Choosing a Musical Instrument

If you enjoy music, then perhaps you have considered playing a musical instrument in a band. If this is something that you are seriously considering and you devote a lot of time and energy to your instrument, you are opening a world of future options for yourself. As a child there was nothing more appealing than the idea of playing a musical instrument in a band or a marching band. I remember watching parades throughout the year and thinking that someday I would be the one marching to the driving beat of the bass drum. It was such an exciting thought at the time. I didn't care which musical instrument I was going to play I simply wanted to be a part of the experience.

I had no idea then that music would have such a profound impact on the rest of my life. Whether you want to play music in a rock band, a marching band, a concert band, or a jazz band you need to make sure that the musical instrument you play is one that is not only compatible with your tastes and desires, but will also be appropriate in the specific band you wish to play in. While there aren't many hard and fast rules, an electric guitar would be a hard sell for a high school marching band. A few years ago, a violin would have been a harder sell for a rock band that it is today. My point is that you want to choose a musical instrument that will take you where you want to go with your instrument.

Try imagining yourself with that instrument in your desired band. For my purpose here I will discuss the instruments in the marching band. Unlike the orchestra, a marching band consists of three families of musical instruments: woodwinds, brass, and percussion. A marching band doesn't include all instruments from any family, but rather select musical instruments that can withstand the sometimes-rigorous demands that marching bands place on them. The woodwinds in this instance would be the piccolo, flute, clarinet, and alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones. The brass includes trumpets or coronets, French horns, baritones, and tubas.

The percussion instruments in a marching band are the bass drum (which provides that pulsing beat I love so much), snare drums, cymbals, and the glockenspiel (more commonly known as the bells). All of these musical instruments combine to make the sound that most Americans associate with football. Playing a musical instrument is more than a way to be a part of the band. With your instrument you can open the doors to so many possibilities. Be creative, practice often, and play with passion - if you do these things you and your musical instrument should go far together. If playing musical instruments in a band is what you desire, then you should do your best to achieve those goals. Make intelligent decisions about which instrument you learn to play, practice daily, and play with passion, and you should accomplish your goals of being part of the band. ...