Six Ways to Help You Choose Which Instrument to Play
If you have decided that you really want to learn how to play a musical instrument then the next step is to decide which instrument is the best one for you. Depending on your situation, it may be your child who is anxious to learn how to play an instrument. This is a more difficult process, as you must determine not just what they want to play but what they will be able to play based on their age and abilities. Either way there are some basics steps that you can take to work out which instrument will be most suitable.
To begin with you should research different instruments. This can be done in several ways. Listen to music played by various instruments and decide which sound you like. Look on the Internet and learn how the instrument is played. Then go to music stores and see what they look like. Ask to hold the ones you think you will like. These simple first steps will help you narrow down your search.
Look to the physical aspect of the instruments you like. You may realize that some are too heavy or awkward for you to play. If you are a petite person you may find choosing a cello a bad match. Some instruments need the musician to have long fingers or facial agility. You need to determine if you have the unusual things that some instruments require. If you do then you should proceed with your interest. If you do not than you must choose a different instrument.
A good musical instrument is not cheap and when you buy your first one there are certain financial considerations to take into account. While there are some you can buy second hand others should not be; saving money while still getting a good instrument does not always go hand in hand. You can look into renting if it is a big instrument you want to play like a piano or cello. Especially if you do not know how you will like playing this it is a better alternative than spending a huge amount of money on a hope. You can also rent many smaller instruments. If you are doing this with a wind instrument you will have to buy only the mouthpiece. You want that to be yours only.
If you are looking to play something solely for your own pleasure that is one thing but if you are looking to play so you can join an orchestra or band that also influences your instrument choice. Playing piano is wonderful but it is an instrument you are more likely to play alone.
If you can find someone local to teach you this is so much better than trying to learn by yourself. Private lessons should not be too costly and will give you a good start on how to hold and play your instrument. Whether you continue taking lessons after the first few will depend how confident you feel with the instrument, whether you are able to read music or if you just enjoy the lessons and feel you will benefit from continuing with them.
If you feel that the instrument you have chosen is not right for you it is perfectly normal to change what you are playing. It is not unusual at all for people to change to another instrument in the same family. Perhaps the violin is a little too small for you and so you change to a viola instead. Or maybe the brass instrument you are playing is too heavy, or awkward for you to play. It is more important to make the change early than play something you are not comfortable with.