Page 2 | Flute, guitar or piano?

Iwishiwasagiraffe · 2024-12-15T13:21:34+00:00

My dd is 9 and in year 4. She already does singing lessons and will take her grade 2 next year. She has a good musical ear but not incredible concentration. However she copes fine in her 20 minute singing lesson and enjoys it. She wants to learn a musical instrument in year 5 and is torn between piano, guitar and flute. We have an electric piano with weighted keys in the house. I have some knowledge of it because I did grade 4 piano a million years ago but my sight reading is dreadful now. I have no experience of guitar or flute. does anyone have any recommendations of the best instrument for her? She loves singing so I was leaning toward piano or guitar so she could sing and play. Any advice gratefully received!

SkankingWombat · 15/12/2024 13:44

Having already shortlisted what you'd be happy with, I'd let her choose the one she likes the sound of most. She will spend many hours at it, so better for her to feel like it was her choice.

Original poster

Iwishiwasagiraffe · 15/12/2024 13:39

mauvish · 15/12/2024 13:34

Does your daughter show an interest in your piano?

Does she have any experience of tinkering with a guitar?

Has she shown any interest in woodwind?

Is she learning to read music in her singing lessons? Does she want to play in an orchestra? Has her singing teacher any thoughts on the matter?

My views: piano is harder as you have to learn to coordinate the two lines of music. But that gives you a wonderful springboard for learning other instruments. Piano tends to be a more solitary instrument as well.
Guitar is very flexible in terms of style of music, it's portable, she can play with friends. But it can make your fingers sore unless you practice v regularly and toughen them up! And if she learns tabs rather than notation on the guitar, that won't necessarily help with other musical learning.
Flautists can play interesting tunes both solo and in an orchestra. Breath control can be tricky to start with but it may well be that her singing experience will help with this, and vice versa.

(My experience : started with recorder. Went on to get grade 8 piano. Also learned violin, viola during my teens and sang in various choirs, inc on tv. Self taught flute to about grade 4-5 level. Tried to play guitar but never really gelled with it. I now learn clarinet, about g6-7 level currently. All views above are from my own experience!)

Wow that’s impressive how many instruments you can play! She plays on the piano sometimes, making up her own tunes. She also has a cheap guitar that never stays in tune and likes to play on that and sing along to it. I’m not sure where the flute idea came from. They did learn the p buzz in school and performed with other schools in a big orchestra so possibly from that.

from what you’ve said I’m leaning toward piano encouraging the piano.

OP posts:

AudiobookListener · 15/12/2024 13:39

Flute is one of the most popular orchestral instruments, so there is more competition for orchestra places even at school, I have read.

Original poster

Iwishiwasagiraffe · 15/12/2024 13:36

cantkeepawayforever · 15/12/2024 13:27

It depends what opportunities there are for playing locally. Is there a music service beginners’ orchestra or wind group? Or a guitar group of some kind? What groups will her prospective senior school have? Or will her music essentially be a solo pursuit so to accompany herself?

If a solo pursuit, to go with singing - and maybe form a band with friends - then guitar. If serious about music, as a solo pursuit - piano is an excellent foundation. If, on the other hand, any orchestral or wind groups exist - go with flute. The motivational power of group music making is not to be underestimated.

She would be learning with the music service that come to school and they do have an orchestra. Her senior school doesn’t have any music groups that I’m aware of, just music gcse. I would like her to join an orchestra if she enjoyed it. I think she is quite musical.

OP posts:

AudiobookListener · 15/12/2024 13:34

Whichever one she likes the sound of the best and depending on what type of music she wants to learn about.

Flute is going to lead more in the direction of classical and orchestral music. Piano is suitable for all types of music. So is guitar, but the classical repertoire isn't very varied and the "great" composers of the past didn't write for guitar.

But flute or piano only if you can afford lessons. It is possible to teach yourself guitar if its just strumming she wants to do.

mauvish · 15/12/2024 13:34

Does your daughter show an interest in your piano?

Does she have any experience of tinkering with a guitar?

Has she shown any interest in woodwind?

Is she learning to read music in her singing lessons? Does she want to play in an orchestra? Has her singing teacher any thoughts on the matter?

My views: piano is harder as you have to learn to coordinate the two lines of music. But that gives you a wonderful springboard for learning other instruments. Piano tends to be a more solitary instrument as well.
Guitar is very flexible in terms of style of music, it's portable, she can play with friends. But it can make your fingers sore unless you practice v regularly and toughen them up! And if she learns tabs rather than notation on the guitar, that won't necessarily help with other musical learning.
Flautists can play interesting tunes both solo and in an orchestra. Breath control can be tricky to start with but it may well be that her singing experience will help with this, and vice versa.

(My experience : started with recorder. Went on to get grade 8 piano. Also learned violin, viola during my teens and sang in various choirs, inc on tv. Self taught flute to about grade 4-5 level. Tried to play guitar but never really gelled with it. I now learn clarinet, about g6-7 level currently. All views above are from my own experience!)

Gardencentrevoucher · 15/12/2024 13:30

Piano is the most versatile and you already have one to practice on. Any genre of music works on piano.

cantkeepawayforever · 15/12/2024 13:27

It depends what opportunities there are for playing locally. Is there a music service beginners’ orchestra or wind group? Or a guitar group of some kind? What groups will her prospective senior school have? Or will her music essentially be a solo pursuit so to accompany herself?

If a solo pursuit, to go with singing - and maybe form a band with friends - then guitar. If serious about music, as a solo pursuit - piano is an excellent foundation. If, on the other hand, any orchestral or wind groups exist - go with flute. The motivational power of group music making is not to be underestimated.

MumonabikeE5 · 15/12/2024 13:23

Guitar or piano, both are sociable instruments that will be fun to have basic competency,