I hope you can help me with a music related question. DD1 learns the piano and flute, and I'd quite like her to give one of them up, as I think two instruments is too much hard work. She is academic, but is also in lots of sports teams, drama clubs, singing ensembles etc. and has a busy social life. I just think it's too much. She is in Y8 and by the end of the academic year will have done her Grade 6 flute and Grade 6 piano. She does well enough in the exams with a mixture of merits and distinctions but is not especially talented/a musical genius by any means. It's more that she's lucky enough to do ok at most things with some effort.
I think she should give up one, as the pressure will only get more as she progresses through the school. She seems to feel that she should keep going, even though she doesn't enjoy the flute at the moment - no idea why she feels this as she gets no pressure from us, maybe it's because her friends at her school also do music at a high level. She wants to do music gcse but not at any further level.
Also, which should she give up? She would say the flute, as she much prefers the piano (mainly because of a nicer teacher) but I think the flute is better as she can then play in orchestras etc at school. The piano is less sociable. The counter argument is that she will do better at the instrument she likes best. Of course it is ultimately her choice and I would never dictate to her which instrument to play, but I would be interested in your views.
I don't want to force her into stopping, but she might find it easier if I made the decision for her and she could blame it on me! She does get very tired, and I think maybe I should 'save' her from herself.
I just want her to be able to relax and enjoy her childhood, and two instruments seems too much. I know lots of other children do two or more however, but she is not particularly robust. DD2 does two and seems to cope better.
Thanks a lot