@Arren12 don’t give up. This thread might seem quite negative, but it’s also been a space where many parents who have seen their children through decades of music lessons, have shared their views on how time- and resource-consuming it all is.
The music education system in the UK is flawed, to start with, and it’s perfectly normal to feel overwhelmed when reading how difficult or expensive it could be to start.
I do not believe every child needs to own an instrument before starting lessons. What they need is access to one regularly, so there can be practice between the lessons, which will give a much better idea about the child’s potential on that instrument.
I didn’t have an instrument at the beginning, I practised at school and later on at music school. Then we rented an instrument for a year. If you have a music service or hub in your county, they might rent the practice rooms during the week, or have recommendations about churches who might let you go in, eg for 15 mins each day on the way back from school, to practise a bit on their piano or keyboard.
There are ways around it. Or there should be ways around it. Music remains an elitist hobby in the UK but this shouldn’t put anyone off giving their child the opportunity. If you’re happy to encourage your daughter and give this a try, there are ways around it that don’t involve spending thousands on instruments just yet.
In the country I come from, music education is free for everybody, up until the age of 18. Each little village and town has a (national curriculum-regulated) music school where young kids start, and at about 12 they all move up to the closest city or large town. There are between 6 and 16 hours of tuition a week, according to the level, and it’s all paid by the state, free for everybody. Kids practise there and it’s not unusual to see them leave the music school at about 9pm on half the weekdays, because it’s their space and they’re encouraged to spend as much time as they want there.
My mum was a part-time cleaner, and I’ve become a professional musician thanks to an amazing system that gives all kids equal opportunity. I so wish the UK - and all other countries - will adopt such a system soon. I so wish this will happen during my lifetime. Not just music, but arts and sports and everything kids should have access to, regardless of their parents’ income.
So don’t give up. Give it a go, see if your daughter likes it, take it one step at a time. It doesn’t have to be expensive, although I guess it will always be a daunting world, this music one!