If you’re learning an instrument with the intention of joining a band, it’s likely that at some point you’ll need to do some sight-reading. I find sight-reading harder on some instruments than others and wanted to look into whether that was personal preference or whether some were actually thought to be more difficult than others.
Continue reading “What is the Easiest Woodwind Instrument to Sight-Read On?”
Most people that start learning an instrument for the first time are children, so most beginner music books are aimed at children. If you’re an adult beginner, you might find learning from a book designed for kids a bit grating. I had a look at the books you can use as an adult beginner that are not directed towards a younger audience. I’ll list some here and talk about what’s good about them.
Continue reading “What is the Best Flute Book for Adult Beginners?”
Today, there are lots of different pitched saxophones – the main ones being soprano, alto, tenor and baritone. But I always assumed there must have been a first saxophone, that the others developed from. I always wondered whether any of the saxophones we still play are the same key as the original one, or whether the first was in some other key.
Continue reading “How Similar Was the Original Saxophone to Today’s Design?”
As a woodwind musician, you might find that some of the easier jobs to get hold of are those that require you to play multiple woodwind instruments. Doubling can be difficult, particularly if you have only ever played one instrument before. I’ve looked into which instruments are widely accepted to be the easiest doubling groups and whether there are any that should be avoided.
Continue reading “Which Woodwind Instruments are the Best for Doubling?”
It is often stated that children that learn a musical instrument are able to progress more quickly at school. I’ve often wondered if there is any truth behind this, or whether it’s just speculation. I did some reading of the research that has been done on the subject and put together some notes on what I found out.
Continue reading “Do Children Who Learn Instruments do Better at School?”