Do you play an instrument in addition to composing?

[karimelm]

Hi,

I would like to know how many composers/sequencers are actively learning to play acoustic instruments. I\'m especially interested in those who have pursued instruments to the point of learning technique not just technicalities.

I have been playing (learning) the bass trombone for two years and have learned a lot that I think aids my compositions. Just curious to know if the amount of time and effort I spend on this instrument also helps composition or would the time be better spent on composing.

Thanks

[Austin]

I can\'t say it is a requirement, because there are too many people with freak talents in composing and sequencing. However, learning to play an acoustic instrument of any nature will expand your knowledge, understaing, your palette.

Most musical pursuits in a given area will give fringe benefits back to other areas. For example: Learning to play drums makes most piano players have better time and rhythmic sense. People into compositiona and orchestration are better at creating a \"good part\" within a piece, as they have the \"big picture\" point of view. It goes on and on....

Music is a journey. The possible paths are infinite, but they all connect.

[Mahler-]

I play bassoon and have a degree in double bass performance. I do composition only now though, but learning to play those instruments proved invaluable to me.

Mahler

[J. Whaley]

I think the more musical knowledge you know the better. Sure there are some writers who don\'t play anything, but I believe if they could play something they\'d write all the better.

I personally think everyone who is a musician should be able to play very well at least one instrument on which you can play harmonic progressions - so guitar or Piano. Best if you can play both. I was a composition major and studied 3 very intense years of college level piano. It has been invaluable and I\'m thinking of grabbing a masters in Piano performance just to force more technical practice.

Also part of my degree required taking a cross section of different orchestral instruments. I didn\'t have to learn them fluently, but enough to understand the instrument. I can say I write better parts for the instruments I learned to play just a little. And I have often wished I had taken more of those classes. So the answer from me... YES!

[eliam]

Each instrument is a universe in itself and has a musical sphere of its own. Melodic instruments are vety useful because they permit to explore melody without any harmonic \"restrictions\", and inversely, a harmonic instrument or structure can lesd melodies into new, unexplored territories. Both are essentiel and can bring novelty and surprises into each other.

Personally, I am primarily an instrumentalist, I begun on drum, which I played for 15 years but I quit. And since I\'ve been studying singing, flute, clarinet and piano.

[A_Sapp]

I\'ve played trumpet in concert and jazz venues - both have allowed me to understand the nuances of trumpet performances which in my opinion has been beneficial in my brass arrangements. Even with a deeper understanding of the details in brass, making good arrangements for brass is tough as ****.

[falcon1]

I\'m a organist.

[route909]

I play the guitar, some electric bass (when I need to in my songs), a little drums and when needed, cello. I played the cello for 5 years but quit a couple of years ago. I just recently borrowed a decent instrument and I play it every now and then images/icons/smile.gif It really helps knowing how the different instruments work when you make music!


Mats

[Pingu]

I\'ve just taken up Guitar at the age of 31, in the hope of being able to include realistic sounding playing - via a Line6 Pod - in my compositions. In a similar vein, I\'ve started tinkering with a few instruments which don\'t really lend themselves to sampling, such as Didgeridoo, Waterphone, Musical Saw, etc. In real life I\'m a Pianist and Clarinettist, which I think does inform my writing for those instruments.

[theiss2003]

Hi all,
I\'m playing Trumpet in church now for more or less 10 years.

[mschiff]

I play keyboard, guitar, trombone, didgeridoo and Native American flute.

-- Martin

[Alan Russell]

Kari,

I\'m a keyboardist as well as a Reed player (Temor-Alto-Bari-Clarinet etc..)...includes flutes too.

I only use samples in my scores and never record the real sounds I play..


Alan Russell

[Gulliver]

Cello here..

and yes, many fine composers have gotten away with not knowing how to play an instrument or not mastering one (e.x. Bernard Herrmann).

These people tend to have a great capacity to observe and remember instrument timbres and their idioms without even touching them. It helps that they\'ve spent a great deal of time listening to live recordings and/or even conducted them.

[Daedalus]

I\'ve played French Horn in chamber music ensembles for about five years. Piano, Acoustic Guitar, Drums, you name it.

I think playing instruments has really helped me write for them. Although you definitely don\'t need to be able to play one to compose interesting material. Look at Berlioz...

[Rich Pell]

Been playing guitar in indie bands since i was 16.I`m 38.The last 10 years or so been playing in mostly weird Rock bands,jazz trios and Classical duets. Knowing an intrument well has to help(getting chicks graemlins/tounge_images/icons/smile.gif )..Rich

[nontacky]

Apart from composition I studied guitar and piano. This helps me a lot for my compositions. I actually try to practice some further instruments for only a few minutes a day like percussion stuff, trumpet and french horn in order to get closer to the instruments.

The main thing about being able to play an instrument well (electric and acoustic guitar in my case) is that you automatically get in touch with other musical styles apart from orchestral compositions. I played in lots of bands and ensembles and practiced a great number of different styles - from punk rock to hardcore, funk, pop, baroque, classical, romantic, avagarde, etc.

this helps me every day .. if you have the time to train your skills in one instrument then go for it. 30 minutes a day of practising to the point are enough - only it has to be EVERY day!

Greets

[Bardstown Audio]

I studied classical piano in my youthful years and later evolved into jazz, but still retain my classical roots. In junior high, high school, and college, I studied and played trumpet and french horn, though I no longer claim to be a horn player of any sorts. I was not a music major in college. I have degrees in finance and economics. After college I quickly developed skills on accordion, vibes, marimba, and guitar. Thirty years later I have maintained professional skills on piano, accordion, vibes, and marimba. I have also composed classical and jazz music for the last twenty years, in addition to being a recording engineer and instrument sound developer.

Kip McGinnis
Bardstown Audio
www.bardstownaudio.com (\"http://www.bardstownaudio.com\")

[Bruce A. Richardson]

I play trumpet, flugel, synths, and piano on a professional level. I have studied percussion for the last twenty-five years, and have a professional level of performance in some latin and african styles. I have something of a level of performance in orchestral percussion, but not on timpani, snare, or hardcore multi-mallet work. So I stick with pop and jazz gigs on percussion, where I\'m well qualified. That has also combined like a dream with trumpet/flugel gigs, since you spend such a great deal of time standing around with your groove face on otherwise.

There is no substitute for looking directly into someone\'s eyes, and playing what comes into your heart in real time...putting all of your ego at risk, and being completely naked and vulnerable as an artist. I think anyone calling himself a musician should acquire whatever skills necessary to experience that feeling. It is life changing.

[Donald_Duck]

I have studied classical piano and guitar ( and as a byproduct i play the bass too ), and i\'ve been studying operatic singing for the past two years. Also i have thaught myself to play most latin percussion instruments, congas, bongos, salsa cowbell, etc...,.
Even though i\'m not a virtuoso at any of these instruments, i think it has helped me ENORMOUSLY when it comes to composing!