For me, woodwinds are the musical instruments that can make or break any musical selection. Music is about moods, and nothing sets the mood better than a great woodwind section. And the variety of possible moods is endless.
Woodwinds are the heart of a band. From the beautiful and haunting sound of the oboe to the joyous rendering of the flute there is a full gambit of emotions being played out in song courtesy of the woodwinds. Make sure the musical instrument you choose is one you enjoy.
Choosing a musical instrument to play in the woodwind section of the band was probably the hardest decision I've ever made. My heart wanted to play the oboe but my orthodontist denied my heart's one true desire. We compromised however, and a flautist was born. Perhaps if I had been able to play the musical instrument of my first choice I would have had more dedication to my craft and been a player of fame and accolades. We will never know so there's no point in dwelling really. This is just a not so subtle reminder that passion for the musical instrument you choose is vitally important to how well you play.
Each family in a band, like your own family, has a special function. The percussion is the heartbeat, the strings (in an orchestra) are the soul, and the brass instruments are the "swagger" of the band. The woodwind musical instruments are quite possibly the most diverse. They are the emotions of the band. The flute and piccolo make for highs and lows that can be either exhilarating or melancholy. The oboe sounds somewhat tender and the clarinet has the gritty sound. The saxophone is the musical instrument in the woodwind family that sets hearts ablaze. This is the softie, the crooner. Each of these musical instruments as well as the subsets of them provides the heart of a band.
To choose the right musical instrument for you to play (especially when it comes to the woodwind instruments) depends largely on your ability to portray the emotion that your specific musical instrument represents. Woodwinds are unlike other musical instruments in a band in that they aren't fancy and flashy. You can't swing and swagger with them. Well, that's not exactly true. Not of you've heard Ian Anderson play flute, Benny Goodman play clarinet and so on. But typically, you have to get your message across with little ability to display attitude. They deliver a subtler message and tell a quieter story. And yet woodwinds remain vitally important to the overall sound of the band.
If you have any desire to play a woodwind musical instrument in a band or any other circumstance, you will probably find that these instruments are quite lovely to hear in addition to being a healthy challenge to master. The challenge of learning a new instrument is half the fun. Learning to play your woodwind instrument with emotional depth and passion are necessary in order to portray the story that the music tells. Telling the story is the fun of woodwind instruments.
Choosing a musical instrument to play in the woodwind section of the band can not only be a difficult choice (like choosing which chocolate to eat first on Valentine's day), but it can be a gut wrenching choice. Follow your heart, because that is where the woodwind's lie.
And when music comes from you heart, there's no better feeling for you, and no better feeling for those listening to you as well.
