Learning a first instrument in Year 7 – advice?

[pantheistsboots]

DS has just started Year 7. His school has a very active music department with peripatetic teachers covering the full range of instruments. We’ve just had a letter home encouraging students to either continue music tuition via the school or to consider taking up an instrument. DS is very keen, but I have a few reservations and wondered whether anyone else had a child take up an instrument at the start of secondary and might have some advice?

The three instruments that interest him are trumpet, saxophone and drums. He’s a very slight 11yo, and I worry that the sax would be too heavy for him. And would the drums be sensible as a first instrument?

A lot of his free time is already taken up with extra-curriculars – football four times a week, plus another sport for five hours a week plus regular tournaments, and now school sports too. I know that we’d want to encourage daily instrument practice in order to make the most of music lessons, but how much would be recommended? The school also encourage all school musicians to attend after-school music theory lessons.

In terms of support at home, I played clarinet to grade 8 but have seriously let it lapse since school, plus about grade 2 piano. DS2 (7) has piano lessons and is making great progress, so I do feel a bit guilty that DS1 hasn’t had the same opportunity.

Would taking on an instrument from scratch seem doable, and if so, would any instrument be an easier route in than the others?

The school provide termly rental of music instruments for £20, although I suspect drum kits aren't included in that!

A beginner trumpet player would surely be dead by the end of 60 minutes, either from hyperventilation or murder by the neighbours.

One of mine got to grade 8 brass on an average 10 minutes or so a day, with occasional bursts of enthusiasm when approaching school concerts.

We have a surprisingly decent trumpet bought from a giver-upper at school for £100.

We also have a drum kit in the garage, and a saxophone under the bed. I should probably come and be your friend, and offload them all to you.

Trumpet for definite- nice and portable for a Y7.
Does the school have a brass band or an orchestra?
I see it as more than learning an instrument- it helps with memory, discipline, organisational skills and team building.
If he’s keen, he’ll enjoy it.
Good luck !!

Ha, @SeptimusSheep! Sounds like a wonderfully musical (albeit noisy) household you have there!

@FranticFrankie
Yes, the school has both an orchestra and a brass band - in fact, they seem to be making a concerted effort to promote playing of brass instruments there. I believe there's also a swing band, but presumably the standard would be pretty high for that.

This reminds me of the London Olympics opening ceremony. The 'drummers' were mainly drumming on buckets, some plastic, some metal.

The saxophone is a lovely instrument. My son was also small and slight, started learning in year 7 and didn't find it too heavy. It's also an easy instrument to learn for the first few grades ( he was delighted to get to grade 3 within a couple of years), although his piano teacher told him it was equivalent to grade 1 piano) 🤣
Great instrument for bands etc.

Sounds great! One of the biggest barriers can be other kids thinking it's not cool to play. If he's keen, hell get there before the end of secondary.

Trumpet players can switch very easily to cornet and vice versa, to play in both brass bands and orchestras.

(We have a cornet too. And two euphoniums, but the school tuba has gone back, thank goodness. Those things are large.)

Which one will drive you least nuts?!

Another one joining to say that it's definitely not too late! My DD started violin at yr 7, and is doing really well. She enjoys it greatly, and needs no reminding to practise.
I think the key is that they need to want to do it.

I started my second instrument - which is much more in demand - aged 15. I vote trumpet, because it's portable, but all three are not very neighbour-friendly so you may need to agree practice hours with the neighbours!

@SeptimusSheep Quite. I think anyone below grade 3 would struggle to practice for more than about 20 mins in a single session really. It's hard on the facial muscles as much as the lungs.
10-15 minutes for 4 or 5 days a week would be hugely beneficial for a beginner to make good progress. Little and often to maintain correct technique and enthusiasm (because let's be honest, practice when you can't actually play anything exciting is rather dull!).

Get to 18 and he'll never be short of a band or three if he's a drummer (especially if he's got a van as well).

Not an option, but if he ever wants to never be short of a spot in a youth orchestra, bassoon or oboe is the way forward.

Over ten years of escorting my eldest to various bands (trombones are very flexible, she was in five different youth ensembles at one point [orchestra, windband, brass band, trombone choir, and the jazz band] as well as a couple within school!) there were only two younglings who played either, and they were very much in demand!

Definitely trumpet and it’s not too late!

As others have said it is the most versatile and portable of the 3 options. It’s a sociable instrument and he would likely make quick progress and be able to have fun in an ensemble relatively quickly. 10-15 mins practice per day is enough for a beginner - much better to do little and often on brass instruments.

Hope he loves it!