If the shoe fits...How to choose the right wind instrument

Perhaps your child has shown an interest in learning an instrument, or a teacher has identified musical promise. Maybe you want to start learning as an adult because you didn't get the chance as a youngster. Quite often, if you haven't had much exposure to music (and even if you have!), it is easy to be attracted to the look and sound of an instrument, but it may turn out that actually playing the instrument is not a good fit. Here's a quick guide to instruments, their use and their ups-and-downs to help you decide which way to go.

Caveat: It is possible for one's 'musical' personality to be vastly different to their 'person' personality. Someone who is passionate about an instrument that may not look to be a good fit on paper is still likely to do well with the correct training and attitude. But if you are undecided, these are merely some associations that can be made with each instrument.

Flute

• It is hard to be a shy flute player if you like to hide! If you do like a bit of attention, there is also the option to play piccolo in bands and orchestras (i.e. you can be heard over the whole ensemble).
• Student flutes are relatively affordable, but professional flutes are significantly more expensive than other 'common' instruments such as clarinets and saxophones.
• One of the benefits of flute is that it does not use a reed, eliminating the ongoing cost and maintenance associated with reeds.
• One of its downfalls is that lots of people play flute, so competition and space is at a premium.

Oboe

• The oboe is a double reed instrument.
• It is a beautiful orchestral staple instrument. Like flute, it is hard to hide on the oboe. Oboists often get slow (and often famous) solos in orchestra.
• Not many students take up oboe, especially compared to flute and clarinet, and this means that for the student who likes opportunities, oboe can be a licence to print money.
• Which is just as well, because oboes can be expensive. So can reeds (which should come from a handmade/handfinished source, not a factory). Students who continue on oboe will learn how to make their own reeds, which is a great idea because they can take control of their playing more, and reeds are much cheaper in the long run.

Clarinet

• Clarinet is one of the 'common' instruments, often taught in primary schools along with flute and trumpet.
• Student clarinets are fairly affordable, and professional clarinets are often cheaper than student oboes. 
• The clarinet uses a single reed, which is an ongoing expense, but they come in boxes of 10, and if looked after, a box can last a young student up to a year.
• Clarinets are needed in large numbers in bands, so even though a lot of students play clarinet, they are still able to play in more groups.
• Clarinets have 'ring keys', which are holes surrounded by rings, and the student needs to have large enough fingers to cover these holes, and have hands big enough to reach to the lowest keys. It is best to seek the advice of a teacher if you are not sure about size vs instrument. The average 10 year old can cope with the clarinet, and there are smaller clarinets available for students as young as 5.
• I consider clarinet to be a bit of a 'herd' instrument - in schools, the students will play in large sections in the band and may participate in clarinet 'choirs', and is a great choice for the student who likes to be part of a team.

Saxophone

• Student models are not as cheap as flutes and clarinets, but are cheaper than oboes and bassoons. 
• Typically, the saxophone is started later than the above instruments because of the weight (the average 11-12 year old can cope with the weight of the saxophone). Students will generally start on alto saxophone, the second smallest in the family of four (standard use - there are many more!)
• Saxophone is a loud instrument, so be prepared for the practice sessions!
• It is an instrument that is easy to progress quickly on, and has a fairly simple fingering system.
• It also uses a single reed, so the same rules as clarinet apply.
• Saxophones are not used in the orchestra, so the choices of ensembles later in learning are limited to concert and jazz bands, but the saxophone is used in jazz and rock, if you would like to go that way. It is often used as a blending instrument, and despite it being loud, can be a good instrument for a less confident student, or one who likes to work in a team (there is a lot of saxophone ensemble music available).

Bassoon

• The roads ahead are paved with gold if you play the bassoon!
• Bassoons are expensive (I recommend renting one initially, or use a school instrument in the case of a high school student).
• They are a double reed instrument, like oboe, and reeds can be expensive, until you learn to make your own.
• Bassoon is relatively easy to make a nice sound on. The instrument itself has a LOT of keys, and students who are interested in 'how things work' tend to do quite well on it, though the fingering system itself is still logical.
• Not many people take up the bassoon. Bassoonists won't need to look for opportunities to play; instead, they have to turn offers down! Bassoon is the instrument for the student who likes to be different and relishes a variety of opportunities. The bassoon is a little heavy and it is usually best to wait until 11-12 years of age to start playing, depending on the size of the child.

My child is too young/small to start on their instrument of choice...what do we do?
There are a number of options if your child shows an interest in music or a particular instrument. Probably the most important step is to get them reading music and understanding things such as pitch and rhythm. For this, piano is a great starting point, because it is visual as well as aural. If your child is very keen to start on a wind instrument, the options are:

• Recorder. Fingering systems on wind instruments are very similar to recorder, and if taught properly, there are techniques which are transferrable.
• Fife. Students as young as 3-4 can start their flute lessons on a fife, which will give them a chance to learn how to produce a sound without the size and weight of a flute.
• Jupiter Prodigy flute.This model can be played by students from about 5 years old who don't have long enough fingers to stretch across the keys of a standard flute. The fingerings are the same, but a clever system of extension keys has reduced the distance between the keys.
• KinderKlari. This is a small clarinet with a reduced number of keys for students around 5-8 years old. It is pitched in Eb, unlike the standard clarinet, which is pitched in Bb, which is the reason it can be smaller. KinderKlari needs to be taught by a teacher who either has an Eb clarinet or is comfortable transposing on their own instrument - check with your local clarinet teachers.
• Guntram Wolf produces instruments such as the Mini-Bassoon and simple-system oboe. These are designed for young students, and if you have a child who is begging to pick up either of these instruments, this might be a way to start. Renowned oboe maker Howarth has released a Junior Oboe, which has a reduced number of keys and is much lighter.

If you still have questions, it is best to find a good wind teacher in your area, chat to them about you/your child and get to know the instruments up close. YouTube is a great source for being able to hear and see the instruments as well.

Have fun choosing your instrument!