First musical instrument for DS (7.5) who is dyslexic

[StillSquiffy]

My DS will be taking up a musical instrument from the start of Y3 and I have a mind-boggling choice across all of the main orchestral instruments, or piano, or guitar.

He hates the sound of violin, and I think (but not sure) that guitar and sax (both of which I think will be cool for him to play eventually) are both too hard at his age.

Slight complication is that he has been assessed as midly dyslexic/dyspraxic/hyperactive (description does pretty much fit most 7 YO boys, I know ). He's a year or so adrift of his reading age because his processing skills are weak, and he is a bid of a fidget. On the other hand the school are keen for him to take up an instrument to help him practice his fine motor skills.

Soooooo? Any recommendations? I am thinking toward piano, but maybe trumpet, trombone, bassoon or oboe might be better to start, given his short attention span? Or am I wrong about guitar and sax?

Which adult teeth hasn't he got? Obviously if he's yet to lose the very front, middle ones it's a no-go, but I'm not sure whether adult canines are compulsory...

His two bottom front are adult, but that's it. He lost one of his top middle ones this week but the other one is looking pretty firm.

Update: Spoke to school. Given that he is so tall and broad for his age (he's a rugger player like his dad) they reckon the trumpet will tick the boxes - he has natural build for it with strong lungs (I never thought of that), he will develop his fine motor skills pretty well, he can make progress quite quickly, and he will enjoy the fact that it is LOUD. We've agreed that instead of him starting straight away in yr3 we will wait till his adult teeth come through and he will start then.

And they are going to have one of their yr 3 children play the trumpet to him so that he can hear how 'cool' it is.

Spoke to DS and he's said that OK, trumpet sounds good, so long as he can learn 'beast quest fighting' (fencing) too. We dealt on that.

Many thanks to all for your advice - it really helped me have a meaningful discussion with the school.

Ooh! That's a great result. Another plus point for the trumpet is that it is easily portable, unlike something like a cello where you'd be forever driving him! Also, if he takes to it, the trumpet is really versatile, and he could play in a orchestra, a wind band, jazz etc.
Wish they'd done beast quest fighting at my school.

My 6yr old DD recently started guitar lessons. She's dyspraxic (with a hint of other bits!) and never sits still and struggles to stay focused.
It's really helped her. Even just practicing for 15-20 mins most days, she's finding it easier to keep still, concentrate, and her confidence and independence is improving.
This is also starting to benefit her school work too.
So whatever instrument your son chooses, the benefits all round are completely worth it.

Zombie thread

As a dedicated musical enthusiast for some 40+ years, with Left/Right Dyspraxia, and what I call left-hander Dyslexia. I have a problem knowing which fingers are on which strings when picking, and get "off beat" when strumming for any period of time. I started Clarinet at 8, Trumpet at 10, and guitar at 13, electric at 15-years-old. The Trumpet is reasonably easy except for memorizing sharps, and flats, and notes, and the music. I could fake it along when I lost my place, or when the music (notes) started to wonder on the page when I stared too long. More then a couple seconds that is. The coordination required to drum properly (with a set) is mind-boggling to me. It's darn fun, but way to much Left/right coordination required. I was thinking about trying the piano again, and seriously this go around. The last go I was 14, or so and my best friend's mother was a musical professional. It didn't come natural at all, and I was too afraid of wasting both of our times, and embarrassing myself in the process. There was not as much information about the "Dys'es" back then (Dyslexia, and Dypraxia). I have a musical ear, and near-perfect pitch. I can sing scales, and "improvise" rhythmic leads, but I unfortunately don't have a "good voice". The reason I'm posting is that I pretty much wasted hundreds of hours of musical practice, only to be frustrated over, and over by the lack of any progress past a elementary level. Don't let your child waste their youth unless they have an aptitude for a particular instrument...because sadly I did not. I just kept trying and failing to point of embarrassment as an adult. I kept buying nicer, and nicer instruments ('65 pre-CBS Fender Stratocaster in 1972, a 1972 Gibson Les Paul (Gold) Custom w/ factory Humbuckers, etc. in 1974) hoping (praying really) that would help...it did not. I could balance on a overinflated basketball, but I couldn't tell my left from my right in the moment...bollocks! The Auto-harp is pretty easy, and a good choice for we the afflicted, but ridiculous for an adult.