Instruments We Teach - Swindon Music Co-operative

The Swindon Music Co-operative provides tuition on the a wide range of instruments, subject to teacher availability.
Please see below for the instruments we teach and hover on them to know a little more about each instrument.

Woodwind

Recorder

Notes are within easy reach, the instrument is cheap to buy, small and light to carry, and you don't need a special embouchure (mouth shape) to make a sound.

Recommended starting age: 7+

Flute

The sound of a flute can range from gentle and airy to piercing. Quite often getting the melody in orchestral pieces there is also a lot of flute choir music. Using a curved head joint means you don't need long arms to start.

Recommended starting age: 9+

Oboe

The oboe can make a beautiful sound (it can also sound like a duck!). Responsible for tuning an orchestra and with a sound that cuts through, there's no hiding. One of the most difficult instruments to learn.

Recommended starting age: 9+

Clarinet

An instrument that gets plenty of tunes in bands, the clarinet is fairly easy to start and lends itself to a wide variety of musical styles.

Recommended starting age: 9+

Bassoon

The bassoon

Recommended starting age: 11+

Tenoroon

The tenoroon is similar to a bassoon but is smaller and with a simpler fingering, so easier for younger pupils to reach and a good starting point for those who want to learn the bassoon but can't manage the size.

Recommended starting age: 9+

Saxophone

The saxophone can range from being loud and raucus to dark and smokey with several instruments in the family from the high Soprano to the honky Baritone. Not for those with small hands.

Recommended starting age: 11+

Brass

Trumpet

The trumpet...

Recommended starting age: 5+

Cornet

The cornet...

Recommended starting age: 5+

Trombone

The trombone is a low sounding brass instrument that uses a slide. Capable of being very loud, it requires good lung capacity and long arms.

Recommended starting age: 5+

French Horn

The french horn

Recommended starting age: 5+

Tuba

The tuba...

Recommended starting age: 9+

Euphonium

The euphonium

Recommended starting age: 9+

Tenor Horn

The tenor horn...

Recommended starting age: 5+

Baritone

The baritone...

Recommended starting age: 5+

Strings

Violin

A large range of sizes so you can start learning from a very early age. A difficult instrument to learn due to the number and complexity of challenges and skills involved. Gets to play the tunes in orchestras a lot 🙂

Recommended starting age: 7+

Viola

The viola is lower sounding and larger than the violin and tends to play juicy 'inner parts' rather than the tune. Would suit somebody with larger hands although many learn viola on a re-strung violin.

Recommended starting age: 9+

Cello

The cello (violoncello to be correct) gets to play bass lines for quartets and is very rhythmically and harmonically important in ensemble settings. Bonuses include always getting to sit down and a satisfyingly rich sonority.

Recommended starting age: 9+

Double Bass

The largest and lowest sounding member of the string family. You'll need a large car to transport this instrument - even a 1/2 size is ~1.65m long!
Strong fingers and arms needed.

Recommended starting age: 11+

Guitar

Classical Guitar

The classical guitar is played using the thumb and fingers of the right hand to pluck the strings. Softer than the acoustic guitar due to nylon strings and the style doesn't use chord shapes as much.

Recommended starting age: 7+

Acoustic Guitar

The acoustic guitar is similar to the classical guitar but is louder thanks to metal strings. Can be played finger style or with a pick (plectrum). Used in a broad range of styles from folk and country to rock and pop.

Recommended starting age: 7+

Electric Guitar

Electric guitar...

Recommended starting age: 7+

Bass Guitar

Rarely gets to solo but (along with drums) provides the foundation or groove for the band. You don't have to learn chord shapes and can play a large number of songs with relatively few notes. Large-ish hands needed.

Recommended starting age: 9+

Ukulele

Small, light and easy to carry around, the ukulele usually provides a strummed accompaniment. Although the left hand needs to play chord shapes, the small size makes it relatively simple for young students.

Recommended starting age: 7+

Keyboard and Percussion

Piano

The piano...

Recommended starting age: 7+

Keyboard

Similar to the piano but with a very different feel to play, the keyboard is used in a huge variety of music from pop and rock to jazz. Portable and capable of producing many different sounds.

Recommended starting age: 7+

Drum Kit

Playing drums requires the ability to do different things with each limb at the same time. It can be a fitness workout but you get to control the speed of the band!

Recommended starting age: 7+

Orchestral Percussion

Orchestral percussion covers many different instruments from tambourines, claves and chimes to tubular bells, gongs and timpani. Basically anything that can be hit, scraped or shaken!

Recommended starting age: 7+