Learning second instrument

[user789653241]

My ds only started learning piano in February. Now he wants to learn guitar or drums as well.

He is inspired by amateur musicians on you tube who can play multiple instrument.

He is learning music purely for hobby, and DH and myself aren't musical at all. He does practice voluntarily every day about 15~30 minutes.

Is it a bad idea or is it ok to learn two completely different instrument at same time as a complete beginner?

[Helenluvsrob]

How old is he ?

If he's under 7 I'd say not but above that and committed to practicing yo for it if you can afford it!

Personally I'd steer him towards guitar but that's cos I couldn't bear beginner drums !

[Themoleandcrew]

I started learning instruments in primary and learnt both the cello and the clarinet at the same time. I think I was around 8 when I started, having already learned to play the violin.

[user789653241]

Sorry, he is 8, yr3.
Yes if I agree, it has to be guitar, if he does. we can't buy drum set.(space, price, noise, etc, etc.)

[Ferguson]

I think guitar is difficult, and takes a long time to make any progress; which is why I always steer people towards keyboard or piano, rather than guitar.

I played drums for forty years, and coached primary children to accompany the Christmas production each year.

I think a solo instrument - flute, clarinet, saxophone, any brass instrument - would be more useful longer-term, as then it is easier to join a group, at school or elsewhere.

(Let me know sometime how far he has got on piano.)

[Mistigri]

I think there are pros and cons to learning two instruments so early.

The multi-instrumentalists you see on YouTube will often have started on one instrument and taken up others only (much) later. My dd played recorder as a young child. She then took up guitar aged 11/12, and piano and sax aged 13. She's now 15 and reasonably competent on all of them, and she is also fairly handy on the bass guitar when required.

If you only have 15-30 mins for practice then it would be better IMO to progress on one instrument at this stage. Progress on second instruments can be fast but only if the first one is sufficiently mastered.

[user789653241]

Thank you Helenluvsrob and Themoleandcrew.
And than you, Ferguson, as always.

I think he is doing ok at piano, though I have no clue. He is learning, and trying hard to master what he learned every week.
This is end of the school year anyway, so maybe we think about what he should/ could learn in the new school year over the summer.
At his school, music lessons are quite limited. They only offer piano/violin/guitar/drums. We are rural, so it's quite difficult to find private music teacher. But we attended the school concert, and guitar/drum teacher seems to be very nice. Ds played first music in front of lots of parents and children, and we are very proud.
I am really glad he found joy in playing music.

[user789653241]

Thank you, Mistigri.
That's what we thought.
I think he is too young and too ambitious to realize learning to play musical instruments need lots of hard work.
We aren't sure, but more inclined to wait bit longer.

[user789653241]

I just had a chat with my ds, and we decided that he just carry on learning piano for now. He is a total beginner, and it might be better to concentrate on one instrument, and he agreed.

Thank you everyone.

[onlymusic]

My dd started piano and then soon after second instrument. It worked fine, in fact I think instruments complemented each other very well. She was younger than 8yo too.

[user1465823522]

let him. kids learn faster than adults.

[MissElizaBennettsBookmark]

Better to stick to one instrument at first until he learns the basics. Remember, more instruments means practise time needs increasing for each instrument, plus the better you get, the more practise you need to do.