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What Instrument(s) do you play?

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I play the allmighty mini-tuba (Euphonium, if you insist.) I'm learning guitar though, simply, I admit, cause Luca Turilli plays guitar, and Bjorn Lynne plays guitar, and ya.

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  • mckalemack
    mckalemack

    When I get time I play guitar. Its my favorite.

  • Jon Brooks
    Jon Brooks

    I mainly play the Piano and French Horn... although occasionally I can be seen singing or squealing into a trumpet! Muahahaaa.

A Harpist, cool!

If you could check the "writing for harp" topic and answer our questions it would be great. Harp, oh I like that instrument, too bad we don't have one in our orchestra (or our music school :D )

I have played the piano for 10 years and the clarinet for 8 years. About a year ago, I picked up the oboe. Now, I'm playing it in the symphony orchestra.

Everybody says it's so hard to blow in. But it's all about technique. (in practise, it's about tightening your stomach ;-)) Sometimes, (like a session today) I get a serious headache while playing, but it doesn't happen really often. I don't believe the people that say you can kill yourself by playing the oboe.

About the reeds; It's some screwed up stuff. I just used some hours making three reeds, they all broke. (I'm doing the beginner mistakes here) But I get reeds from my oboe teacher, so that's not a problem. (Well, hasn't been until this date.)

About learning a lot of instruments; My oboe teacher doesn't really like that I play the clarinet too as it ruins my embouchure. But as I just bought my $4000 clarinet, I'm not going to quit playing it.

So, everything taken into account, picking up the oboe is a fun and challenging of time and resources. Just decide NOT to quit after a year, this is where the "holy border" goes, some quits before, the rest keeps playing it until their blood veins explode. :-P

  • 3 weeks later...

I've been playing the violin for eight years now, since I was four. I started in the Suzuki Method and already gave concerts in Italy (Genova, Asti, Alessandria) and Holland (Weerselo). I'm currently playing the G minor Violin Concerto by Max Bruch (it's absolutely GREAT). :unsure:

Um... Piano. Taught my self.

Can't say I 'm great, due to my lack of theory-knowledge.

But at least i 've developed my 'ears' and... patience (learnt to play Bach's Toccata (d minor) by ear. (of course i 'm sure what i play is not 100% correct)

  • 2 weeks later...

Baritone/Euponium (There is a difference!!!) for about 9(ish) years. This is my principle instrument (always and forever) i started in the 6th grade and absolutely loved it.

Trombone (self taught for HS jazz band). I had taught myself some in Middle school. Once I moved I decided I wanted to play in jazz band so I touched up my trombone skills and auditioned my senior year.

Clarinet, Flute, Piano, Guitar all self taught because I was bored.

Um... Piano.
By ear? wow you must be good... but i would advise you to get some notes if you want to progress... just looking at scores made by great composers can do you great good...

I guess I've learned to play the guitar the same way... I've been playing for six years without a single lesson or book. I just listen to songs and try to figure them out... that may explain why I've gotten the high score on every test in ear training this year at my college. (bragging rights) :laugh:

But seriously, doing that helps your ear so much and you become a better player by it... I try to do the same thing when I practice jazz trumpet, listen to solos and try to repeat (in notes and style) what was just played.

I've never been good at playing by ear - odd, because I can sight-sing almost anything without having heard it before, which is exactly the reverse. But this summer I decided, in my usual way, to start out going in well above my head - starting with Bruch's Scottish Fantasy.

I finally bought the sheet music last week, after practicing by ear for almost two months. I actually wasn't that far off at figuring out the notes in the double- and triple-stops in the fourth movement. (Granted, this was after a whole lot of listening...)

Technically if you learnt by ear your learning theory. How was theory written if people didn't already know it? Everything is inside to know just if you study, everything comes a lot quicker.

  • 2 months later...

hi, nice question Piano!

I only play keyboard/piano/synthesizer, and I have only learned to play it by myself and from books. I play a lot cause it is so fun and my selfcreated melodies are so great :D lol. By the way I think that Beatles` "yesterday" is a very nice song!

have a very nice day all

d

I play just about anything Brass as well as guitar, concert percussion, and piano.

Play well: Trombone

Play decently: Piano, String Bass, Bass guitar, Tuba, Euphonium

Play up to Grade 3: Trumpet, Saxophone

Percussion

I have a friend who can get percussion eggs and juggle them in time to music. Just thought you'd like to know

empty jug... played by blowing air over the opening...

  • 3 weeks later...

I play clarinet, mallets and some paino. Some I will learn how to play giutar and battery instruments. :P

Well, here's a bit of an updated list.

My primary instrument is the alto sax, which I've played for around 5 years.

This year I began playing the French Horn, probably around 3-4 months, and I'm learning pretty quick.

I've also been doing some basic keyboard percussion studies for marching band next year.

i can play the minni-tuba, or the Ephonium, if you so insist upon calling it that.

I currently play piano only. I was proficient on flute, alto saxophone and trumpet when I was a teenager, and I could play violin, clarinet, and guitar also, but not well. I also have a decent, but not great, singing voice. I was in vocal ensam. in high school and jr high. I would love to start playing flute again soon.

- Jen

I play the piano as my main instrument (Grade 8 ABRSM), double bass (Grade 5), cello (around Grade 6 equivalent), viola (just started on that a few weeks ago), can scratch out a tune on the ole' violin, have a basic range on the clarinet though the higher notes and that damn register key are a bit too much for my liking (!) and finally there's an accordian in the room - don't ask me were that came from!! :)

  • 2 weeks later...

Lets See: (in order of how well I play it)

Piano

All of the Saxophone family (mainly Alto and Bari)

Mallet Percussion

Guitar

Bass Guitar

Concert Percussion (I play woodblock in my schools percussion ensemble!!!)

Bass Clarinet

I think that's about it, lol...

Listed in the order of how well I play them:

Trombone

Piano

Euphonium

Doublebass

Cello

Bb Clarinet- 8 years

Bass Clarinet- 1 week- lol

Alto Sax- 3 1/2 years

Bari Sax- 2 years

Oboe- like 8 notes- I tried it once

  • 2 weeks later...

clarinet- 6 years

oboe- 3 years

trumpet- 7 months

i kinda stink at trumpet >.<

  • 3 weeks later...

I learned the piano when I was only at the age of 3+ in JMC in Yamaha Music School but took my first exam in 1998 for practical through ABRSM. Currently, I'm studyin' Grade 7 practical and theory.

I'm now currently taking up my second instrument which is the violoncello. I'm doing Grade 6 this year through ABRSM. Till now, I've still couldn't believe that I can go that high within 2 1/2 years and even skip grade 1-4. Thanks to my music teacher who encourages me so that I can quickly take diploma exam within 2-3 years time.

Playing the cello is actually quite fun. I must admit why I chose this instrument as a second instrument. It is because while playing concerto or any compostion that is written for it with the orchestra accompaniment, you've just have to seat throughout the whole repertoire and play it, not like most orchestral instruments. Just kidding! :glare:

Actually, this instrument to me have actually possess a warm tone which I've actually love to hear it. The cello actually can play music for many types of genre. If anyone of you hear carefully some of Bee Gees older records or songs like To Love Somebody or even Massechusetts, you can actually hear a solo cello being played out. I've always like to turn my cello into a bass guitar or even tried playing it like holding a guitar (just as Luigi Boccherini once instructed the player to do so in one of his compositions) or playing the bass line for some jazz or pop pieces.

Tried making a double-reed out of a Mc Donald's straw and blowing through it. Sounded like a fart or something.

I've been playing piano for four years now (three with classes and one by my own). People who know me say I play very well, too well for someone with only four years on the piano (WARNING! The previous phrase included no modesty! :) The modesty will return right away...). I've also had two obligatory years playing the recorder at school (I like to call it the vertical flute ;)).

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