Choosing The Right String Musical Instrument For The Orchestra

So you've decided you want to play a string musical instrument in the orchestra. Now you have several more decisions to make. There are so many different string instruments, so many brands and styles to choose from, and whatever you choose has to fit into your already tight budget.

Once you've chosen which musical instrument you wish to play in the string section of the orchestra, you need to choose the specific instrument you will play. Even instruments made by the same company will often have a different sound. Try several and choose the one that you like most.

If you are interested in playing a musical instrument in the string section of the orchestra there are several things you can do to help assure you choose the best one for you. Every person is different. We all have different goals from our musical instruments and our experiences with them. If your goal is playing in the orchestra, strings are a good bet, though it takes time to master one.

I highly recommend that you spend a great deal of time listening to the sounds of various stringed instruments. Ask yourself if you like the sound first of all. It's hard to be passionate about playing a musical instrument if you aren't overly fond of the sound it makes. Once you've decided which of the stringed instruments you like the sound of, I suggest that you see about attending a live performance that includes the instruments on your list. Watch the players, how do they hold their musical instrument? Does the instrument seem too big or too small for you? Does the fingering seem overly difficult; does it seem like a good challenge?

Keep in mind that you will quickly bore if your musical instrument doesn't provide some degree of a challenge for you. While I have never personally found one that doesn't appear challenging, that doesn't mean that you won't. You may also find that you are no longer interested once you've seen an instrument played. I recommend seeing several performances however by different performers. Not everyone plays their musical instrument with the same degree of intensity and passion. It could be that while one performer was a dud the other performer ignites your imagination and you suddenly find you must play that instrument.

This is not a decision you want to take lightly. First of all, you don't want to spend money for a musical instrument you will play for a few months then decide you want to play something else. Obviously cost is a factor, but changing instruments early in the learning process also means starting the learning curve over as well. Do you really want to waste 6 months learning an instrument then give it up for something else?

I urge you not to make hasty decisions as musical instruments and lessons are costly investments of both money and time. You want to be as certain as you can possibly be about your choice as you will most likely be spending a great deal of time learning and perfecting your style of play. Stringed instruments are the soul of an orchestra, they tell the tales of heartbreak and hope like no other musical instrument can. You must be able to relay these stories with passion and grace if you have hopes of playing in the orchestra. And this requires that you feel as passionately about the musical instrument you choose as you do about the music you are playing.

Playing a musical instrument in the string section of the orchestra is both a challenging and beautiful experience. Choosing the best possible instrument for you to play is your best chance of actually making it into the orchestra. Years of dedicated practice and passionate play will complete your journey.

Or at least partially complete it. That's the beauty of playing any instrument. No matter how good you get there's always more to learn and you can always get better. There's always another challenge. Once you find one you love it's hard to get bored because, let's face it, you can never be perfect. But you'll have a great time trying to get there.