Some, but fortunately not all, of these are mistakes I have made myself.
| Bad idea | Good idea |
|---|---|
| “With the help of a fingering chart and the Internet, I can pick up clarinet on my own. I’ll take lessons later, once I’ve gotten pretty good.” | “The earliest stages of learning are when the vital habits are formed. Now is the crucial time to get some expert guidance.” |
| “Someone is selling an oboe really cheap. This is my chance to pick one up.” | “It will be worth it to save and sacrifice so I can get a high-quality instrument. Since I’m doubling, I need every advantage.” |
| “I just need to learn how to make a good embouchure and how to finger most of the notes, and then I can add this new instrument to my arsenal.” | “I need a solid technical foundation on my doubling instruments, just like I have on my main instrument. Better start putting in some hours on long tones, scales and arpeggios, and etudes.” |
| “I play flute pretty well compared to the other guys in the saxophone section, so I figure I’m on the right track.” | “I’m spending a lot of time listening to great flute recordings to develop a good sound concept.” |
| “I already have lots of etudes and exercises that I use on my main instrument, so I’ll just practice the same stuff on my other instruments.” | “I’m immersing myself in the tradition of each instrument—learning, for example, to play saxophone like a saxophonist and clarinet like a clarinetist.” |
| “I sound bad. Maybe I need a really short barrel, a really soft reed, a really open mouthpiece, a really unusual headjoint…” | “I’ll leave extreme gear choices for when I really know what I’m doing. For now I’d better stick to standard, middle-of-the-road equipment and get some embouchure advice from a good teacher.” |
| “Since I’m a jazz player, I can skip the tone exercises. I’m going for my own sound.” | “Classical training will give me a thorough command of the instrument, and give me options in developing a personal sound concept. If I skimp on fundamentals, I’ll just be limiting what I can do.” |
| “I’ve got some money to spend. What new instrument can I get for this amount?” | “This is a perfect opportunity to take some lessons with a good teacher. It’s the best investment I can make in my music habit.” |
No shortcuts!
I know this is probably quite old but could you do a part 2?