Play a band instrument?

[Gesh]

Dunno if a thread's already been made about this (I haven't been very active on the forums lately), but if anyone plays a band instrument, I'd love to hear about it, how long you've been playing, and what you like/dislike about band and your instrument!

I play trombone, in my opinion the coolest instrument on the face of the moon, and have been playing for about 6 years (I'm in 9th grade currently and started playing in 4th). Band is my favorite class of the school day, and I'm actually planning on pursuing a career that involves trombone; that's just how much I love it.

[Nakor]

pogotribe.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=polls&action=display&thread=1514

[Gesh]

No one talks about the questions I pose in this thread though. I am legitimately curious about other people's band experiences and what they think of their musical lives. There may be the occasional person in that thread who talks about that, but mainly it's just hit and run - state your instrument and then leave.

[lydia]

I've been playing the flute for 8 years. I was in band all through my high-school year and I am continuing into college. I'm a Music Education major and I plan on teaching begining band when I graduate.

[Gesh]

Wow, that's awesome! Especially since a lot of people in band tend to just think of it as something fun to do in school, and they don't plan on really going anywhere with it.

[Trey]

I've been a musician for almost 9 years. I started on the Alto Sax when I was 10 years old (Fifth grade, you know), and I switched over to Bass on my 15th birthday. I've played in a couple of rock bands, but no band has ever taught me about music as much as private study. Music is my passion, and I hope to make it my career. I plan on going to University as a Jazz Studies Major next fall

[Joey]

I played alto sax until 13 then swithced to tenor sax. I am super excited because I just learned what will be our marching show for this fall, which is a mix.

[Gesh]

Trey: That's totally awesome! I'm hoping to major in jazz studies as well, so good luck to us both I suppose!

pjpinc123: Tenor sax is the coolest saxophone, in my humble opinion. We also got our new marching band show music recently, it's the Mask of Zorro, and I'm super excited. xD

[Johncoyne]

I play alto sax in school band right now, and I'm seated first chair. I've been playing for 6 or 7 years. I just heard that the ninth grade band director wants me to play bassoon next year. 0_o. I don't want to, but I'll give it a shot. I love playing the alto, and I want to get my hands on a tenor. I will be playing alto in marching band next year, and hopefully continue playing piano in jazz band while playing bassoon in concert band. I hope to pursue a career in music education.

Btw, I heard we're playing Lady Gaga in marching band next year. I'm not sure what to think...

[Gesh]

May 23, 2010 12:17:13 GMT -5 Johncoyne said:

Btw, I heard we're playing Lady Gaga in marching band next year. I'm not sure what to think...

Lady Gaga? If my marching band was going to play that, it would be a sad, sad day. No offense to any Lady Gaga fans out there, I just personally am not a fan. x|

And if you don't want to play bassoon, then maybe you shouldn't. I've been asked to play for the orchestra 3 times before, and I turned it down simply because I didn't want to (plus I was too busy). 1st chair though, that's awesome.

[general-pain]

I've been doing vocals all my life - used to be part of a choir and was a cupboard singer xD

Never let anyone know that i can sing and dint take pride in it. I still dont perform or do any singing (or even screaming for that matter... but i need to work on that) for people =L

yes its a wasted talent.

[nancie]

I played clarinet for 6 years. I loved being a band geek, but since I graduated, I don't think there will ever be another opportunity for me to play my instrument I'll miss it.

[Gesh]

You mean when you graduated college or high school? Because if high school, then I'm sure your college has a band or orchestra of sorts that you could participate in. And if worse comes to worst you could always just play on your own.

[kreacherxluver]

I've played flute since grade six, which was three years ago. I really love it now, but when I first got it I was so mad. I hated it so much and was considering quitting band but then I got one for Christmas and really started to play it more; and fell in love. ><
I actually really do love my flute, last night was my last concert at my school before I move up next year. It was funny to listen to the grade 6 flutes and then to the grade 7, and then eight and see how much I've improved.
Next year I'm staying in band because I just love the instrument so much. Today somebody passed by me and was commented something like 'practicing just for fun?' And I just kind of looked at the weird.
I think instruments are amazing

[Gesh]

That's really really cool. I practice my trombone nearly every day, for at least an hour, and I absolutely love it. Flute's pretty cool too though, and I'm glad you enjoy it so much. =) Band geeks unite!

[Deleted]

lawl u guyz iz band nereds!!!
shut up troll!
lolololololo-
*Bashes troll's head against wall*

Well, now that that's over...

I've played the trumpet since 6th grade, and I'm currently in 9th grade. This year we only had two trombones versus six trumpets, so my director asked me to switch to euphonium!

It's been really fun. I'm currently learning Clarinet, French Horn, and Trombone, because I want to study in music education and become a high school band director

[Gesh]

Jun 2, 2010 19:16:22 GMT -5 @robertcshepley said:

It's been really fun. I'm currently learning Clarinet, French Horn, and Trombone, because I want to study in music education and become a high school band director

That's really cool! I wish you luck! ;D I've only learned baritone besides my original instrument trombone, which isn't that impressive, because baritone is pretty much the same as trombone with the exception of learning valve combinations. I hope to learn trumpet soon though!

[pompaloona]

I've played the oboe since 4th grade.... and i just graduated... never playing it again. But I'm going to learn alto sax for marching band in college, and I play guitar and keyboard

[plainwhitepaper]

I've been playing trombone since 6th grade, and it is one of my few passions in life. Unfortunatly, my short arms have trouble reaching 7th position sometimes. Oh well. Gesh, do you know of an alternate for b natural? My band teacher says that there isn't, but he's not very knowledgeable on trombone.

[Gesh]

Jun 8, 2010 13:39:15 GMT -5 @plainwhitepaper said:

I've been playing trombone since 6th grade, and it is one of my few passions in life. Unfortunatly, my short arms have trouble reaching 7th position sometimes. Oh well. Gesh, do you know of an alternate for b natural? My band teacher says that there isn't, but he's not very knowledgeable on trombone.

No, there isn't, unless you jump the octave and play it in 4th position. If you have a trombone with an F attachment (a trigger) you can hold that down and play b natural in flat 2nd position, but something tells me you don't have that kind of trombone since your teacher didn't tell you about that alternate position.

Anyway, that's totally awesome that you play trombone, and I'm really glad you like it. Don't fret about that not being able to reach 7th position thing; for a while I couldn't reach it either. As a matter of fact, I don't think I was able to reach it completely until the second half of my eighth grade year.