Piano or violin for 9 & 11 year old, complete beginners

[Explodingatomickittens]

Hi there, my dd's want to learn an instrument, what is the easiest one to pick up. They have a choice of piano or violin. Thanks.

Start with piano, they'll learn to read both staves instead of just one for starters. If you get a keyboard for practice, get one which takes headphones so they can hear themselves but you don't always have to! Harder to find similar for violin.

Violins are more delicate too. The bows are more delicate. You have to look after them carefully.

Very few bands want a violinist. Many many many want keyboards.

That's your social scene completely sorted.

Flute is the easiest to carry around an an orchestra instrument… All 4 of mine play a classic string instrument (violin, cello, viola etc) - if you have quite good pitch it is easy to pick up. They all started at 5 or 6 and progressed quickly. The boys found piano and connecting both sides of the brain much harder.

No bands will want a beginner pianist! Not for years and years. But with a violin you can join an ensemble almost straightway, possibly within a few months depending on what level ensembles are available to you where you live.

My eldest learns violin, it’s a really difficult instrument to learn and the child has to be really invested in wanting to learn. There is lots of plucking and posture work at first which can be pretty boring and even when they get their hands on the bow it’s not going to sound good. My daughter is grade 3/4 and it’s only in the last year it’s sounded not only nice but recognisable!

My youngest daughter does piano, it’s far easier to learn (for the first few grades anyway) and there is a more instant gratification as the music is recognisable. If they want to learn seriously you will absolutely need one at home ideally with weighted keys and pedals. They will not progress without practice.

violin is more obviously smaller but in the long run is a more expensive instrument and more high maintenance and there are extras you’ll need to buy (rosin, shoulder rests, new strings etc).

which ever they choose you can rent instruments rather than fork out a fortune straight away.

You can't learn piano without a piano or weighted keyboard at home, so if those are the 2 choices, go for violin. It doesn't have to sound horrible - my DD never did even on a 1/4 size violin. Whatever they learn they'll need regular daily practice to progress though and you'll be out of the early painful stages before you know it

I'd let them choose. DD really wanted to learn violin herself. She then went onto self teach the piano. Obviously not for everyone (and for many it'll be about the fun or achievement at a lesser level), but she went on to get a scholarship at a private school after auditioning with both instruments and went straight to Grade 8 in piano. If they're serious about it and want to get further up the grades, then room to practice at home is essential.

From our experience, violin can be scratchy while learning. Piano is better but our DD took to it as well alongside singing at the top of her voice. Our poor old neighbour could hear everything, but apparently he loved it and used to switch the tv off to listen to her.

I disagree with those saying you need a piano or fully weighted keyboard to start piano. Yes you'd need one eventually of they take it seriously but you can try it out with something cheaper.

Mine started with a 61 key keyboard, (full size keys but not weighted) and then we've just got my daughter a proper digital piano with 88 weighted keys now as she is taking it more seriously , doing exams etc.

Yes you'd need one eventually but they can learn to play and see how they get on with a basic keyboard before you commit.

I'd also echo the advantage of bring able to use headphones with digital (and no tuning expenses).

You can't learn piano without a piano or weighted keyboard at home,
Is that true though? One girl at our school practised on the school piano at break time. I'm also certain that the piano at the church my parents went to was used as a practice piano for some children. You might have to be a bit creative, but I don't think you need to rush out and buy one until you're certain they'll stick at it.

Violin.

They can practise down the bottom of the garden.

Essential

I’ve got one on violin and one on a woodwind. Violin is not a quick or easy instrument to pick up. She’s 9 and in her 3rd year of lessons, and she is only just now actually getting to a point where her notes are crisp and clear. She’ll be ready to join the junior orchestra in the autumn.

I think violin is one that a lot of people like the idea of, and of course it is a fantastic and versatile instrument once you reach a certain level of competence, but it can be a disheartening one to take up as the first few years are so much work for what feels like very little payoff. My only advice would be to make sure it is what your child actually really wants to play. They really need to have the internal drive to press forward and diligently practice in order to get through those difficult first few years.

Honestly, I would go violin, or any other orchestra instrument. My very shy DD goes off happily to two different local orchestras and the school band and gets a social life into the bargain. These amateur bands are always crying out for strings, from grade 1 onwards.
Piano playing is far more of a solitary activity