Fundamental Music Instruction Demonstrates All Their Instruments Online
On the Fundamental Music Instruction homepage, we posted a demonstration to get you started finding the right sound for you, (Instrument Demonstration). We also schedule Instrument Family Webinars. Attending these will give more clarity to the benefits and drawbacks of each instrument within that instrument family. You can send questions in the chat window, and these will be addressed in the webinar session. Sessions will be recorded so you can refer back to them as needed.
Factors to consider when choosing a musical instrument are your music preferences, budget, space it might take up, your personal characteristics, the mobility of the instrument, and potential career options.
Below is the breakdown of these factors according to different kinds of instruments –
Brass Instruments
Brass instruments are both accessible and reasonably priced; they create a great sound and are not too difficult to learn in the beginning. Some Brass instruments can be quite large. We generally suggest smaller options that can be easily switched as students grow. All brass instruments are played using the same general technique referred to as “Buzzing” the lips as you use the mouthpiece. In this way, switching to the various brass instruments is not too difficult. Trumpets are easy to carry around and assemble and are the highest pitched Brass instrument. Trombones are larger but not heavy to carry around as it is much lighter than most people think when they first see one. Trombones are deeper in pitch than Trumpets and are easier to produce a sound.
Many people believe that a “wind instrument” requires a good deal of breath and are afraid that they are not suited for many students. This is not true, and many physicians have pointed out that playing a wind instrument strengthens the lungs.
Keyboard Instruments
The main keyboard instrument – the Piano Keyboard – provides a great theoretical base for learning any other instrument and is an ideal instrument to begin playing. The piano is very accessible as a Keyboard is perfectly acceptable to play. Keyboards come in a variety of levels and can be upgraded as you learn and grow. The better the instrument, the more expensive it is, but the good thing about pianos is that if you’re taking lessons at school, we will have instruments for your use. You will need at least a starter-level keyboard to practice on at home. It is suited to be a solo instrument; however, it can also be played in a duet, ensemble, or orchestra. It is very versatile in terms of genres, starting with classical through to pop music.
Percussion Instruments
Playing Percussion is a lot of fun and is fairly easy to learn. It is suggested that Percussion students begin with a snare drum or drum pad. It is not necessary to jump right into playing a full drum set as all techniques from percussion are derived from the playing positions and “Rudiments” learned on a snare drum.
Equipment is more accessible these days as there are many electric counterparts to all percussion instruments. A student can branch out to relatively inexpensive snare drum pads that give access to additional sounds to smaller drum kits for full drum set practice.
Dr. Daniel Levitin, a neuroscientist, musician, and author of the book “This is Your Brain on Music,” wrote: “It’s important to choose an instrument that makes sounds that you like. Many people fall in love with the sound of specific instruments when they are children.” That is a great motivator. There’s a story of Artur Rubenstein, the great pianist, who asked his parents for a piano when he was three. They didn’t want him playing the piano, and so they bought him a violin instead. He smashed it. They relented and bought him a piano.
Pick Your Sound and Begin Your Journey Learning an Instrument Online with FMI
If you want to learn more about the String and Woodwind instruments, please read our previous blog, “Finding the Right Sound to Learn an Instrument Online – Part One,” HERE. We hope to give you more clarity when choosing your instrument and beginning to learn an instrument online – to help we offer a free music lesson online, find out more (Trial Lesson).
Please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected], call us at 908-244-4943, or contact us HERE! We believe without music, our minds would be quiet, and we are thrilled to offer online music lessons for everyone, anywhere.
