Instrument with the most opportunities

33 replies

BabyOrSanta · 24/02/2018 10:47

I was a "late bloomer" only getting my first clarinet when I was 13 or so. I really liked the way it opened up opportunities such as playing in the school orchestra and wind band.
I'm just wondering which instrument has the most... opportunity(? Not the right word maybe) for socialisation and joining in groups?

My thoughts:
Violin - string groups and orchestras but there are quite a few violinists around so may be harder to get into a "better" orchestra... but loads of people don't have the talent to play very well so if you do, you'll go far (also helps with learning pitches etc)
Flute - wind groups, orchestras but lots of flautists around. May help if you have a piccolo too although everyone sitting near you will hate you
Clarinet - same as flute but less call for Eflat clarinets (in place of piccolo)
Bassoon - wind groups, orchestras and a little played instrument. Expensive even for a starter instrument and it's a big instrument (only met a handful of bassoonists so not sure?)

Which instrument do you think has the most social opportunity?
Obviously YMMV with local area, talent, hard work etc

OP posts:

Original poster

BabyOrSanta · 24/02/2018 11:29

Interesting fact I learnt at school - a double bass fits in a Nissan X-trail.
That does seem to have quite a few opportunities. Orchestra, string group, maybe jazz stuff?

OP posts:

nNina22 · 24/02/2018 11:26

If you really want an almost guaranteed membership of an orchestra, play the double bass, although it isn't easy to transport

Lucked · 24/02/2018 11:22

And I meant cornet. I know so little about music and instruments!

jellycat · 24/02/2018 11:21

I would say strings because orchestras need many more of them than they need of woodwind etc. IMO it’s much easier to get into an orchestra as a string player (I played violin and was in demand even though I was hardly a virtuoso).

That’s only if you are specifically wanting to play in an orchestra though; there are plenty of wind/brass bands around and of course if you play a woodwind or brass instrument that is also a typical orchestral one then you could get to play in a band and an orchestra.

Original poster

BabyOrSanta · 24/02/2018 11:19

Trumpets always have a calling around the start of November too! (I remember a friend going to 3 different primary schools to play for their minute's silence)

Good point about the oboe and bassoon. Around here most amateur orchestras are lucky if they get one and all tuning is done by the piano/each section chooses one instrument and they all tune to that

OP posts:

Lucked · 24/02/2018 11:09

I have been considering this, neither me irDH play an instrument.

I was considering trumpet and presume (but don’t actuallt know) that they could transition to a coronet if they wanted to play in a brass band and there are lots of trumpets in larger jazz groups too.

gillybeanz · 24/02/2018 11:00

Viola, as most string players opt for violin.
Saxophone is quite easy to start but obviously needs more work to progress.
Oboe and Bassoon, rarer but harder to get into orchestras as they will need 3 in the section at most.

SE13Mummy · 24/02/2018 10:53

Trombone! It's currently an endangered species instrument so there's funding around for lessons if you look in the right places. It's an instrument that features in lots of different ensembles; classical orchestras, jazz bands, brass bands etc. and because players are in short supply, there will be lots of opportunities to play. Same for double bass but that's not so portable...

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