I have to admit after playing hurdy gurdy for the past four years that I don't think it's one of the most difficult to play. Especially the left hand (melody). When you get into right hand and trompette technique (the kazoo sounding rhythmic portion of the instrument) that separates the competent from the merely hopeful. Maintaining the beast is another story altogether.

Personally, I think anyone here who is taking the time and energy to play an instrument and wanting to do so in the vaster culture we're embedded in is doing the hardest work. Anyone turned away from the spectator sport mentality towards music is taking a vaster leap philosophically than even the progression towards mastery.

However, I still want to know how many cornetto players can fit in a phone booth.

"The Flight of the Bumblebee on the tuba?"
Somewhere in my very strange collection of vinyl is an album called "virtuoso tuba" which contains said piece on said instrument. It can be done. We have the technology.

"I still maintain the hardest instrument to play is the one you really don't want to play - the easiest is the one you have fallen in love with and have an aptitude for and are prepared to dedicate time to."

I couldn't agree more. The passion and desire to make the sounds that strike you down to the core is the greatest inspiration. When you do what you love, you love what you do wherever you are in the process.

Dan