Shortage

Instrument

Chamber
music

Rock/Pop

Jazz

Big Band

Hire
from
OCMS

Orchestra

Instrument

Cost for
Basic
Instrument
(Correct at )

Oxfordshire County Music Service

A Guide to Choosing an Instrument to Learn

Portability

Flute

290

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

Yes

No

Easy

Oboe

720

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

Easy

Clarinet

225

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Easy

Bassoon

2,350

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

Saxophone

Alto 499
Tenor 595

Limited

Few

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

Hand held. Small

suitcase sized. Quite
heavy
Hand held. Quite
heavy

French
Horn

889

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

Hand held. Quite

heavy

Trumpet

195

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

Easy

Trombone

299

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

Yes

Hand held. Quite

heavy and large

Tuba

1,395

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

No

Yes

Large and heavy.

Transport required.

Opportunities

Many students learning, stiff

competition for places in
orchestras.
Shortage instrument, not
much competition for
places.
Many students learning, stiff
competition for places in
orchestras.
Shortage instrument, not
much competition for
places.
Good Opportunities
Shortage instrument, not
much competition for
places.
Good opportunities
Shortage instrument, not
much competition for
places.
Not many players but not
many needed n orchestras.

Shortage
Instrument

Chamber
music

Rock/Pop

Jazz

Big Band
Some

Most
Percussion provided by
OCMS

Hire
from
OCMS

Orchestra

Instrument

Cost for
Basic
Instrument
(Correct at )

Oxfordshire County Music Service

A Guide to Choosing an Instrument to Learn

No

Drum Kit

600

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

Harp

Beginner
1,000
Concert
10,000

No

Yes

No

No

No

Yes

No

No

Yes

No

No

No

Portability

Many different
instruments. Large
ones require transport.
OCMS can make
practice available.
Several pieces. Some
large, transport
required
Very large, transport
required

Violin

75

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

Yes

No

Easy

Viola

75

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

Easy

Cello

300

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

Yes

No

Large but not too

heavy, can be carried.

Opportunities

Good Opportunities

Quite a few learning but

plenty needed.
Not many players but not
many needed in orchestras
Many learning, but many
needed in orchestras and
plenty of opportunities.
Shortage instrument, not
much competition for
places.
Good opportunities. Many
needed in orchestras.

Shortage
Instrument

Chamber
music

Rock/Pop

Jazz

Big Band

Hire
from
OCMS

Orchestra

Instrument

Cost for
Basic
Instrument
(Correct at )

Oxfordshire County Music Service

A Guide to Choosing an Instrument to Learn

Portability

Double
Bass

750

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Very large. Can be

carried over short
distances, otherwise
transport required

Classical
Guitar

50

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

Easy

Electric
Guitar

Guitar 150
Amp 75

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

Bass
Guitar

Guitar 200
Amp 100

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

Keyboard

150

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

Guitar portable but

amplifier needs
transport.
Guitar portable but
amplifier needs
transport.
Large but not heavy.
Can be carried if case
obtained.

Opportunities

Shortage instrument, not

much competition for
places. Used in many forms
of music.
Mainly a solo instrument
Plenty learning but many
needed for bands etc.
Good Opportunities
Mainly solo but good
opportunities in bands.