Instrument choice for piano players

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why dont they have piano as an option? With the keyboards available nowadays, it doesn’t really make sense that it’s not an option in the school systems. Does anyone know why?

Both band and orchestra/strings are ensemble groups and social groups. Piano is solitary, sometimes an accompanist to another musician. It's not a group activity.

In high school, sometimes a pianist may have a place in theater or chorus or in a full orchestra or small ensemble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why dont they have piano as an option? With the keyboards available nowadays, it doesn’t really make sense that it’s not an option in the school systems. Does anyone know why?

Both band and orchestra/strings are ensemble groups and social groups. Piano is solitary, sometimes an accompanist to another musician. It's not a group activity.

In high school, sometimes a pianist may have a place in theater or chorus or in a full orchestra or small ensemble.

DP: I kinda feel like this might be dated to when you couldn't bring multiple pianos to a band/orchestra--why couldn't music now be arranged to have multiple keyboard parts?

[Anonymous]

Some schools do have piano... Edison, WestPo are two

[Anonymous]

Sorry, I didn't notice you said elementary

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's good to play a less common instrument, as there are more opportunities and it's often less competitive.

Well, I guess if you want to compete for something. Some kids just like playing and learning and having music be a lifelong source of enjoyment.

It's not about competing, but about having opportunities to play in ensembles. Many groups have competitive auditions and, as an example, an average trombone player is going to have a lot more ensemble opportunities available to them than an average violinist.

How would the typical elementary age kid who wants to try a new instrument even know if they would ever want to be in an ensemble? You sound exhausting. If they get serious about it they can look into private lessons. Most kids just try it for a couple of years and quit.

You are exhausting! Alare you just being contrarian for contrary's same?
If your kid doesn't want to play an instrument, don't torture them with an instrument. If they want to play an instrument, pay attention to the advice in this thread about diverse instruments being better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why dont they have piano as an option? With the keyboards available nowadays, it doesn’t really make sense that it’s not an option in the school systems. Does anyone know why?

Both band and orchestra/strings are ensemble groups and social groups. Piano is solitary, sometimes an accompanist to another musician. It's not a group activity.

In high school, sometimes a pianist may have a place in theater or chorus or in a full orchestra or small ensemble.

DP: I kinda feel like this might be dated to when you couldn't bring multiple pianos to a band/orchestra--why couldn't music now be arranged to have multiple keyboard parts?

I guess an electric keyboard can be any instrument to fill in a band.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's good to play a less common instrument, as there are more opportunities and it's often less competitive.

What are the less common instruments?

Clarinet, flute, and violin are the worst.

Trumpet, viola and saxophone aren't great, but better.

Trombone, cello and tuba are good.

French horn, oboe, bassoon, string bass, and euphonium are all great, but some are harder to play.

Not everything is about competition. Kids don’t normally select these less common instruments on their own. Some parents think it gives them edge over others during college admissions.

I know siblings that play oboe and euphonium. I don’t think it helped with college selection.. just a torture for them and our ears.

[Anonymous]

Chorus in middle school then percussion in high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I realized my kid who played piano liked treble clef instruments where specific fingering produced the note--of these flute was the best fit for her because her mouth shape made reed based woodwinds (e.g. oboe/clarinet) a bit uncomfortable. Saxophone was second choice even though it was reed-based something about the shape/size felt more natural to her. There's sometimes a day when they offer an instrument "zoo" (I can't remember when/where it was offered now--and this was pre-pandemic so who knows if that's no longer a thing) where you go around and try out different instruments and kids can feel which feel right on their mouths, which are uncomfortable to hold because of weight or how you need to stretch your arms etc. Now that she's older she's added guitar to the mix.

This is good advice, and I would start with the instruments suggested here.

The "Instrument petting zoo" is offered at the Kennedy Center. IIRC, it's in the fall, and I'm not sure if they're still doing it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's good to play a less common instrument, as there are more opportunities and it's often less competitive.

Well, I guess if you want to compete for something. Some kids just like playing and learning and having music be a lifelong source of enjoyment.

It's not about competing, but about having opportunities to play in ensembles. Many groups have competitive auditions and, as an example, an average trombone player is going to have a lot more ensemble opportunities available to them than an average violinist.

How would the typical elementary age kid who wants to try a new instrument even know if they would ever want to be in an ensemble? You sound exhausting. If they get serious about it they can look into private lessons. Most kids just try it for a couple of years and quit.

You are exhausting! Alare you just being contrarian for contrary's same?
If your kid doesn't want to play an instrument, don't torture them with an instrument. If they want to play an instrument, pay attention to the advice in this thread about diverse instruments being better.

No, I just see what you are doing and it’s typical overly anxious DC area parent crap. This is an elementary school child. Not everything needs to be about giving the child some competitive edge that they may not care about at all by the time that matters. Too many insecure parents think they can engineer their kids’ path to success. Expose them to opportunities and let them choose! So what if they choose the popular instrument? You’re going to tell them to play a different one that they don’t like so they can have a better chance at an ensemble spot in 5 years? It’s a ridiculous way to parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's good to play a less common instrument, as there are more opportunities and it's often less competitive.

What are the less common instruments?

Clarinet, flute, and violin are the worst.

Trumpet, viola and saxophone aren't great, but better.

Trombone, cello and tuba are good.

French horn, oboe, bassoon, string bass, and euphonium are all great, but some are harder to play.

Not everything is about competition. Kids don’t normally select these less common instruments on their own. Some parents think it gives them edge over others during college admissions.

I know siblings that play oboe and euphonium. I don’t think it helped with college selection.. just a torture for them and our ears.

It can be more fun to be a valued, in-demand player, instead of one of many.

There are almost always too many violinists. My son plays viola in a school orchestra and a local youth symphony and enjoys being a player that people actually care to retain. He also was more likely to move up early to the higher-quality of the two in-school orchestras just because of less competition. Viola also has a lower-pitched sound, so early learning/practicing is more tolerable.

My sister played oboe in high school. For the challenge of it, as well as to escape constant seating challenges in the clarinet section. I enjoyed her practicing and playing.

Even without trying to be an exceptional musician, there are indeed benefits from playing a less common instrument in high school that have nothing to do with getting into college.

[Anonymous]

I was a piano player and here are the ways it worked out for me:

-I could read bass cleff so I was able to learn to play the bass clarinet. Tubas and baritone saxes are along the same lines.
-I played the pit instruments in marching band like xylophone because they are structured like a piano.
-In Jazz band, I played the piano in the rhythm section. Or, if there was no electric bassist that semester, played the string bass/electric bass lines on a vibraphone or keyboard.
-Became a drum major because I could look at a score and understand the treble cleff, bass cleff, and percussion rhythm scores.
-Sang 1st alto in chorus because I could read the score and use the piano to practice my harmonies. Those with no music reading experience will rely on their ear only.
-Often did accompianments on flute when a small ensemble was needed for a classical choral work. Again, being able to read a score and how my part fit into the choral part was key.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was a piano player and here are the ways it worked out for me:

-I could read bass cleff so I was able to learn to play the bass clarinet. Tubas and baritone saxes are along the same lines.
-I played the pit instruments in marching band like xylophone because they are structured like a piano.
-In Jazz band, I played the piano in the rhythm section. Or, if there was no electric bassist that semester, played the string bass/electric bass lines on a vibraphone or keyboard.
-Became a drum major because I could look at a score and understand the treble cleff, bass cleff, and percussion rhythm scores.
-Sang 1st alto in chorus because I could read the score and use the piano to practice my harmonies. Those with no music reading experience will rely on their ear only.
-Often did accompianments on flute when a small ensemble was needed for a classical choral work. Again, being able to read a score and how my part fit into the choral part was key.

PP. I should add that the above happened in MS/HS. ES was all about learning the piano and flute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's good to play a less common instrument, as there are more opportunities and it's often less competitive.

What are the less common instruments?

Clarinet, flute, and violin are the worst.

Trumpet, viola and saxophone aren't great, but better.

Trombone, cello and tuba are good.

French horn, oboe, bassoon, string bass, and euphonium are all great, but some are harder to play.

Not everything is about competition. Kids don’t normally select these less common instruments on their own. Some parents think it gives them edge over others during college admissions.

I know siblings that play oboe and euphonium. I don’t think it helped with college selection.. just a torture for them and our ears.

Not everything is about college. I had a ton of fun playing an instrument in different groups in middle and high school and know I would have had fewer opportunities if I'd played a common instrument. I'd encourage my kid to consider less common instruments because they may open up more opportunities if they indeed like music and want to play in MS and HS.

I didn't major in music in college so my instrument had no impact on college admissions or my career. But I absolutely loved the experience of playing in All State Orchestra. The feeling of playing incredible music with such impressive musicians was a very moving experience that I'll never forget.

I also absolutely love the sound of both oboe and euphonium. They are both pretty awesome instruments. Good picks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's good to play a less common instrument, as there are more opportunities and it's often less competitive.

Well, I guess if you want to compete for something. Some kids just like playing and learning and having music be a lifelong source of enjoyment.

It's not about competing, but about having opportunities to play in ensembles. Many groups have competitive auditions and, as an example, an average trombone player is going to have a lot more ensemble opportunities available to them than an average violinist.

How would the typical elementary age kid who wants to try a new instrument even know if they would ever want to be in an ensemble? You sound exhausting. If they get serious about it they can look into private lessons. Most kids just try it for a couple of years and quit.

If you were at all familiar with music, you'd know that choosing a less common instrument is actually about choosing a less competitive path. It's far chiller to play euphonium than to be one of many violinists.