Vienna Orchestra

Orchestra?

6th grade orchestra, any recommendations for instruments? Never played, only played the recorder, 1 year. Please tell me the instrument, and any reccommendations about it or include a website/source that can give me more information. Thankya! I'm thinking about the FLUTE. Please tell me if 6th grade ocrchestra's usually include flutes

Public Comments

1. At your age with only one year experience on the recorder, I would stay away from the brass: you probably don't have the respiratory capability to adequately perform on one. These leaves the strings, woodwinds and percussion. The strings: as a group, they are the most difficult of any to play. The bass-viol would not be a prospect because of its sheer physical size; unless your school is a wealthy one, there probably want be a harp available. What's left are the violin, viola and cello: advice, talk to the instructor - it usually takes a relatively very long time to develop a meaningful technique. The woodwinds: having played the recorder for a year, you might consider the clarinet, possibly the flute: I wouldn't attempt the oboe or bassoon(very difficult); and the saxophone, I don't consider even worthwhile to contemplate. The percussion: relatively the easiest of all orchestral instruments to play: no real finger dexterity nor respiratory requirements. Without knowing anymore about you, I would personally recommend the clarinet or flute: there are very few compositions written for any of the percussion instruments, so unless you just enjoy "banging away" on something, I would forget them. Good luck in your choice, Alberich
2. Drums/percussion are the easiest instruments to play in a school band. Unless your trumpet, then all you have to do is play in your practice during school hours. You can just pretend to play during contests, cause there's sooo many trumepteers
3. Since you said "Orchestra" I would assume that you are talking about stringed instruments...MIddle schools do not usually have a full symphony because it is difficult to prepare students a this level. I would have to disagree and say that the bass is the BEST instrument for you to learn at this time. Instruments come in sizes from full sized to as small as 1/10 of a size, so size is not an issue. The reason I say bass is best at this time is because you want to get into the group as quickly as possible, and most sixth grade orchestra music is pretty simple for the bass. You will spend less time "getting ready" with lessons only than the upper strings because their parts require them to be able to do more. Also, because your orchestra music would not require intense amounts of practice, you would be able to focus more attention on improving your technique. Ultimately, you should choose what appeals to you, not what you can do quickly. If you want to play the flute, play the flute. You have my sympathies...flute is the one instrument I could never get the hang of in college!
4. you should pick the instrument you gravitate towards.... if it is the flute then you start with the flute (the flute is not good for those with asthma) .... and what you choose or do not choose beyond that depends on what is available and what moves you ..... despite others opinions it is imperative YOU pick the instrument YOU want to play and are attracted to ..... no matter level of difficulty
5. Since you played the recorder for a year, the flute would be a good choice because the fingerings are very, very similar. Flutists also get to play a lot of interesting and exciting parts instead of the accompanying parts like the trombone, tuba, and percussion. But remember, just choose whatever instrument you feel a pull to, and that all instruments in an orchestra - no matter what level - play an important part in the playing of the music.
6. yes the flute is in the full orchestra but not in strings. it is in band. if you are thinking of the flute, you will be in band. the string orchestra includes violins, violas, bass(long a) and cello. i play the violin and i love it i have been playing it since third grade. i would recomens a viola of violin.