Easiest Wind Instrument To Learn
PROUDLY WRITTEN BY PRO-CLARINETIST, SONIA SIELAFF
Learning to play a wind instrument is fun and rewarding, but as a beginner it can be tricky to decide which woodwind instrument is right for you, and which is the easiest wind instrument to learn.
Choosing which wind instrument to play is sort of like trying to decide which sport to play. Each one has its unique challenges, depending on your age, size and level of dexterity.
Each woodwind instrument has its own special characteristics; the clarinet and saxophone both use a single reed, and the oboe and bassoon are double reed instruments. The recorder is played vertically, while the flute is held horizontally.
Some wind instruments specialize in classical music while other wind instruments crossover into jazz and pop genres.
SO WHAT IS THE EASIEST WIND INSTRUMENT TO LEARN?
Some beginner woodwind instruments are easier to learn than others, depending on your age, size and level of dexterity. Let’s have a look at how those factors can make things easier or more challenging to learn specific wind instruments.
PLAYER SIZE
Depending on the size of your hands, it may be tricky to reach and cover the keys on certain wind instruments. Someone with small hands might have trouble covering the tone holes on a clarinet, and not completely sealing the holes can prevent notes from speaking and/or cause some unpleasant noises to occur! The flute and saxophone both have covered tone holes, which are easier to cover for young players.
AGE
Most beginner woodwind students begin playing around age 10–12, but due to the technical challenges of these instruments, it’s important for students to at least have their front adult teeth. This is particularly important with instruments like clarinet and saxophone because the top teeth rest on the mouthpiece.
DEXTERITY
Depending on the level of dexterity of the student, some woodwind instruments may be slightly more challenging than others. Instruments like the flute, clarinet and saxophone are all standard beginner woodwind instruments, whilst the oboe and bassoon are more advanced instruments.
The recorder is the easiest wind instrument to learn, and also the most inexpensive instrument to play. Due to its size, lightness and ease of blowing, it is a particularly good choice for students under the age of 10.
The fingering system on the recorder is similar to the clarinet. It’s common for young players to begin on the recorder and switch to clarinet or another wind instrument later on.
There are all sorts of different sizes of recorders, but the most common ones are soprano, alto, tenor and bass. Most students begin on the soprano recorder.
Recorders are made from either plastic or wood. Plastic recorders are good instruments for young beginners because they are inexpensive and durable. Wooden recorders produce a better tone quality than plastic ones, but they are more expensive and harder to maintain.
Depending on the brand and model, beginner level recorders cost from £2 to £30. It may be tempting to buy the cheapest one, but sound quality and intonation are much improved on the slightly more expensive models. Investing in a good quality beginner instrument may also save you money in the long run, since you won’t need to upgrade right away. For this reason, I would suggest buying the Hohner Wooden Descant Recorder it’s not expensive, but it’s well made.
Overall, the recorder is a good starting instrument for a young wind player, because they can learn to read music, count rhythms and work on breathing.
FLUTE
The flute is a common beginner wind instrument, although it requires more breath control than the recorder. It is held horizontally and played by blowing across a hole on the headjoint, or the top section of the instrument.
It may seem like a big investment, but starting out on a good quality beginner flute can actually save you time and money in the long run. Some beginner flutes are poor quality and so cheaply made that the keys easily bend out of shape. For that reason, we recommend the Rosedale Intermediate Flute pictured below; it’s the perfect balance of affordability and quality.
PICCOLO
The piccolo is half the size of the flute but it shares the same fingering system. Because of its size, its range is an octave higher than the flute.
Most advanced flutists double on the piccolo (which means to play both instruments at different times in the same performance), but the piccolo is more of a specialty instrument than a beginner instrument. It requires lots of breath control and intonation can be tricky. Again, we recommend the Rosedale brand as seen below; it’s a great Piccolo for a very good price.
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