what musical instruments are appropriate for a woman to know how to play?

Something femenine.

The harp and the flute are instruments that strike me as things that would be more appealing to females. There aren't necessarily any "feminine" or "masculine" instruments, just instruments that may attract 1 sex more than the other.

Learn whatever you want, don't be pharisaical.

I will say that both men and women should learn to play a musical instrument -- it is fitting for both.

The instrument chosen might vary, as Telesphorus hints at. Large, heavy instruments would be harder for a woman to handle. It's a fact that women are not as strong as men, and that their center of gravity is actually different from men (that's why you don't see many women get into the career of "professional mover")

But singing and playing instruments is a great way to get in touch with one's humanity -- which is shared by both genders of course. It's a shame for either gender to completely avoid playing music (or at least learning how to sing).

Usually you'd want to pick different instruments within your family or social group just for the sake of variety :) How else can you start a band?

The clarinet is an annoying instrument. The oboe is far superior. There is also a plethora of music written expressly for oboe solo (with basso continuo) from the Baroque era; beautiful music - the clarinet cannot boast this.

Traditionally, women played the harpsichord, virginal, clavichord, etc before the invention of the piano and the exponential growth of amateur musicians during the late 18th and early 19th century. Ironically, the harpsichord - which now holds a place of respect among cultured musicians as one of the *the* instruments to learn (the piano is far to profane) - was once universally looked down upon as an instrument only fit for young women waiting to be married off to play to relieve their boredom. It was an insult to compare another instrument to the harpsichord. Times have changed though...and these wonderful "time machines" can be a real source of musical pleasure. Unfortunately, harpsichords can be notoriously expensive - however, you can buy some for the same price as you would a piano of quality.

The flute is a good choice - just be sure to invest in buying a wooden Baroque traverso - modern metal flutes cannot compare to the beauty of a wooden instrument. The cost should be the same. This is generally true of all modern v. period instruments. The period instruments produce better sound in all cases (and they are lighter as well). Nylon/metal strings v. gut strings, etc.

Violin is also a classic for women. Remember - baroque is best. As far as the cello, the viola da gamba is superior in my opinion, but it's sound may be too raw to be seen as as a feminine instrument. In practically all cases, I prefer the viola da gamba to the cello as a solo instrument and as a basso continuo instrument.

Women are not well suited to stile antico or stylus gravis or stylus phantasticus *in my opinion*. Women are best off playing dainty music like Couperin's harpsichord ordres, and the generic solo instrument + basso continuo sonatas that proliferated during the Baroque.

It is the style of music rather than the instrument that depends on the gender...

Well, that's better than Quis who can't stand the flute and Servitium who can't stand the piano.

The clarinet really is an exhausting instrument to listen to in many cases. The oboe can be as well, but as far as written music that is exciting or capable of arousing the more delicate passions, the oboe wins every time. The clarinet is far too subdued - which is why you see it gain popularity with the rise of rococo and Classical period, where the musical style shifted from the exhilarating juxtaposition of exciting allegro movements with passionate slower movements (often defined partly by the major/relative minor shift) to the general...sunny day of the Classical where almost everything becomes complacently cheerful (some exceptions though - the Sturm und Drang, etc).

The oboe can become a bit too bright and obtrusive, but all instruments have their flaws. The clarinet is just to complacent. The sound produced is almost entirely idiomatic to the Classical period.  

You're quite the musical snob - at least we can console ourselves that you must have talent to back it up.

I'm proficient at keyboard instruments. I can play some music on a string instrument. But I have never mastered playing a wind instrument to my frustration. I stick mainly with the Baroque keyboard idiom, but I do play Classical and Romantic as well.

PS Music didn't end in the Baroque.  

Ah yes, but good music did end with the Baroque!

Joking aside, the music after the Classical period is really hit and miss. For example, John Field's nocturnes are amazing, but Chopin is too subjective much of the time (the 2nd movement of his piano concerto in e minor is among the most sublime works of art in the history of man, however). All the eras have good music, but in general the era that consistently produced the best music most often was the Baroque.

Well, I'm a woman and I play the guitar, lute, piano, violin, bass viola da gamba and soprano, alto and tenor recorders.  I have also played the trumpet and french horn but that was way back in high school.  And in recently getting my music education degree, I played most everything.

Brass instruments seem somewhat masculine to me with the exception of the French Horn.  But there's no reason a woman can't play them.  There's a Norwegian trumpeter, Tine Thing Helseth, who's pretty good.  

I'm with Vladimir.  I have an aversion to the clarinet.  In fact, my aversion had a lot to do with my decision to declare a music education major with choral emphasis.  The instrument majors were going to be band directors.  Yikes!  All those clarinets!!!  Although I am primarily an instrumentalist, I couldn't bear the thought!

Wow, you are talented! Lute, violin, viola da gamba, *and* recorders? You could be an early music ensemble by yourself!

Well, thank you very much, Vladimir, but I never said I was any good.  I started playing in an early music ensemble a few years ago.  I love it.  If you are interested, here's a recording from our concert last May.  This is from Carissimi's oratorio, Jepthe.  It's the Filia solo with Echo duet.  The instruments are wooden organ, theorbo and viola da gamba.  I'm on the gamba.  It's live, so...

Filia/Eccho

The lute has a such a heavenly sonorous tone; I almost think that musically speaking it is to the harpsichord in its ability to communicate the delicate and melancholy passions. But the technical ease of the harpsichord and keyboard instruments in general is hard to match.

I guess it depends what you start with.  I'm primarily a string player and I'm not that comfortable with keyboards though I've taken piano lessons for a number of years.

Oh the gamba has such a penetrating and raw tone! Much more characteristic than the violoncello (granted, the baroque cello is a fine instrument).

I love the sound and how it plays.  It's tragic that the gamba fell out of use, but wonderful that it is now experiencing a comeback.  I need to get a tenor and a treble, though.  Nearly everyone who plays has at least those three.  It's the same with recorders.  You can't just play one.

Recorders have a peculiar tendency to melancholy music dont they.

I never thought about it actually. I always seem to be playing cheery dance music on them. Though I did play a rather melancholy piece on the alto for a Shakespeare play.  It was pretty haunting.

WOW :surprised:That is some ensemble you have there  :applause:I can just and so play the descant recorder with our girls  

Our eldest daughter is now learning to play the guitar (acoustic) and her elder brother is self taught and teaching her.

I confess that I am not a person who is very musical at all but that doesn't mean I don't admire people who do play and I encourage our children to follow their desire to play an instrument