Editing Multi-instrumentalist

{{short description|Musician who plays multiple musical instruments}}
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[[File:Roy Ayers @ Becks Music Box (12 2 2011) (5457445963).jpg|thumb|[[Roy Ayers]] playing keyboard and alto saxophone (2011)]]
A '''multi-instrumentalist''' is a musician who plays two or more [[musical instrument]]s,<ref>{{cite web|title=Multi-Instrumentalist|url=http://mw2.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/multi-instrumentalist|publisher=Merriam-Webster|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308053633/http://mw2.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/multi-instrumentalist|archive-date=2012-03-08}}</ref> often but not exclusively at a professional level of proficiency.

Also known as '''[[woodwind doubler|doubling]]''', the practice allows greater ensemble flexibility and more efficient employment of musicians, where a particular instrument may be employed only briefly or sporadically during a performance. Doubling is not uncommon in [[orchestra]] (e.g., [[flute|flutists]] who double on [[piccolo]]) and jazz ([[saxophone]]/flute players); [[double bass]] players might also perform on [[electric bass]]. In [[music theatre]], a [[pit orchestra]]'s reed players might be required to perform on multiple instruments. Church [[piano]] players are often expected to play the church's [[pipe organ]] or [[Hammond organ]] as well.

In [[popular music]] it is more common than in classical or jazz for performers to be proficient on instruments not from the same family, for instance to play both guitar and keyboards. Many [[bluegrass music]]ians are multi-instrumentalists. Some musicians' unions or associations, such as the [[American Federation of Musicians]], specify a higher rate of [[Wage|pay]] for musicians who double on two or more instruments for a performance or recording.

==Early music==
The European [[Alta Capella|''Piffari'', ''Stadtpfeifer'' and ''Waits'']] were multi-instrumentalists, who played [[trumpet]], [[sackbut]], [[shawm]], [[cornett]], [[recorder (musical instrument)|recorder]] and string-instruments.<ref>''[[Riemann Musiklexikon]]'' 1967: Art. ''Stadtpfeifer''</ref> Musicians with an education of a ''Stadtpfeifer'' were [[Gottfried Reiche]],<ref name="Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart">Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart</ref> [[Johann Joachim Quantz]],<ref name="Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart"/> Johann Christof Pezel and [[Sigmund Theophil Staden]].<ref name="Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart"/> Also many European church musicians of the 17th and 18th centuries were multi-instrumentalists, who played several instruments. [[Georg Philipp Telemann]] for example played violin, viola da gamba, recorder, flauto traverso, oboe, shawm, sackbut and double bass.<ref>Telemann: Singen ist das Fundament zur Music in allen Dingen; Ed. Werner Rackwitz; Reclam</ref>

==Classical music==
Some famous classical composer-performers could play multiple instruments at a high level, such as [[Mozart]], who was a virtuoso on the keyboard and violin. Music written for [[symphony orchestra]] usually calls for a [[percussion]] section featuring a number of musicians who might each play a variety of different instruments during a performance. Orchestras will also often, but not always, call for several members of the [[woodwind]] section to be multi-instrumentalists. This is sometimes referred to as doubling. Typically, for example, one [[flute]] player in the orchestra will switch to playing the [[piccolo]] or [[alto flute]] when called to by the score. Similarly, [[clarinet]] players may double on [[bass clarinet]], [[oboe]] players on [[cor anglais]], and [[bassoon]] players on [[contrabassoon]]. [[Trumpet]] players may switch to [[piccolo trumpet]] for certain Baroque literature, and first [[trombone]] players may switch to [[alto trombone]]. [[Bass trombone]] players are sometimes required to double on [[contrabass trombone]], most notably in [[Richard Wagner|Wagner]]'s ''[[Der Ring des Nibelungen]]'' operas. [[organ (music)|Organ]] players are also commonly expected to master the [[harpsichord]] as well. Doubling elsewhere in the orchestra is rare. With [[musical theatre]] [[pit orchestra]]s, woodwind players are expected to play a large number of woodwind instruments.

==Jazz, modern, and contemporary music==
[[File:Hayden Chisholm-67284.jpg|thumb|Alto saxophonist [[Hayden Chisholm]] playing the flute]]
[[File:Colin Dyall 76th birthday 2015.JPG|thumb|Colin Dyall (father of [[Sharon Dyall|Sharon]] and [[Karl Dyall]]) surrounded by his instruments.]]
In the [[Swing music|swing]] era of [[big band]] music, woodwind players were often expected to play multiple woodwind instruments;  saxophonists might be offered gigs where they were also required to play clarinet, for example.

The different types of [[saxophone]] use similar designs, varying mainly only in size (and therefore pitch), meaning that once a player has learned to play one it is relatively easy for them to translate the skills into another. As a result, many jazz saxophone players have made careers playing several different instruments, such as [[John Coltrane]] and [[Wayne Shorter]], both of whom have frequently used both tenor and soprano saxophones. To a lesser extent this is also the case across the range of [[woodwind]] instruments: Jazz [[flute]] players often play other instruments as well, such as [[Eric Dolphy]] and [[Herbie Mann]], both of whom frequently played flute and saxophone; Dolphy also recorded on [[bass clarinet]]. In the early years of jazz, when the genre was still linked to the [[marching band]] genre, many double-bass players doubled on [[tuba]].

From the 1950s onwards and particularly since the development of [[jazz fusion|jazz-rock fusion]] in the late 1960s, many double-bass players doubled on [[electric bass]], e.g. [[Stanley Clarke]] and [[John Patitucci]].

Another famous multi-instrumentalist is [[Jacob Collier]]. His career started off with split-screen YouTube videos that caught the eye of music legends like [[Herbie Hancock]]. With his help, Collier recorded his debut album ''[[In My Room (album)|In My Room]]'' and then went on to write many more albums. He is proficient on many different instruments, including vocals, piano, keyboards, bass guitar, upright bass, drums, percussion, guitar, and more. 

Some jazz instrumentalists whose main instrument is a horn or bass also play [[jazz piano]], because piano is an excellent instrument for composing and arranging, and for developing greater harmonic knowledge.

Many famous jazz musicians, including [[James Morrison (musician)|James Morrison]], [[Don Burrows]], and [[Brian Landrus]], are multi-instrumentalists.

==Rock and pop music==

In [[popular music]] styles, many musicians and songwriters are multi-instrumentalists. Songwriters often play both piano, a key instrument for arranging and composing, and popular pop or rock instruments such as guitar. A backing band member who doubles will be instructed by the bandleader when to switch instruments (e.g., from bass to [[Hammond organ]]). When playing live, most multi-instrumentalists will concentrate on their main instrument and/or vocals, and hire or recruit backing musicians (or use a [[Music sequencer|sequencer]]) to play the other instruments, thus benefiting from [[economies of scope]].

===Examples=== 
Some musicians have pushed the limits of human musical skill on different instruments. British entertainer [[Roy Castle]] once set a world record by playing the same tune on 43 different instruments in four minutes.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.southportvisiter.co.uk/southport-news/southport-southport-news/2010/02/19/participants-urged-to-sign-up-for-race-for-roy-to-raise-funds-for-the-roy-castle-fund-101022-25864157/ | author=Moreton, Nick | title=Sign up for Race for Roy to raise funds for the Roy Castle Fund | work=Southport Visiter | date=February 19, 2010 | access-date=October 9, 2012}}</ref> [[Anton Newcombe]], frontman for [[The Brian Jonestown Massacre]], has claimed to be able to play 80 different instruments.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.mndaily.com/2009/03/26/best-comeback-ever | author=Power, Ian | title=Best Comeback Ever? | work=Minnesota Daily | date=March 26, 2009 | access-date=October 9, 2012}}</ref> [[Brian Jones]], late founder and guitarist of [[The Rolling Stones]] was well known to experiment with, and utilize various instruments, both Western and exotic. By the time of his death, Jones had played a multitude of instruments on released recordings ranging from traditional blues hallmarks – like the [[Harmonica]], [[Slide Guitar]] and the [[Piano]] – to more exotic ones such as the [[Sitar]], [[Mellotron]] and the [[Appalachian Dulcimer]]. Another famous multi-instrumentalist is [[Paul McCartney]]; on his album ''[[McCartney (album)|McCartney]]'', for example, he is credited with vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar, drums, piano, organ, percussion, wineglasses, Mellotron, and effects; the only other credited performer is his wife [[Linda McCartney|Linda]] who provided harmony vocals.<ref>{{cite book|last=Spizer|first=Bruce|title=The Beatles Solo on Apple Records|publisher=498 Productions|location=New Orleans, LA|year=2005|isbn=0-9662649-5-9|pages=117–118}}</ref> [[Progressive rock]] composer [[Mike Oldfield]] plays many types of guitars, organ, piano, [[mandolin]], [[timpani]], and [[bouzouki]] (among others) with proficiency. However, he considers himself primarily a guitarist. 

== Bluegrass ==

In [[bluegrass music]], it is very common for musicians to be skilled on a number of different instruments, including guitar, banjo, fiddle and upright bass.

== See also ==
* [[List of multi-instrumentalists]]
* [[One-man band]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20041206191435/http://folkofthewood.com/page2421.htm On Being a Multi-Instrumentalist]

[[Category:Multi-instrumentalists| ]]
[[Category:Jazz]]
[[Category:Popular music]]
[[Category:Occupations in music]]