S.C. asks: My son’s school has a free music program and he’s considering which instrument to take. Since he doesn’t have super strong preferences, would it be better for him to study a more obscure instrument because he might stand out more? Thinking this could help both in terms of college applications and getting opportunities like solos.
While certain instruments are more competitive for college auditions than others, I would not recommend having that lead his decision. Instrument selection is a very personal choice, and the main factor should always boil down to the student and their own interest. All classical instruments have plenty of solo repertoire. And university summer music camps, state honors ensembles, summer fine arts festivals and solo competitions are additional opportunities for playing beyond the classroom.
While choosing less competitive instruments could help his chances for college auditions, there could be other barriers to consider. Does his music program or hometown have trained teachers for private lessons? Career-wise, is his instrument so niche that there are limited performance opportunities? And what if your son doesn’t have as much of a propensity for the obscure instrument as a more competitive one.
The best way to get answers is by simply trying different instruments out and talking with the instructor for supplemental advice if needed. For most students, it becomes very clear to them which instrument they enjoy, and they choose fairly quickly.
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