Learning more than one instrument

From what I witnessed I don't think you need to think of making time to practice two instruments especially at the beginning if you think it'll be a struggle (or cause a fight!).

While we paid for proper 1-1 piano lessons outside school, violin was a totally casual affair happening at school. We let DS started it more to satisfy his desire to play the fancy instrument (for DS) so I didn't really expect him to practise at home. He was happily making some noise with friends at school. So he practised piano more often and violin rarely, but somehow he managed to progress well with violin and the easiness (no much effort yet getting positive results) kind of even more encouraged him to be loving the instrument. Once we all recognised violin was more important to him (than piano) and he really wanted to be better at it, we turned the table and he started practising violin more diligently (and piano was being pushed to the backbench).

I hear people tend to pick up 2nd instrument very quickly. I think what happened to DS was probably similar to the pattern. Although he started both instruments at around the same time (only 6-9 month apart), piano was his instrument and violin was a toy for a long time - not sure if it's a right word to put in but hope I'm explaining OK...

You never know where her innocent enthusiasm takes her. And it really doesn't matter which one becomes her most favourite or something else may be added later. If you can afford letting her learn two instruments at the moment, I would say let her try without planning or thinking too much. She will show you what she wants to do with it as long as you give her the opportunity and support.

Though I firmly said no to 3rd instrument... It was just out of question sadly for DS. He can pick up whatever he wants to learn with his money one day if he really wants to do it! Hopefully having learned two instruments, he can pick up 3rd or 4th relatively easily at older age!

For me it comes down to whether they're going to be prepared to practice both or not. We don't stipulate time limits, but each instrument has to come out every day. We do have the benefit of a very low homework school 5 minutes' walk away, and kids who don't seem to sleep much, so finding an extra half hour to practice is not a problem. Do you have a good slot in the day where the extra practice could fit?

DD asked to take up piano when she was 5 but had been playing (or at least playing around with!) violin for a couple of years. She kept doodling tunes on it so I didn't think practice was going to be a problem and it hasn't been.

DS asked to take up brass after his piano grade 1, which i had more reservations about as he's a bit of a grumbler about practice, but we're giving it a go as it seemed mean not to when his little sister already had 2. And grade 1 is a good solid start to the first instrument I feel.

Both of them sight read really well on their second instrument from the start, and the starting again with easy pieces aspect has fed back into helping music reading on their first instruments. I'm also keen for them to both have piano at some point as it's so useful, and an orchestra/band instrument for the social aspect. There's definitely a lot of cross-pollination between the two. (Currently listening to DD working out by ear how to play her string orchestra music on the piano!)

If your DD expresses her interest strongly and persistently then I would let her try and see how things go.

DS started piano first and as a more sport oriented family we didn't think of adding another instrument. But he wanted to learn violin and he was pretty persistent so when it was offered at school I reluctantly let him take lessons. Violin was a total alien and looked so complicated so I assumed DS wouldn't last. But now he's beyond G8 and still plays both instruments.

Violin was added just 6 months or so after he started piano so he was only G1 on the piano but there didn't seem any confusion happening. In fact it seemed more helping. Sure he had less practice on each instrument compared with those who played only one but it looked as if accelerating the progress by learning two different instruments, and I think being able to play piano definitely helped him understand some stuff on the violin easier and quicker. Violin becomes his first instrument. I am so glad I let him try when he insisted.

If it didn't work out at the first go, you can always stop and try again.

Piano always helpful I think. My DCs all started with piano and one other other instrument and worked out fine. Obviously more practice but if she wants to do it then great. It may be as she gets older she adds in other wind instruments but piano will help give a great musical base.