Endangered Instruments

[Aldrick]

I remember reading in the newspaper a few years ago that a Sydney Youth Orchestra were encouraging children to learn such instruments such as the double bass and bassoon because there was a shortage of young people who could play such instruments. My school has a shitload of violinists, I was one myself before I quit in favour of guitar. My brother is learning violin and viola, because he says that orchestras value viola players very highly.

My question is, why do people often go for piano, violin, guitar and other such instruments when one can learn the Appalachian dulcimer? I know it may vary in different areas but it just seemed strange to me. Why is a plucked six stringed instrument with the tunings of E A D G B E the norm in many places and fields of music? This may excite you strange prog people, with the possibilities of a banjo/er hu jam.

[mystictrunks]

It's probably because other instruments aren't as easily identifiable or popular. I mean a piano is a huge instrument, everyone knows what one is, and it has a lot of attention grabbing things you can do.

Sucks about the double bass though.

[Pilaf]

My little brother can play all those instruments and he actually tutors young people in our home town in music, as well as volunteers as an assistant band director for the high school. So I'm all about this movement.

Now personally if you can't fit it into a rock band I have no interest in playing it but more power to them.

[Jarl lKarl]

Well, part of the interest in instruments like guitar would have to be because they're popular; as a result, they're cheaper, and support is easier to come by.

[Trias]

It's simply about the price and accessibility, actually. There's a reason the classical guitar is probably the most popular instrument -it's one of the cheapest and the most accessible. Violin is very close, and piano following them (definitely not cheap, but still, accessible and popular) and stuff. Now, double bass? The mere act of finding a double bass requires some kind of hard work, actually. It's not something much, we know, but it IS quite something much for someone who just wants to get into music by an instrument -ANY instrument, actually. Why bother with starting with double bass that you'll have trouble even finding when there's a guitar shop next to your house that sells cheap ones?

[destroy_musick]

It's simply about the price and accessibility, actually. There's a reason the classical guitar is probably the most popular instrument -it's one of the cheapest and the most accessible. Violin is very close, and piano following them (definitely not cheap, but still, accessible and popular) and stuff. Now, double bass? The mere act of finding a double bass requires some kind of hard work, actually. It's not something much, we know, but it IS quite something much for someone who just wants to get into music by an instrument -ANY instrument, actually. Why bother with starting with double bass that you'll have trouble even finding when there's a guitar shop next to your house that sells cheap ones?

i think environment counts too, as in cultural surroundings. Taking your example, i can walk down a road in Croydon and pass 3 musical instrument shops that all sell double-bass's, but none of those 3 would sell, for instance, a sitar

[Trias]

Yeah, but then again, sitar is more ethnical than double-bass, which has kinda become more universel through western classical music and similar stuff.

[destroy_musick]

sitar may been a bad choice, but the same goes for a keyboard in my area

[Trias]

Yeah I know what you mean, kinda. But I still think about porn so OAWDHŞSÖ DNİQ:WMÖBN:zxmöc.qa... ejqıuq.flhşqu

[Aldrick]

Can you imagine hurdy gurdy vs thumb piano metal?

[chaosakita]

My question is, why do people often go for piano, violin, guitar and other such instruments when one can learn the Appalachian dulcimer? I know it may vary in different areas but it just seemed strange to me. Why is a plucked six stringed instrument with the tunings of E A D G B E the norm in many places and fields of music? This may excite you strange prog people, with the possibilities of a banjo/er hu jam.

How much music is composed for more popular instruments compared to things like the dulcimer?

Are there any groups that make extensive use of bowed string instruments anyways?

[Aldrick]

Are there any groups that make extensive use of bowed string instruments anyways?

Symphonic metal?

[chaosakita]

Symphonic metal?

That sounds interesting. I must go check it out now.

[Dr. Boskov Krevorkian]

Symphonic metal?

Not really, 'cause they mainly use synths lol.

Therion uses Orchestras, though.

[chaosakita]

Not really, 'cause they mainly use synths lol.

Therion uses Orchestras, though.

Thanks for the suggestion.

[Gray Wolf]

How much music is composed for more popular instruments compared to things like the dulcimer?

Are there any groups that make extensive use of bowed string instruments anyways?

Apocalyptica and Winds.

[animebutterfly]

I play the cello, violin, and I'm starting to play viola.

Yeah, the violin is more popular, but I see viola, string bass, and cello ones that most don't take. I was in a school orchestra myself, and there were so many violinist. :D:

[tapiocka]

Tabla is so underrated nowadays.

[Bassoonist]

I think that mostly it's because people go for what's popular, but there are exceptions... People who play them because they actually like the instrument.

But yes, bassoons rock. I don't see why they're "endangered" people underestimate their awesomeness definitely. No other instrument compares in my eyes. I love playing the bassoon. ^_^

[Gaawa-chan]

My little brother can play all those instruments and he actually tutors young people in our home town in music, as well as volunteers as an assistant band director for the high school. So I'm all about this movement.

Now personally if you can't fit it into a rock band I have no interest in playing it but more power to them.

That's silly; if the band knows what they're doing, they should be able to incorporate many different instruments.

Anyway, I agree. I suppose that's one of the reasons why I like The Decemberists so much; they use some unusual instruments.
My family is big on instruments... one of my cousins plays the didgeridoo, for example. He makes them, too...

But I think that one of the coolest and yet one of the most underrated instruments has to be the theremin. That thing is so cool. But I'm not sure about 'endangered,' because it's used in some... 'interesting' pieces.

[Tyger]

i wanted to learn violin after hearing some cool violin playing. though i thought it would be odd if i were to go around playing a violin, of all instruments, so i ended up with guitar

[Mihael Keehl]

What, no harpsichord? :hurr

I like erhu, as well. I just wish I heard them both more often.

[Aldrick]

i wanted to learn violin after hearing some cool violin playing. though i thought it would be odd if i were to go around playing a violin, of all instruments, so i ended up with guitar

Over 60 people at my school can play violin.

But hardly any can play fiddle:zaru

one of my cousins plays the didgeridoo,

Got to practice your circular breathing.

There's some street performers in Darling Harbour who play Aboriginal/dance fusion.