Which Musical Instruments Fit Your Personality?
Musical Profiling Helps Parents and Kids Choose Band Instruments
Apr 25, 2009
Will new band instruments bring years of enjoyment or be stuffed in a closet? Only time will tell, but as musicians decide on new musical instruments or parents pick band instruments for their children, they improve their chances for success by making the choice personal.
Solo vs. Ensemble Musical Instruments
Certain personalities were made for the spotlight while others are team players. Musicians who enjoy standing out and getting noticed will gravitate toward the instruments which commonly carry the melody line such as the violin, flute, trumpet, or piano.
For those who prefer blending in, violas, cellos, basses, clarinets, and guitars are just a few examples of instruments that allow musicians to enjoy the fun of contributing to a group without the stress of carrying solo parts.
Unique vs. Common Musical Instruments
Certain personalities enjoy following another’s lead while others march to the beat of a different drummer. When those from the first group settle on an instrument, it’s likely to be one someone they admire plays.
Those who prefer to follow the road less traveled will skip over common guitars, pianos, or flutes in favor of exotic instruments from far away lands or less common folk instruments from their own region.
Soothing vs. Loud Musical Instruments
Certain personalities are naturally gregarious and bubbling over with boisterous enthusiasm. Others are tranquil and able to peacefully appreciate the joy of quiet reflection. Of course, the instruments suited for each of these personalities are vastly different. There’s no getting around the volume level on musical instruments such as brass, drums, or electric guitars.
And other musical instruments such as harps, oboes, or Native American flutes, have a meditative quality that fits the more mellow personalities. Most instruments fall somewhere in between, allowing the musician to play them in a style that suits his mood.
Folk vs. Classical Musical Instruments
Certain personalities appreciate the structure and rules that go along with years of tradition. Other personalities prefer to blaze their own path. Those musicians who fit in the former group will most likely prefer to read sheet music as they play, those in the latter will prefer to improvise or play by ear.
Some folk instruments have little in the way of published sheet music. Other orchestral or band instruments are unlikely to be found in settings that encourage playing by ear or improvisation. Parents enrolling their child in music lessons will want to consider the learning style that best fits their child’s personality.
Expensive vs. Less Costly Musical Instruments
While spontaneous personalities won’t mind making an investment when it comes to purchasing a quality musical instrument, the more cautious gravitate to the cheaper instruments to evaluate whether they’ll stick with it. In theory, this is a good idea, but a poorly crafted instrument is a major reason musicians give up in the first place. With a little research though, the cautious musicians can find quality instruments in a price range that doesn’t take the fun out of it.
Each instrument has its own range. Cornets, for example, are played in the same way and have a similar sound to trumpets, but are generally less expensive. So, instead of a new, student-level trumpet, a thrifty brass player would do better to score a higher quality used cornet. The harp is a popular instrument that retails in the thousands.
Cheap plywood harps have poor tone and are a tuning headache. But with a little digging, musicians can find affordable folk harps or try out close stringed relatives such as the hammer dulcimer or plucked psaltery. No matter how much each musician wants to invest, a little research can uncover an instrument to bring the best bang for his buck.
Personality is a crucial factor when it comes down to choosing a new musical instrument. A musician will also take into account each instrument’s versatility, cost, portability, and degree of challenge.
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