most difficult instrument?

[ReedMan]

If you are good at multi-tasking I think that your brain may be well designed for playing keyboard instrument and performing multiple parts on 2 clefs.<P>Wind instruments require subtle technique - proper breathe support, embouchure, tongue control, as well as rapid and relaxed fingering.<P>String instruments require some level of deafness in order to master these wonderful noise machines.<P>Those who love rhythm love to wack those percussion instruments, although you must be able to withstand long moments of idleness.<BR>Of course you may get revenge by playing louder when the spotlight shines...<P>There exists at least one book that attempts to describe each instrument and the type of person who should consider playing it.<P>And of course those never ending musical jokes that make fun of musicians - conductors, viola/trumpet/... <P>Anyone ?

[dkm32]

How hard is it to the learn the piano? Depends on your hands.<P>I played piano for about 20 years. Everyone said I played very well. I hated playing because, when I was done, my hand muscles would hurt so bad that I had to soak them in ice water. <P>If you have long, slender fingers, piano is a breeze. Short, stubby finger, it is very hard. I have short, stubby finger.<P>Donna

[EJA_2]

I can say that the ramp up time for sounding acceptable is much shorter for piano than for violin. My brother plays piano, and he sounded better in two weeks than I did after practicing the violin for a year. Perhaps he has more musical ability, but I've dinked arouned with his piano and I sound better at that than I do with my violin. This after four years of practicing violin daily. I can play all sorts of things by ear on the piano. I must admit I find it difficult to get both hands really in the game. The left one is much quicker (from violin), but it's pretty stupid. The right one will learn new patterns quicker, but it is more clumsy. Then the two of them get confused about who is who . . . Anyway, piano seems to have a steeper learning curve at the beginning, anyhow. <P> -- EJA

[Luegwig]

I have to say that next to the piano, the phonograph is the hardest instrument to play. Those dang tone arms were a pain sometimes. However, they do fit into a VW pretty well. Fortunately, there isn't much of a call for period instruments like this. CD players make life so much easier, though sometimes the fingering can get tricky.

[Bob the Composer]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by serge urtizberea:<BR><B>I don't think that there really exists instruments more difficult than others. It's all a matter of how virtuositic you want to get on that instrument. For example, I'm watching at this moment Yo-Yo Ma and Itzak Perlman perform on the Academy Awards, and to obtain that level of skill clearly involves a lot of work.<P><BR>Personally, I'd say that soloists on any instrument have it hardest.</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>I saw that performance too, with my family, and my dad, a big fan of almost any piece of music ever writte, commented that the way Yo-Yo Ma played made it look like he was giving us the finger upside down! <P>Personally, I think it was a grave injustice to give Gladiator Best Picture. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon or Traffic would have been better choices. At least CTHD got best origional score. When I win best origional score someday, my speech is going to last 17 minutes. <P>Bob

[Peter]

Sounds like you've already written it, Bob!

[Peter]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ReedMan:<BR><B> String instruments require some level of deafness in order to master these wonderful noise machines.<BR></B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>So Beethoven should have been the greatest harpist, ever?! (Deftness, Reedman?).

[EJA_2]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Peter:<BR><B> So Beethoven should have been the greatest harpist, ever?! (Deftness, Reedman?).</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Funny, Peter, when he said that I was thinking that he was implying that having that much noise so close to your ears would lead to deafness (for instance with a violin or harp). Now that you mention it, though, I'll bet that he did mean deftness. Now, for a lot of noise blasting past your ears, think of a tuba! Or a bagpipe? Heck there you've got droning in each ear. . . <P> -- EJA