Which musical instrument?

[Dancergirl]

My middle dd is nearly 9 and in Year 4. After a brief flurry with piano for a year or two (from about age 6 or so), she gave up mainly because she didn't like the teacher. She said she would like to try something else so she started recorder lessons at school and is still playing now. Enjoys it on and off, usually on. In my mind I thought it wouldn't be for the long term but recorder's a good instrument for young children to learn, easy to play etc when they are developing music reading skills.

However I'm wondering whether now is a good time for her to learn a more classical instrument. She's a bright girl but doesn't have many hobbies and I find it hard to find things that enthuse her. I'm also aware that secondary school application is not that far off and as are looking at selective/private schools, they do tend to like girls that offer a lot in terms of extra curricular activities.

She thinks she may like to try piano again (and my friend has recommended a teacher), but I always think an orchestral instrument offers more scope. I'm a pianist myself and whilst I enjoyed it as a child, it didn't give me opportunities for playing with other people until I took up clarinet as a second instrument aged 12.

It could be that she's not musical at all but I always encourage her to try things which she's usually reluctant to do.

[PushyDad]

My son's main instrument is the violin with the piano being his second. With his violin he is part of a school quartet and an external Saturday morning one. He is also in a strings orchestra and a full orchestra, both in and out of school. In addition he does about 2 to 3 orchestra courses a year. As for his piano, he plays it to his teacher and to us, his parents. I think that you get my point :)

The piano is a solitary instrument and unless the child is very keen, long term you will find it difficult for it to hold DDs interest. Also, if the piano is the main/only instrument then admission panels tend to expect a pianist to be a couple of grades higher than a competing violinist for example.

[joanofarchitrave]

DS plays the cello. IMO less painful to listen to in the early stages.

A rare instrument may give more options for future ensembles - French horn, bassoon?

[RaspberryLemonPavlova]

I agree with you about orchestral instruments, but I'd see if you are able to let her try a few different ones in brass, woodwind and strings, see which one interests. It might be worth looking into opportunities locally that she can actually play in too.

[Colleger]

Pushy dad, is your son in the NCO?

[PushyDad]

Hi Colleger

No he isn't. Why do you ask? Do I remind you of one of the parents :)

[Seeline]

I played both desscant and treble recorders at primary school in various groups and thoroughly enjoyed it. When I started secondary I took up the flute and loved it. The basic fingering is the same at the descant recorder which gives you a bit of a head start, and it's relatively easy to get a decent sound out of it straight away. If you can read music, basic tunes come very quickly.