Multi instruments

[kornflakes]

There are those who are purists and who play just one instrument, wish i could be like that but i find instruments of all types fascinating, presently i play alto sax, tenor trombone, classical guitar, French horn, bass and on several i have passed my grade 8 ABRSM, i think the down side to be being a multi-instrumentalist is not having the time to keep up a good standard on all instruments. Now i tend to concentrate mainly on my alto and tenor, (sax and trombone) and thats mainly because of teaching and work opportunities.

[StevenW]

8)

[Media Lint]

Synthesizers, soft-synths, bass guitar, tenor sax, alto sax, c-mel sax, melodica, glockenspiel, various percussion things (many I made myself) ... the only reason baritone/bass saxophone isn't on the list is the $$ factor, same with a lot of instruments, like a piano - that and the weight and size! I have a soprano I'm slowly overhauling myself. I may just attach a 40 watt bulb and a lampshade to it and buy one of those cheap taiwan sopranos before I'm done.

[Tim Price]

Do it, play what you feel and study.
Learning instruments speeds up the learning process.Big time :D

Music is a way of life, jump in and enjoy.
Your mind is capable of a lot, music is a fuel, GO FOR IT!!

[Ritchie]

Each instrument has its own and very special flavour and tone. It is great to have more than one voice ready for musical expression. I started my musical education on piano, switched to guitar later, but play hardly any of these anymore, because my focus is the saxophone and other instruments from the woodwind family. There is just not enough time to practise so many different instruments, in particular different instruments with a completely different technique. Great if you have the time!

[tox]

Well Kornflak
I can relate to what you say. I often think, why cant i just stick to one instrument like normal people. I'ts just not possible. Sod everyone else eh. I put it down to being a Gemini. "jack of all trades and master of none" as they say. I would be interested to know if you are a Gemini?
I play about 12 instruments but would only gig with about 6. Not at the same time though. I mostly gig with saxes, guitar and midi wind controller.
Just remember it's not our fault, it's how we were made. Just get on with it.
Tox

[Merlin26]

I must admit I'm in the same boat too Kornflake - Currently I play Trumpet, Flute and Pic, and Sing all at AMUS Level, and have recently added sax to the entourage - I too am now finding the most difficult thing is finding the practice time to keep all these instruments up especially since I'm loving sax so much I tend to be finding an hour and half for it a day ... and very little other time for anything else (and anyone who's ever played Brass will know that doesn't work very well). Not too even mention what the cost is to own decent versions of these instruments - No wonder we're all broke on a consistant basis ;-)

Merlin

[Bootman]

Broke, consistently is how it has been for me for many years. I feel for my patient long suffering wife. I have to buy her a house but the last time I got any money together, I bought a bass sax instead. :P

I have always played multiple instruments, there is always that extra sound that you're looking for and rather than sample it, I would play it. The benefits of playing more than one instrument is that it gives you a greater understanding of music as a whole, how to write for other instruments and allows you greater chances of employment. I could never go back to playing only one instrument, it feels like running a race on one leg.

[Jazzophone]

I could never go back to playing only one instrument, it feels like running a race on one leg.

Well put ... I play a multitude of instruments too. Flute, saxes, clarinet (taught myself for our musical, doubled the Reed 4 book), piccolo (though my braces impede my having ANY sort of tone), trumpet (I rented one and taught myself over the summer), a bit of piano/keys but not enough to perform much with. I really want to learn to play guitar and bass, as well as ... well ... everything else. 8) starting with trombone.

[bari_sax_diva]

I mostly do the usual... all the saxes, all the clarinets, and flute. Also a little bit of drums (holdover from high school drumline) and enough latin percussion to make do when necessary. And, when my sax chops are tired, I get out my bass (a new addition as of a few months ago) and walk through the Real Book. I'm a loooong way from going public on that instrument, though.

Cheers,
Leanne

[lowguy]

Dear Cormflake,

Don't worry... I m a french composer and player, I play mny musics and many instruments :
-contemporary written music : Eb, Bb, A, alto clarinets, basset horn, bass and contrabass ; all saxophones ; bassoon and contrabassoon
-sound improvisation : all clarinets, saxes, bassoons, ethnic aerophones, flute and piccolo, trombone, baritone horn, cornet, melodica, sampler..
-jazz : C, bass and contrabass clarinets, C-melo sax, flute, sometimes bassoon, trombone.........

That s great to do this, I love it :-)

[Gordon (NZ)]

...I could never go back to playing only one instrument, it feels like running a race on one leg.

Excellent!