I want to take up an instrument.... can anyone offer advice?

Question:Hello,

I'm 22 years old and my birthday is coming up next month. My mum has asked me what I'd like for my birthday and I have decided that I would like to take the opportunity to do what I have wanted to do since I was a child and take up a musical instrument. There is a local music shop that has started a hire/trial scheme so I wouldn't need to spend hundreds of pounds just to discover that I'm rubbish at it.

What I would really LOVE to do is the saxophone. On the scale of difficulty (with a view to developing skill), where does the sax rate? How does it compare to the likes of the clarinet or the flute?

If the saxophone is particularly tricky then could you suggest any instruments (NOT guitar) that were perhaps simpler for an older person to pick. I'm very much aware that children pick instruments up better than adults.

How realistic would it be to attempt to teach myself. I'm only a student and can't really afford expensive tuition.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Hello,

I'm 22 years old and my birthday is coming up next month. My mum has asked me what I'd like for my birthday and I have decided that I would like to take the opportunity to do what I have wanted to do since I was a child and take up a musical instrument. There is a local music shop that has started a hire/trial scheme so I wouldn't need to spend hundreds of pounds just to discover that I'm rubbish at it.

What I would really LOVE to do is the saxophone. On the scale of difficulty (with a view to developing skill), where does the sax rate? How does it compare to the likes of the clarinet or the flute?

If the saxophone is particularly tricky then could you suggest any instruments (NOT guitar) that were perhaps simpler for an older person to pick. I'm very much aware that children pick instruments up better than adults.

How realistic would it be to attempt to teach myself. I'm only a student and can't really afford expensive tuition.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Saxophone is great! ... mind you I'm bias because that's what I play.

Here are some important things to consider:

a) Don't think of an instrument as hard or easy. ALL instruments have their "easy" and "hard" things about them. Therefore...:

b) Pick an instrument you WANT to play. (The nice thing about flute is it's small to store and play and carry around if you take it anywhere - speaking as someone who used to carry home a tenor, baritone saxophone and a clarinet home from highschool everyday.)

c) If you can't afford consistent lessons get maybe 4 lessons in the first month to get you started on a the right path. After that get a lesson every couple of months so they can see where you are and keep you going in the right direction.

d) It doesn't matter what instrument you play, you developing skill is directly related to how much CONSISTANT time you give to your instrument. For example... practicing even just 10 minutes a day will go WAYYYYY farther than practicing an hour ever Saturday.

e) Don't let your age stop you from learning an instrument. I'm 23 and yes I already play so it's MUCH easier for me than a total beginner, but I start playing new instruments all the time. I just started playing piccolo in Big Band and Doubling Choir two weeks ago.

I hope this helps! Happy Playing!

how about violen

I definetly wouldn't attempt teaching yourself. It wouldn't take you very far, because having a professional is essential to learning techniques and the right styles, in ANY instrument or form of art. I don't know if the sax is difficult or not, but if you want a good basis for learning other instruments, I would reccomend the piano. Maybe you could find another store that gives lessons cheaper? I know I get my lessons once a week for $15, which averages out to about 8 British pounds.

Learning an instrument is an amazing thing, and you're never too old to learn. Good luck! :)

Im 18, when I was still in 5th grade (like 10-11) I took a class at a jr. high school to play flute with 20 other kids playing the sax, flute, clarinet, all at the same time. In a year, we knew at least 20 easy songs, and performed for the school. Once you able to read notes and symbols that go with it , its just memorizing the keys and songs. Flute was easy as pie for me, and another boy about 4'4 played the sax well, even though he could hardly carry it. You need lung strength for sax though, cause it can get tiring, and there are about 2x more keys on a sax then flute,but still, any of them could be perfect for you. Wind instruments are easy to maintain and not expensive. I think flute is the cheapest in terms of classes, its a wind instrument, 3 parts, and you can teach yourself once you can read notes. If you love sax however, go for it. I cant tell you the cost of it however, I never pursued it, sorry

Hello.

I am picking up from your question that you are most interested in wind instruments.
The sax sounds like the most interesting to you, yet you also sound frightened that the learning of it may prove to be more of a challenge as an adult.

I know of this only too well because I am teaching myself, mostly, to play a Bodhran. That's a Celtic drum for any persons information reading this! I have an instruction cd I burnt and I play this on my mp3 player. Sometimes just to hear it, sometimes just to learn the rhythms without playing - I can't really hear both when I tip! It is more difficult to learn without the support of other tippers!

I'm considering joining a local group who involve the music somehow - it's difficult to find any other drumming groups than those with the ubiquitous djembes!!

Good luck and follow your nose!

Go with the Sax....

Honestly THE single most important thing that will make you stick at an instrument is that you LOVE it. Without that you will fail at any....

And ALL instruments are hard to learn to play well and the determination will come from your will power and LOVE of the instrument.

I should know, I learnt to play guitar at the age of 31 and now teach it at 38....

GO with the SAX!

Good Luck!

;o)

There are many self taught instrument players out there...
As long as you have the foicus and patience for such an endeavor I would go for it. I myself taught myself to play the piano. It took a while, but after I learned the keys and chords
it came like water from a river...for an older person I think the
strings would be good...the only big difference between one instrument and he next is how it's played...the notes are pretty
much the same(sort of)....

Go with the sax, especially if you can borrow one to start with. Get six or so lessons to see if you can basically get a good sound out of it. This is important to the rest of the people in your house if you are going to get in the required amount of practice. The sax is easier than clarinet........I think so anyway. Talk to other players. Get their opinions. You are never too late to start. Good blowing S

look, i dont know about the saxaphone or the flute, i dont own one, have only ever tried playing the guitar and harmonbica.. and got pretty far on my own.

Dont listen to people who tell you you cant teach yourself, its rubbish, you can if you are very dedicated and persistent. There are tons of book,s their are tons of great saxophonists to get you inspired. So it shouldnt really be about "is it difficult to play", cus every instrument is hard if you want to do it well, there is no easy option in learning to play music.

So if you want it enough, then just do it..

I say you should go with the Sax. Why? well it is very easy after a while, and with the right teacher, will become easy very quickly. on a scale of 1-10 in easiness, i say 8.

Compare to flute:

F: 4
S: 7

Compare to clarinet:

C: 7
S: 8

Just remember, there are many types of saxophones so make sure you know what one is best for you...

Tenor: Plays a bit low pitch and is bigger and heavier

Alto: Is light and about the size from your hand to your elbow and is the easiest sax. to play.

Soprano: I have no clue on this one. it just looks like a clarinet... Suppose to be hard to play.

The other one: I dunno what this one is but my teacher said there are 4 types of saxophones... it's also hard to play...

Just make sure your dedicated to it and will practice often. Also learn the notes. spend your time memorizing them. Otherwise you'll end up like a kid in my class who can't play a single note without messing up completely...

Saxophone is quite an easy instrument - probably the easiest instrument of all the woodwind.

It's far easier than clarinet and flute.

If you're still looking for something else - try the clarinet, even though it's kinda tricky. Or piano, although it's hard.

It's not easy to start, but once you do, it's the easy road from there on in, really.

The saxophone is easier than the flute and clarinet (I've seen people playing flute, looked hard; tried playing friend's clarinet, harder!). There are 4 kinds of saxophones available in the US: Bb Tenor, Bb Soprano (looks like clarinet), Eb Alto, and Eb Baritone (hardest!). I would recommend the soprano. It's easier to play because it's small and you don't need as much breath for it as the others. I play the tenor, and it requires quite a bit a breath. Teaching yourself might be a little hard though. I would honestly get a tutor just to help with setting it up and playing all the notes.

its cool that you want to get involved with an instrument. i have played the saxophone for over 5 years now and i love it. i would say that its actually a pretty easy instrument to learn. i taught myself in a little less than 1 1/2 months (all notes and fingerings).
i suggest you take up the saxophone, its worth it, and you will love it. hope i helped and have fun!!

Piccolo. It's very portable, relatively cheap and makes a nice noise.

My daughter took up the harp and transporting it to concerts was a nightmare, cost a fortune to insure and maintain.