What instrument for DD (9)

double bass! it is big but fits into pretty much any car. it is fairly easy to learn at the start and you can be joining in with an orchestra after a fairly short time. There is less competition for places and you can still study it as a solo instrument at music college later if she turns out to be really good at it.

At dds secondary school they are actively looking for bassoon players and oboe players for the woodwind (or people willing to learn these instruments).

Sax's don't always play in orchestras. DD did at primary school because it was an all encompassing orchestra, but she can't play sax in our local Youth Orchestra or her Secondary school orchestra. However there is a wide range of swing and wind bands she can play in, and she also plays cello anyway.

I know two boys who started tuba in year 4 and did very well.

Trombones are great fun, and not very common either. They are also very versatile

How about saxaphone. It can be used in orchestras, but leaves her open for jazz, and other music, if she wants to experiment when she gets older. Great fun as an instrument.

Brass instruments are good, fun and not as much practice as piano. For a 9yr old, a tuba is a bit much (I played the tuba as a kid) but definitely unusual. A french horn is good, rare but hard to find a teacher for and orchestral. Trombones are loud, noisy and fun. Trumpets are generally the lead instruments in brass, with others acting as background until you get to a really good level (I only started learning tuba solos at Grade 6!).

And then go for the more unique... The harp. My niece is learning this as a music program in her area. Not too much practice, but unique, orchestral and fun to play apparently. It is definitely unusual! Her school, once they learnt about it, asked them to pay for another harp for the school (the school pays the upkeep though) because it is nearly impossible to lug around. If the school doesn't do that, and you can afford it, enquire about it.

I keep wondering about whether there actually IS a paucity of viola players too- it does seem to be routinely recognised as less competitve than the violin, so children sometimes start on the violin then change to the viola to get into more groups.
My DS has been playing double bass for a year now and is going to start playing in an orchestra- but he's hardly ever had to take his own instrument with him as he plays on school ones. (Whew).

Well, I'd always thought they were rare, Sleeze, but when we went camping last year there were three euphonium players on the campsite.

ours was the only one who'd brought it with him though

A lot of the Endangered instruments are endangered precisely because they are large, heavy and expensive...

Get her to try some instruments in the music shop and see what she likes!

Ah ok - it was just the euphonium comment - I wondered if you were someone I know in real life - euphonium players aren't exactly two a penny

No, why?
(Should have said that at school level, DS DOES play in the orchestras, doubling up on the trombone parts, but he wouldn't get into a 'proper' orchestra with it.)

Are you in Hampshire Lancelottie?

Sleeze's suggestion is good -- but not all 'endangered species' instruments are orchestral, so check that too. DS plays euphonium, which is a brass band staple rather than orchestral.

Double bass would get her into any orchestra, no problem at all.
The downside is the size. Even if she had a quarter size because of her height you would have to do a lot of fetching and carrying.

Would also suggest you check with the school - our school only takes kids for the orchestra who have learned their instrument at school not privately tutored... so you have to pick from the "usuals" on the school music service list...

I would also suggest you research other local children's orchestras - maybe contact your local music service. Our local music service does something called 'endangered species' where they provide tuition and instruments on loan for the less popular instruments. They also have a number of 'training' bands and orchestras.

Not viola unless you can see a proven lack of them in your area. We have reached the stage here where so many teachers have promoted viola that we now have more violas than violins in our local orchestra! Also if she is small I would not suggest it as she will always be competing with bigger people on bigger better sounding instruments. DD started oboe at Xmas Age 9 & is doing.really well, but she also plays recorder to grade 3 standard. Instruments which are in short supply & don't require much practice might include oboe, bassoon, French horn or timps. Viola players practise for upto 6 hours a day!

It's important to pick something where she likes the sound it makes and will enjoy playing it. Also have a think about different styles - I love playing the cello, but whilst it's not bad for orchestral stuff, there's not much chance to get involved in modern music styles like jazz. Although I suppose singing is always gonna be useful if she decides she wants to do jazz or rock.

it is definitely a good idea to play an unusual instrument, that way you get in much easier and playing in an orchestra makes sense of the whole business IMO and it is usually fun.

You say she plays the piano and sings, what other instruments does she actually like the sound of? Was it her idea to do flute or clarinet or was that your idea? If she doesn't have any particular choice, I would try getting her to listen to different instruments (you can just use youtube for a start) and then maybe go into a shop and look at various instruments.

Personally I like the double bass, they are always needed and you can do quite a bit with them in terms of variety but as you say she is petite, maybe the size of it would overwhelm her. She may not need an instrument with a whole lot of literature since she does the piano anyway as main instrument.

Also of course it depends on finding a teacher. Oboe teachers were thin on the ground round here and had to wait a bit to find one with a slot.

I'm an oboe teacher- I'd have no problem taking on a nine year old, especially one who was grade 3 piano already.
And my teeth are perfect, so don't let that worry you too much!

Another vote for the oboe here - she could then double up with the cor anglais when she has grown a bit too.

I was going to say oboe as well. Ds2 started on a howarth junior oboe at start of year 6 and has taken grade 2 in a year. He will continue on the junior oboe for another couple of terms until he takes grade 3 then switch up. He has just finished year 6.

Another option might be percussion. Ds1 is going to start this as he doesnt play any orchestral instruments and thought this might be fun.