Need help about woodwind instrument?

Question:I started playing around with my recorder (we had to learn how to play the recorder in year 3) and I started to like it, but I thought the recorder was a bit childish in a way. I was searching for other woodwind instruments and I found out aout the clarinet, piccolo, flute, etc, and the clarinet caught my eye, but it looks hard to play! Too many buttons and holes. I don't want to learn the piccolo also. What would you suggest? the recorder or clarinet..

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I started playing around with my recorder (we had to learn how to play the recorder in year 3) and I started to like it, but I thought the recorder was a bit childish in a way. I was searching for other woodwind instruments and I found out aout the clarinet, piccolo, flute, etc, and the clarinet caught my eye, but it looks hard to play! Too many buttons and holes. I don't want to learn the piccolo also. What would you suggest? the recorder or clarinet..

Try the clarinet! Don't worry, it has a lot of buttons, but you don't need to worry about most of them for now. It's going to work a lot like your recorder does, too, but it's in a different key. You'll be a little squeaky at first, because the clarinet uses a reed, but if you've played the recorder you should get the basics down pretty quickly!

If you've got a local music store, go visit! I'm sure they'll be happy to let you try it out! If you live anywhere near Erie, PA, go to World of Music (that's my family's store), and I know for sure they'll let you try whatever you want! Good luck and have fun!

Clarinet!! There are more teachers around then recorder. Yes there are lots of silver things and buttons but you will learn them eventually. Once you get past the squeaks the clarinet is an awesome instrument to play!

Definitely switch to the clarinet. I have played it for a while and have enjoyed it. It may look intimidating to see all those buttons and keys, but once you get the hang of it, it is a blast.

I suggest getting lessons from an experienced clarinet player. That is how I started and it helped me immensely.

Another way to get used to the clarinet is to play scales. Lots of them. That is another way in which I improved my clarinet abilities.

Good luck! Like I said, it is a blast, and you will love it!

I have never heard of an instument called a recorder.The flute is not a woodwind instrument.Have you thought about the saxophone?The clarinets are pretty cool too.

If you want to learn how to play a woodwind instrument, but don't want a difficult one to learn how to play, you've made the right choice.
Don't even think about the oboe, English horn or bassoon. They are nightmares to play, and I would imagine difficult to learn. You really have to be very serious about becoming a musician to decide on one of these.
If you're not serious, the saxophone is the easiest to learn and to play. Stay away from the flute and piccolo.((just for your general knowledge - not considering string instruments - the French Horn is by far the most difficult band instrument to learn, and to play. One is usually "invited" to study this instrument: not a choice otherwise))
Hope this helps.
Good luck,

Wotan

P.S. - The saxophone by most musical authorities is considered to be an "inferior" instrument. You want find them - except in rare instances - to be included in any symphonic scoring.

I play the clarinet. It's a great instrument, and its not that hard to play. But you need to find yourself a teacher. and when you play an instrument you need to practise everyday. I would suggest clarinet. There are also other instruments: oboe (expensive, and hard to play) basoon (even more expensive and NOTHING like a recorder) flute (bit like a picallo but bigger and more popular, quite a good instrument if you ask me-not too expensive) saxophone is cool and easy but a bit restricting when it comes to orchestras. I would say clarinet is your best option.

Note to whoever said flute isn't a woodwind instrument-YOU'RE WRONG

First: try the clarinet- the fingering is a little bit like the Recorder so it will seem familiar.
If you like the Recorder, don't give it up completely. It's a nice instrument to play with, take to picnics, and great if you ever get interested in folk music or very early music like renaissance. There are some very fine pieces of music written for the recorder by composers like Bach.

As to THIS comment:
"The saxophone by most musical authorities is considered to be an "inferior" instrument. You want find them - except in rare instances - to be included in any symphonic scoring."

That is just CRAP. You could say the same thing about harps. Just because there aren't saxophones in the Boston Symphony Orchestra during every concert does not make the sax inferior. If you like the sound of the saxophone, try it.