flute, but once I got started with the clarinet I found that learning "extra" instruments becomes easier and easier. It also helps to have a very sharp learning curve I guess, in addtion to having no other life outside music.

The reason I've learned to play so many instruments is for the benefit of writing music for them. Once you're familiar enough with an instrument (i.e. you get to the point where you know what you're doing) you can utilize it in you composition as effectively as can be, really bringing out its technical capabilities without overtaxing whoever may be playing the finished music.

My favorites, though? I would HAVE to say horn, marimba, and cor anglais

EDIT:

Yeah, I pretty much suck at guitar, I don't know how you're supposed to keep track of so many strings! Same with harp, and them some!

learning multiple instruments does help with composition because you learn that just because a note is in an instruments range doesn't mean its easy to get the note out. I am currently learning oboe and I used to write some oboe parts really high or really low and now I realize that I can barely get the notes out.

learning multiple instruments does help with composition because you learn that just because a note is in an instruments range doesn't mean its easy to get the note out. I am currently learning oboe and I used to write some oboe parts really high or really low and now I realize that I can barely get the notes out.

Keep in mind, because you can't play the note easily, doesn't mean you should avoid writing it.

If you're learning multiple instruments, it's difficult to become even mildly proficient on them. At best you'll remain a beginner/amateur for quite a while.

Don't base your compositional options on your abilities - pros will most likely have an easier time of it.

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As a would-be performer and composer myself, I'm always slightly shocked and suspicious when someone claims they play "French horn, piano, guitar, violin, cello, saxophone and flute", or an extremely lengthy list to that effect.

On the other hand, some would argue that performance ability has nothing to do with composition, and that's probably true for a percentage of musicians. Ironically, it must take quite a bit of talent to visualize and compose when performance ability is supposedly "lacking".

Which style describes you best? Which do you feel is the most effective?

For those that say that playing an instrument makes you more aware of what's possible: It takes a lot less time to read an instrumentation textbook, and find out exactly what the average professional violist can play than it does to become a professional violinist.

True, true, but its just not fun that way, you see. :)Some of us enjoy the heck out of having the ability to play more than just a couple instruments, I personally love it. I always strive to improve where I am weakest, which right now is violin, and I have a string workshop coming, up, so that should be rectified soon enough. :ninja:

I personally believe that it’s beneficial to play more than one instrument. I believe that playing two or more instruments can actually accelerate the progress on the others.

One thing that is known with absolute certainty is that focusing on just one instrument is no recipe for success. There are countless examples of people who have focused on just one instrument and never became anything more than a mediocre player. So specializing in just one instrument doesn’t guarantee a thing.

Moreover, people who have focused on just one instrument and have become great at it doesn’t imply that focusing on just one instrument had anything to do with it. They might have become just as great had they played several instruments. There’s simply no way to know since they didn’t even try.

On 3/8/2007 at 5:42 AM, manossg said:

I specialize in guitar (or, rather, used to specialize for more than a dozen years). I also used the guitar to compose until recently.

Now I compose almost entirely on the piano (guitar is only good for composing for...the guitar, sometimes trying to harmonize simple melodies) and (try to) specialize in the violoncello. But I also (try to) play the piano (composing is one thing, playing is another), the harmonica and baglamas (a traditional greek stringed instrument - kind of like a small, high-pitched mandolin). 🙂 Each instrument provides its own unique sound which can be an inspiration in itself.

Apart from that, I believe one should have solid knowledge of musical instruments for which to compose, even if he/she doesn't specialize in them. Guitarists, for example, tend to write almost exclusively for the guitar, but that can be a very one-sided choice of timber. 😉 But most serious composers prefer to utilize a variety of instruments (and they certainly don't have the time to specialize in each and every one of them).

Apart from knowing a lot about instrumentation, one should hang out with musicians specializing in different instruments. Their feedback can sometimes be invaluable, even for the well-versed in instrumentation.

So, I guess I try to use the best in both approaches. 😉

 

That sounds like a fantastic array of instruments to work with! Each one indeed brings its own character and possibilities to your compositions. It's great that you're exploring different instruments and their unique sounds. How can I assist you with your composing or playing today?