(I'm a bit new, if this needs to be deleted then do it please)

This might not be the right forum to post this on but I know a lot of people who are in this situation and i'm hoping that some of you can help me out seeing as you are fellow musicians. I play Tuba, Viola, Trombone, and Bassoon seriously.

Like most of us, I started my music education when I was forced into my school's band by my mother. The teacher simply tested us by seeing what mouthpiece I could buzz on which was tuba, baritone, and trombone at the time (no double reed like the bassoon) and surprisingly I was selected to play the tuba >_>

I went through 6 through 8 playing the oom-pah notes that was accustom to my level and I soon started to resent playing tuba. I enter 9th grade and the joy of marching rush over me. Not really but the tubas seemed to be more needed in the band but quickly, like the 3 years before, I started to become bored with playing the tuba. At the end of my 9th grade year I asked the band director if I could grab a bassoon over summer, I started playing and practicing it heavily but when I came back for summer band the director told me that he would not let me play it, even for concert season. I stopped practicing which was a stupid move on my part.

10th grade, this year, I bought a personal viola and I'm learning bass trombone for jazz band and I have been contemplating If I wanted to make music my life and I can easily see that I really want to. Now, I have to pick one instrument and study that instrument. I won't get good at anything if I switch everytime I don't seem to be progressing as well or as quickly as I thought I would.

I'm not going to ask you what instrument should I pick, thats my decision. Instead I want you to tell me when did you know you loved the instrument you played.

Thank you for your response.

(I am picking a instrument to study but that doesn't mean i'm just going to drop every other instrument)

Well, as a soon as I felt that large wooden body press against me, that long neck firmly in my hand, and the vibrations of my music going through my body, I knew my life-instrument would be the upright bass.

It's an unexplained love =] And maybe that's how it should be with the instrument you choose to study. It something you need to feel truly dedicated to no matter what the circumstances.

I can't separate from my bass now-a-days. I can't go on vacation unless I bring it with me because I'll literally, be brought to tears without it. Some folk find it funny, some find it beautiful.

What do you want to play?

From an experience standpoint you should stick with a brass, but if you love the bassoon or viola, then by all means go for it. Also keep in mind how much you want to earn for scholarships. Playing the bassoon can bring in big bucks, but that also means that everyone wants you so you'll be busy concerning groups that you play with. Also, look into some acutal tuba repitore. My friend plays the tuba so well. He was the first chair in a summer orchestra at Tanglewood. Not everything tuba is oompa-oompa.

I have the same problem so to say. I study piano, vocal, bassoon, and percussion, but I've chosen to do a double major in music ed. I've chosen the piano and vocal because I've had the most experience playing the piano and the vocal is the other major. Sadly, I think after highschool I'll be giving up percussion which is a shame because I've had alot of experience in concert percussion. Hopefully since I have to be in a band I'll get to play bassoon.

In your case its a bit different. Its a hard decision, but you have to go with the one you feel more comfortable with. Never stop your other instruments. You'll never regret keeping them fresh.