Finding The Right Instrument For You
Buying an instrument can be a difficult decision making process and it's very easy to become overwhelmed or confused unless you are guided through the process in a logical and truthful way. Whether it’s for your first instrument or a professional instrument, it is a very personal decision. While it’s a great idea to get advice from teachers, the final decision should ultimately come down to you, as you are an individual with your own mouth shape, hand size, you naturally produce an airstream which will be unique to you, and that's just the start of it. Different brands and models of instruments will feature different designs and materials that will make your playing comfortable... or not.
There are many things to consider such as tone, keywork, ergonomics,
physical comfort, engineering, design features, material and style of
music to name a few.
Tone:
Also known as timbre. When trying an instrument you should play over
the entire range of the instrument checking for an even tone throughout
the range. You want to make sure that the sound doesn’t thin out at the
extremes in range. Also check the instrument playing at extremes in
dynamics – from pianissimo to fortissimo and everything in between. Make
sure that the sound doesn’t break up at a certain level. This can often
be a distinguishing feature between student level instruments and more
professional level instruments. This is not so significant for a young
student as chances are they will not be able to put huge amounts of air
through the instrument anyway, but for more advanced students this is a
very important consideration.
Keywork:
Every manufacturer has a different idea about the design of their
keywork. This concerns not only the shape of the keys but more
importantly the positioning. For people with smaller hands some
instruments may be impossible to play with keys that stick out further
than on some other designs, or holes that your fingers cannot completely
cover.
Feel:
The instrument has to feel comfortable for you to hold and to play.
Remember, chances are you may be playing for a reasonably long time in
one sitting whether for a band rehearsal or lesson so your hands and
fingers should not be excessively strained to carry the weight of the
instrument or to reach the keys. It should also feel comfortable to
blow. Different people prefer different amounts of pressure when they
blow an instrument. Always try a few instruments to work out what feels
right and easy for you.
Machining:
The engineering and manufacturing process is important to know about
so that you know the quality of the instrument that you are buying. For
example: Are the keys cast or forged? Casting tends to create small
voids within the structure of the metal which makes it more prone to
breaking whereas drop forged keys are forged from a solid sheet or rod
of metal which makes the metal structure more solid.
Style Of Music:
It may sound obvious but different brands and models of instrument
are designed with specific types of music in mind. This does not mean
that you can’t play them for other types of music, it just means that
the sound may not suit what you are playing. Always keep in mind what
you want to sound like. Maybe you really like the sound of a particular
musician, and want to try to sound similar.
Design Features:
This includes things such as finish and materials. The different
types of materials used affects the sound of the instrument as does the
different types of finishes. Most manufacturers of intermediate to
professional instruments offer a range of different options on their
instrument models such as lacquered brass, silver plate, gold plate,
nickel plate and black nickel plate to name a few. Different types of
finishes can help to customise the sound of the instrument.
To see for yourself the differences between all of the instruments on offer, head in to The Music Place and speak to one of our experienced staff. It's a fun journey!