Which orchestral instrument?

I am a flautist and have had loads of opportunities- I was ok as a child but nothing spectacular (g8 at 17). I prefer wind bands/concert orchestras to classical orchestras though. I'd see if your local music centre has a try it out day and go for what really appeals.

I'd choose trumpet personally, lots of tunes, sounds great and not too hard to start.

This. At such a young age you can start with a string, if they don't like it they can move to wind later. Doesn’t work really work the other way round. I knew lots of string players who also taught themselves sax, guitar etc and performed in bands, but I know no wind player who ever felt confident enough to take up violin or cello at age 13.

I started my DC on violin (their choice) and it’s great as there are little ensembles they can join even in year 1 (when they have no front teeth!). If they are good and want more opportunities they can switch to viola!

Let him try them out. My son is a horn player, he started at 7 and only wanted to play horn. He's very much a classical musician but can double or triple on trumpet or tenor horn. Trumpet or trombone can play classical, jazz, big band, brass band and so are the most versatile.

Do you have a local music service that lets you try a few different instruments? Both my son's picked their instruments after trying strong, woodwind and brass. They quite liked the harp but that was a no from me as we couldn't transport....

Ideally he'd get to try a few different instruments and see which grabs him. An instrument which has more in an orchestra means more people playing the same line as you which can be helpful. Others like to be more soloistic- wind often have to play on their own. Cello can sometimes be more comfortable as you are not having to lift it up. I would say double bass as that's what I play- always in demand. Cornet/ trumpet a good shout too as very versatile - brass band, jazz, wind band, orchestra. Clarinet and sax similar. Try to get to a concert or watch some of the proms on TV and see what he's drawn too.

There is always the chance your DS will try something for a few weeks/months and then lose interest!
Friends daughter abroad won scholarships to attend a privileged school and learnt violin. She was advised to change to viola, as more chance of continued scholarships and more demand in orchestras.

Cornet is better than trumpet for a little one; they're pretty much identical to play, but the cornet is shorter and so held nearer the body. (The tubing winds round 2.5 times instead of 1.5.)

DD's many bands are always short of lower brass players, so Tuba or Euphonium !

Ah yes @HippyKayYay I used to return my staples in a Golden Virginia tin to Anthony someone maybe in the southwest somewhere and get a load of new ones. Later I played on Peter Wiggins reads, he sold through Howarth until quite recently, don't know if he still does, and in the old days you could go to the shop and try them out first just dipping them in a glass of something which was supposed to get rid of the germs. None of that now! I did play mine for a while in an amateur orchestra although I didn't touch it for years, but I've had to give it up due to health issues, I'm learning the flute now, though it doesn't make you feel as special as being an oboist - I was in the top county school's orchestra and it was the main part of my identity too.

While I love seeing all the oboe love here, I do agree with @MurielThrockmorton. I took it up at 12 and progressed very quickly and became very good and played very seriously (Saturday music school at a major London music college level). But then I gave up once I got to University because opportunities for playing became limited very quickly and also I lost contact with the person who made my reeds for me (pre-internet!) and I haven't played it since. Which is mad, given what a huge part of my life and identity it was. And it really isn't a primary-school-aged instrument. You need a lot of puff to make a sound and the double-reed is tricky (and oboeists become quite neurotic about them!).

DD started clarinet in Yr4, I think. Is that an option? Nicer sound more quickly too! And jazz as well as classical options as they progress.

Also, play him the Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra and see what he likes the sound of. It was that that got me interested in playing the oboe at 11/12

Annoying when they first start, as is anything I suppose 😆

If you want to encourage oboe, I'd start with descant recorder first because the finger positions are pretty much the same to begin

I agree that piano gets complex very quickly. I noticed both DC struggled sight reading piano exam material. However it’s a great starter instrument because it is so easy to get a good sound. I taught both DCs beginner piano using the Faber adventure books. It’s also easy to learn reading music with it. I think the guitar serves the same purpose as a starter instrument. But because I play the piano and have one at home already, it’s a more natural choice for us.

I wouldn’t recommend it as a first instrument though because it’s not got many opportunities for ensemble playing.

Trumpet-opens up other musical ensembles like jazz, big band, also easy to switch to cornet/sop to play in a brass band. Nice and small to carry too.

I’d broadly agree with this. String instruments including guitar can be learned from any age as they come in small sizes.

Trumpet and trombone can be started at 6 or 7 (you can get mini plastic trombones) though it is better to have the adult front teeth in place which does vary by age. Horn is ideally a little later but easy to move from trumpet.

Recorder is an excellent starter instrument for all the woodwind but flute and clarinet can be started from 6 or 7. I think you can get mini bassoons as well but with bassoon and oboe later primary is better.

Year 2 or 3 generally is a good age to start most instruments, as concentration spans are longer and most children are reading (words) fluently and so ready to learn to read music.

Piano is an odd one as it’s such a lonely instrument for so long. Yes it is easy to make a sound but it quickly becomes complex as obviously need to read 2 lines and use both hands independently. I would usually recommend it as a second instrument from about 8 or 9 unless the child has a deep desire to learn it. With something like recorder or trumpet they can be playing in a little ensemble almost from
day 1 and starting to experience the joy of making music with others.

@SummerBarbecues Yes, it does seem to vary and our local service seems to be particularly ‘cautious’. We’re currently in a London borough but I’ve looked at the Hertfordshire music service too as we’re considering moving out, and they seem to be much more relaxed!

They also have saxophone in her primary. No cellos or oboe but I think they are just unpopular.

Interesting about brass @TempsPerdu. We are in Hampshire and brass lessons from the music service is from Year 3. DC1 started trumpet in Year 3 with the county music service. Both DC1 and DC2 had whole year music classes with brass in Year 4. DC1 had a tenor horn (can’t remember what other brass they had in the class as it was while ago. DC2 class had trumpet and trombone.

I loved hearing DS play the flute at home, we had a room with very good acoustics and it was a joy to listen to him practise. I so agree that the flute can sound good from an early stage.
But he never wanted to perform and gave it up entirely after grade 6 so the orchestral competition aspect was never an issue. (He still liked to boast that he was the only flautist in the 1st XV (rugby.)

When I learned you weren't allowed to start on it until secondary school because of the physical demands

Agree, it’s worth checking up on this aspect with your local music service; DD is 6 and we’ve been considering starting her on an instrument for a year or so, but at her age the only instruments you’re ‘allowed’ to do via the school music service and our local Saturday schools are recorder, violin and piano (we’ve signed her up for piano from September).

Flute/clarinet/guitar seem to be recommended from Year 3ish and voice from Year 5/6, but for many of the brass instruments, plus oboe, saxophone, larger strings etc, advice is to wait until secondary school age due to a combination of physical demands and the prior musical grounding required.

The oboe is a great instrument to play as a young person if you can cope with the reeds! But it's not great as an adult if you want to play it more casually. Firstly it's not very versatile, because of the reeds you can't just pick it up and play it in the same way as a flute or violin. Secondly if you don't practise a lot your embouchure goes and you have to play on soft reeds which can sound rubbish. And linked to this it's generally quite physically challenging to play. When I learned you weren't allowed to start on it until secondary school because of the physical demands. A reasonable oboe is also a lot more expensive than a reasonable flute too. It definitely gave me amazing opportunities I wouldn't have had as a child if I'd played the flute etc., but then there's also far fewer kids playing instruments now than there were then in terms of competition.

You need to let your child pick. DC1 plays violin and DC2 trumpet. DC1 has tried clarinet and tenor horn with school music service but settled on the violin. She didn't like woodwind or brass. DC2 loved the trumpet the first time she tried it. She has also done a year of clarinet. She has no interest in strings. Both plays the piano.

If they aren't sure at all, pick the instrument you can play.

Thirding this.

Mainly best to get him to try and see what he likes - low notes or high? Things with strings or things you blow into?

If you really want to be strategic though.....

I have a bassoonist who started as a flautist. She's still a really good flautist (got her g8 distinction at 13) but there are just so many of them that she gets very few opportunities to play. There are many more oppportunities on bassoon - though I take the earlier point that you don't need many in an orchestra (usually two though).

Little ones can start on a mini bassoon if that's your bag. DD2 actually chose the bassoon because she loved it, but many people I think are rather more 'forced' into it because parents think they might get a music scholarship- if they are it usually shows though and they often give up.

Oboe is more portable, and I think, more sought after. Clarinet surprisingly unpopular nowadays so a good choice - and most also play sax which is so much fun.

With strings I'd say viola (which is what my older daughter plays) if you want to be welcomed with open arms everywhere. She's been the principal in her saturday school symphony orchestra this term- every single other instrument has a principal who is way above grade 8, and she has just scraped her grade 6!

Agree completely re flute and clarinet - they are nearly as popular as violin but there are only 2-3 of them in an orchestra compared to up to 40 violins.

The rarer instruments are: viola, double bass, oboe, bassoon, horn, trombone. If he plays any of those he is likely to have more opportunities in the future.

BUT it is also easy to move from say flute to bassoon, violin to viola, trumpet to horn, so if he is really drawn to one of the more popular instruments then there is no harm in starting one and keeping options open for a move later.

The most important thing is that your son enjoys the feel of the instrument physically and is drawn to the sound it makes. They are all very different so it’s worth trying out different ones and listening to lots and seeing what he likes.

From experience (former pro musician here) I’d say it’s easier to start woodwind and brass than strings (progress will be quicker), and (especially for woodwind, less so for horn) you don’t need as acute a sense of pitch as you do for strings.

It is very exciting - I think of it like the wand choosing process in Harry Potter! Let us know how you get on.

String instruments will give most opportunity for orchestral/ chamber music playing later on. There are many more violins in an orchestra than oboes! But it’s horrible when they first start… Or brass? Our local brass band is doing a big recruitment drive at the moment and doing free lessons in the local schools to drum up more players.

But ultimately unless they enjoy it they won’t stick with it. So let them choose?