You're welcome, garddwr! If you need any more questions answer, or help with instruments, feel free to post some questions! I'll be happy to help!! :)

You're welcome, garddwr! If you need any more questions answer, or help with instruments, feel free to post some questions! I'll be happy to help!! :)

You're welcome, garddwr! If you need any more questions answer, or help with instruments, feel free to post some questions! I'll be happy to help!! :)

You're welcome, garddwr! If you need any more questions answer, or help with instruments, feel free to post some questions! I'll be happy to help!! :)

Thanks Kristen, I'll certainly consider that!

Hi! 1. Private lessons don't need to be mandatory. How old are they? Because I know that brginning in 5th grade there is a school band and they have lessons there. 2. Hm, well youtube I guess haha. Or maybe a friend of yours does and s/he can help your kids. How to pick an instrument is as simple as arranging a time with your local (music) store, like Music and Arts, and letting your kids run about trying all the instruments and getting their feed back. Try not to convince them to play this, or not play that, because they will only be successful on what instrument they like and want to play. All instruments are difficult to some degree. Some that should not be self taught are French horn, oboe, or bassoon. The reason being these 3 instruments are the most difficult instruments to learn. Any questions why, just ask me. Hope I helped, and if yoinjave any other other questions, feel free to ask!! Good luck! Matt

Thank you Chris, I was not aware that those types of people came to this website. I apologize for snapping at you. have a nice day!!!! :) Matt

Thank you Mrs_JWM, I was not aware spammers would come onto this website. And yes, a fanfare/herald trumpet is a type of trumpet, not a brand.

Ahhhh that's so cool! Have fun... I wish my town or county had that stuff! Well have fun... Maybe you can get an instrument as well haha! Well, if you like music and instruments. and Wow!!!! Navy Band is considered one of the best bands around!

Ah okay, then he is DEFINITELY ready for the flute. Maybe just some advice, before he gets the flute bring him to a music store and ask for him to try out any instruments. They should let him, since he would be the buyer. Let him try out them all so he doesn't buy the flute and then go "Man, I wish I bought the (clarinet, french horn, sax etc). I remember getting my instrument... I was like a little kid in a candy shop :)

Well actually, I am not home schooled. I go to a public school. My posts actually do have education ties, since playing an instrument can raise IQ by 7 points, or help with math. Instruments also help to get college or high school scholarships, so I am wondering which ones might give me a step up. Music helps to increase motivation and keep the mind busy, since I am a smart student and I am ahead of most people. Music keeps my mind sharp because music exercises both right and left sides of the brain. if you were not going to answer my question, why did you take time to comment on it with nothing relevant? I did not take offense to your question, but one day someone might so maybe you should before commenting think of all of the possibilities... Sorry if I came off like a mean person, but I want to make sure you don't make someone who is angry and mean mad at you. I apologize again, Matt

Hey I'm in middle school, 8th grade, in band, and I am multi-instrumental. I am going to explain some of the different instruments and if your son can learn them! :) Alto Sax: Good beginner sax instrument, if his hands are too small, definitely wait because when your left hand wraps around the top keys you will hit other noise altering keys. Second smallest of the 4 common saxes Soprano Sax: Highest sax, also the smallest sax. However,playing one is incredibly difficult and the embouchure can actually be painful. The embouchure is very tight and the reed can dig into the lip and get all "pinchy". Also, the soprano is probably not taught in your school band since it is not a common or easy instrument to play. Tenor Sax: Bigger than alto, second lowest sax. Usually taught after alto sax because of lower pitch and harder to play. Need bigger hands Baritone sax: Biggest and lowest sax. Need big hands, carrying the case takes two people and weighs like 50 pounds. Flute: Takes a lot of air to play, only about 70%of blown air goes into the flute. Beginners may feel dizzy playing the flute. Good instrument you can move up to piccolo, or it helps learn how to breathe and stuff like that Piccolo: small flute, MUCH harder than flute, less people play it though. Bb Clarinet: Need somewhat large hands to play you can move on to bass clarinet which is bigger and less people play Trumpet: Sound made by buzzing into a mouthpiece. Buzzing is like giving a raspberry to your mouth piece. Only 3 valves but you can change pitch by lip tension Trombone: Need to buzz into mouth piece and move slide to make notes. Baritone: Mini tuba kind of, and you also must buzz to make noise, as with all brass instruments. Tuba: Lowest instrument in band, buzz into mouthpiece to make noise. Also adjust lip tension as with all brass instrument. Now, those were all good beginner instruments, but the ones I am going to name next are the hardest instruments, but they are VERY rewarding. Oboe: The oboe is a woodwind instrument, the 3rd highest woodwind to play, only to piccolo and flute. Since it is a double reed instrument, (reed is two small reeds tied and stapled together), it is incredibly difficult to play since having to push a lot of air into the instrument. Not very many people play the Oboe, so scholarships are always a possibility. SECOND hardest woodwind to play, THIRD hardest wind instrument to play. Pitched in key of C. WARNING: People have been known to pass out playing oboe because playing it requires so much air the CO2 can build up in the player's lungs and make them pass out. English Horn: A big oboe. Even less people play English horn than oboe. Pitched in key of F. Should begin on oboe and then switch to English horn. Sounds lower than oboe, and the higher tones sound nicer and warmer than the oboe. Oboe and English horn are not for everyone. WARNING: English horn comes with quite a price tag. Bassoon: A double reed instrument. 4 feet tall, with like, 5 thumb keys. Need BIG hands to play bassoon. Unlike the oboe, the bassoon is a very low instrument, in fact, the lowest woodwind, aside from contrabassoon. Dark, rich woody tones. Not many people play bassoon. Hardest woodwind instrument to play. Contrabassoon: Lower than bassoon, plays in bass clef like bassoon. French Horn: French horn is the third highest brass instrument. Played by inserting right hand into the bell. Buzz into the mouthpiece, which unlike most brass mouthpieces, is cone shaped, not a rounded. THE HARDEST instrument to play. Hard because of the overtone series, which is with the same fingering you can play the same notes. the empty position is capable of playing C, E, G, and High D. I would buy a double horn (ask music store employee what the difference between a single horn and double horn.) Not many people play because it is the HARDEST instrument to play. Good for scholarships as well as oboe, English Horn, bassoon, contrabssoon and tuba. Hope I helped with telling you about some band instruments!!! Matt

I play the sax and French horn, and I was wondering about if I should buy and play a Bb herald trumpet. I am wondering because would playing the trumpet mess with my French horn embouchure? Please give me your thoughts on the Herald Fanfare trumpets and if I should play one. Thanks in advance! Matt

Ah thank you! My horn has a bright tone, that's good, what I want. I like the nobleness of a bright instrument. Whay you do you prefer? Bright or dark tones?

Hi, I currently play a Holton H378 horn. I am borrowing it from the school because I have just began playing. The horn I play is without a doubt, well worn. Scratches all over the metal, dent (doesn't affect sound at all!). The horn is over 25 years old, and I love it! It is really easy to jump from note to note on it. Does any one else own the same model horn, or a Holton in general and what is your opinion of a Holton horn? Also, I like the "feeling of it" (warm vs cold, light vs dark etc sounding) how does Holton H378 sound compared to other horns, for I have only played this one horn thus far. Thanks! Matt