Violin or Viola - which would you choose for a 5 year old?

It's easier to get 1/4 and 1/2 size violins so easier to learn from that perspective. Also easier to get cheap early practice violins. Better training for the young ear too.
Mine learned violin from 4 years were about grade 4/5 by end of primary and taught themselves viola with little difficulty.

I dont think children care about the screechy sounds, they just get over it. I must say with my daughter the screechy was there and getting better and finally went away after 2 years when she is now doing her g5. She isnt progressing as fast as many other musical children you could find in here although she loves the social life she has from playing an Orchestral instrument. If I understand it rightly that you could always switch to viola from violin easily however the other way round isnt that easy.

Re. orchestral viola parts - they vary a lot. Some are really dull (Handel, I'm looking at you). Quite often though in 20th century music they can be interesting and challenging. And you'll always be in demand as a string quartet player, and no-one is going to get bored playing the great string quartets (I've done most of my viola playing in string quartets, I play violin in an orchestra at the moment where we have a policy of rotating between first and seconds, and front and back of the section, every couple of concerts).

This is an interesting thread. I think the most important thing for a 5 year old is for them to ENJOY whatever it is they are doing. If your DC has a good ear they will find the violin easier than somebody less skilled.

At least she will be getting a grounding in some music basics...subtly. Learning to take instructions(!), learning time, learning to read music, getting used to practice and taking care of instruments. I didn't think my daughter was especially musical but she switched from violin to flute and has grown in confidence after a year. She 'just" needed to learn the breathing/embouchure/fingering.

I was never a brilliant violinist at school (county orchestra, but usually 2nd violin), but I would observe that viola parts always seemed a bit dull. DB got a music scholarship on the viola (big hands, so he switched). I am almost tempted to buy one (maybe my parents fibbed, but they seem quite inexpensive now).

Aged 5, it doesn't really matter. On balance I think I would choose a treble clef instrument to avoid confusion at the recorder and chime bars stage.

It's absolutely not true that all beginner violin or viola players have to sound screechy If they're taught well and have a good musical ear they simply won't.

Violas are classed as "endangered" in that there is a shortage of players so I'd go for that. There are far too many violin players and it gets a bit competitive at a higher level. A talented viola player will be welcome everywhere.

But you also need quite a good harpist for that Vaughan Williams?

Do not go for the flute - far too many people learn it, which is why pretty much every starter youth orchestra in the country has a load of scratchy grade 3 strings and two grade 8 distinction flautists - the ones who didn't have distinctions got turned down because the waiting list was too long (it's also why Vaughan Williams' setting of Greensleeves is so popular - easy string parts plus something interesting for the first flute to do).

Viola players are much more in demand in Orchestras etc but generally the viola part is very dull to play. They are both lovely once you get through the awful screechy beginner stage.

Alternatively if woodwind instruments have any appeal I think the clarinet is an instrument that's easy to get to a reasonable standard on (ie more likely to retain interest) plus it's portable.

There is nothing more painful to my ears than a child on a violin 😱

Piano? Flute? Clarinet? Drums even...

phew, I also thought it was names
I'd also say viola- DTs both learnt violin at that age and in addition we had a violin teacher lodging with us- it's a very penetrating sound and not very pleasant in the early stages. Cello even better.

Forgot to say that the best thing would be for her to listen to all 3 and see what she likes best. Can she try them out before deciding?

Don't discount the cello. Your daughter would make a much better sound early on!

My older daughter plays the violin and viola (added the viola in her early teens). The younger one plays the cello. After a couple of months of lessons she sounded much better than her older sister. She wasn't as good, obviously. But she made a much better sound! The violin is very unforgiving in the early days (especially small sizes).

The cello is a pain to carry about though!

Violin every time - she's too small to play the viola, but playing the violin will give her a feel for holding the instrument, reading music, playing in a group etc etc. TBH, no decent music teacher should be suggesting that a five year old (unless exceptionally large for her age) should be starting the viola.

I would say to start with the violin at 5, and swap to or add viola later.

Violin - plenty of time to switch to viola when older and violin repertoire is so much larger.

Plus I'd be surprised if very many junior ensembles had violas, to get experience of playing as a section from the start I think violin would be better.

Yes, a violin of whatever size would suit your child, with a new lower string and all the others shifted up one. DS got 3 years this way using his big sisters 1/2 & 3/4 sized violins as violas, but is now big enough for a a 16 inch viola (which does, admittedly sound much nicer and produces a better tone, but the violin/viola trick saw him through grades 1-3).
Ds1 is now also learning piano, so uses treble clef there. At grade 4/5 he is now seeing treble clef in his pieces too. I think it was probably an advantage to learn alto clef first, as it's less commonly used. Ultimately if they want to take music to school exam level they'll need a second instrument and a good grounding in music theory anyway, and knowing 2 different clefs will help with the theory.

Viola.But it's a different clef i think so not as easy to transfer between instruments if you start with that rather than something else?

violin - for a 5 year old

viola for when she is older

All the comments on this thread about it being horrible and screechy etc aren't really helpful, just stating the bleedin' obvious.

You can pick up decent beginner cellos on Gumtree too.

I learned violin as a kid and gave up - having a crick in my neck all the time was a factor, plus the screeching.

Took up cello as an adult. Way more fun and such a lovely tone.

Cello is a brilliant instrument. Advantage for young children because it rests on the floor - I think its easier than having to hold up a violin/viola (in my opinion). You can start on a 1/10 scale instrument which should be manageable?

Agree with poster who said let her choose (I have both - like many violinists, I dabble a bit in playing the viola - and DS had a very firm preference for the sound of the "big violin" when he was a toddler).

Yes halfcarrot that is correct!

Mrs tumble do you mean buy viola strings and put them on a tiny violin? And tune them cgda? Does that work?