Create a Musician

A guide to instrumental stereotypes

Andrea Collins Fall 2014

Create a Musician

A guide to instrumental stereotypes

Andrea Collins Fall 2014

An Introduction
Any true band geek will tell you about instrumental stereotypes. Every instrument and its musician seem to have their own personality that is common among the section. But for those who do not have a band geek at hand to tell you these or for those who wish to identify with what is going on in there band, then this is for you. This is not your typical cookbook. There will be no pictures or recipes of food. If thats what you were looking and hoping for, then I am afraid you are in the wrong place. You cannot actually put these qualities into a pot and hope for a trumpet or flute player. These are simply stereotypes and may not be true for every musician. There may be some outspoken clarinets or quiet trombone players in your school band. Remember, this is just for fun!!!

Contents
Woodwinds Clarinets Saxophones Oboes Bassoons Flutes

Brass Trumpets Trombones Euphoniums French Horns Tubas

Percussion

Woodwinds

Clarinets
Ingredients Shyness Weirdness Likability

Most Clarinetists are female and tend to be quiet during band. This includes the instrument and the player. But watch out when band is over. Those clarinet players can be very strange people. They say that its the quiet ones who always surprise you. Those who play clarinet are very likable, and they tend to take responsibility for any mistakes they make.

Saxophones
Ingredients Mystery Mellowness

Though the sound of the instrument can be very present, the personality of the musician can be rather hard to read. They are really just a mix of any other stereotype in the band. The top chair saxophone can be either very arrogant or down to earth. The section as a whole is usually the latter. But, when it comes to individuals, its hard to tell. They are a mysterious type of musician.

Oboes
Ingredients Talent Snobbery

Although there are a few nice ones, oboe players tend to be on the snobby side. It probably comes from the fact that a higher level of talent is needed to play this double reed instrument. They tend to be quiet during band, but they are more outspoken than their clarinet siblings.

Bassoons
Ingredients Talent Deserved snobbery

The ingredients needed for a bassoon player are similar to those that are needed to create an oboe player. They both have a lot of talent due to the type of reed used. However, the snobbery that comes from a bassoonist is not as evident, and its more deserved. A lot of air and support is needed to play the notes correctly on this instrument. Anyone who can play the bassoon very well is a very talented musician.

Flutes
Ingredients Head full of air Lots of giggles Gossip

The flute section has a lot of girly qualities due to the fact that most are female. They are always the first (and sometimes the only ones) who will find enjoyment from the directors joke. They can often be very flighty and not know which way is up. This could be caused by the amount of air needed to play the instrument. They cant get enough oxygen to go to their heads. They love to gossip, even when its about one of their best friends.

Brass

Trumpets
Ingredients Ego Perverted sense of humor Pride

Trumpet players are very egotistical and prideful. Audition results for a solo can end in an all-out brawl. They believe that the only one worthy of such an accomplishment is themselves. Dont dare to bash their pride. That is a big part of who they are. Their sense of humor is often questionable. Lets just say that you would not talk to your grandma with a mouth like that.

Trombones
Ingredients Loud volume Blatty sound Obnoxiousness

Trombone players are hardly ever quiet. They are the most obnoxious and usually the loudest section in the band. It is rare that they are told to play louder, but a bad director better beware if they ever need to say so. This command is always taken to the extreme, and those who sit in front of them need to make a visit to their doctor for a pair of hearing aids. The tone that is formed when playing at this sound is hardly ever beautiful, and is referred to as blatty throughout the band.

Euphoniums
Ingredients Quiet Invisibility

The euphonium section is hardly ever recognized in a band. This could be due to the fact that the parts the play are hardly ever important. They seem invisible to the rest of the band. However, when they do have the melody, it can be very hard to hear them. They are so used to being in the background that they do not really know how to play out. A loud euphonium soloist is a dream for any band director.

French Horns
Ingredients Many upbeat notes Mysterious melodic lines Mystery

French horn players can highly relate to the saxophones when it comes to personality. They may have the ego of a trumpet or the quietness of a euphonium. They are mostly confined to upbeats when it comes to playing a march. But its worth going through for when they get to the Trio. This is where the French horns usually come out with the melody. But their spotlight is short lived when the trumpets and trombones come in with a counter melody in the repeat of the phrase.

Tubas
Ingredients Contentment Quiet

Tuba players are generally very quiet people. They are very content despite their parts being the most boring out of the entire band. The mix of them being quiet and content makes them out to be one of the mellowest sections throughout the entire ensemble.

Percussion
Ingredients Self-Absorption Haughtiness

The percussion generally see themselves as the most important player of the band. They dont realize that the band can keep tempo without them. When marching band season is going on, they dont socialize with other members of the band. They see themselves as superior. During concert season, they still keep to themselves. Male percussionists (especially if they are really good) tend to be jerks towards others.