Choosing Your First Instrument - Which One???

1. Start by listening - what do you like the sound of? Different sounds resonate with different people. Is there anything that you heard, and thought "I want to make that sound!" Try Youtube, Spotify, and live music!

"Peter and the Wolf" is a great piece of music by Sergei Prokofiev. It tells a Russian folk tale which the orchestra illustrates by using different instruments to play a "theme" that represents each character in the story. You can hear the flute, clarinet, oboe, French horn, bassoon, trumpet, trombone, strings, and percussion.

2. Visit us and check out the range available. Factors that may influence your choice might depend on:

• Price - for example even beginner bassoons can cost more than 5 times the price of a beginner trumpet or clarinet
• Size - some instruments are unwieldy and not suited for young players - think tubas! However a baritone horn would be a good starting point for a budding tuba player. Flutes, trumpets, and clarinets are all suitable for the average sized player over the age of 7 or 8.
• Sound - some people are drawn to a particular instrument due to the sound they make. For example a flute delivers a soft melodic sound, whereas a saxophone is usually much louder and immediate. A bassoon can give a haunting deep sound, and a trumpet a clear and inspiring sound. We all react differently.

3. Download and check out our instrument guides and buying tips below - after immersing ourselves in music for years as beginners, professionals, teachers and parents, we can really help with what to look for.

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact us by phone or email for advice. Check out the guides in the Related Documents section below.