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Original poster

Best first musical instrument?

71 replies

hex · 18/05/2007 17:02

DD1 is 6 and her school has offered musical tuition in the following:
cello
guitar
keyboard
violin
recorder
drums

I was wondering which of the above would be the best instrument for her to learn...she hasn't particularly showed any musical talent yet..ar some easier than others?

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Judy1234 · 18/05/2007 18:05

Most schools do recorder in class music lessons - ours all have done so I don't really count that but it helps. My 8 year old who plays the flute he sometimes plays pieces from his recorder book too.

We started all of ours on the piano (which is presumably what they mean by key board unless they mean something which isn't quite proper is a little electronic thing - do check) and then another instrument too. I loved the cello one which is on your list. The guitar children always all want to play but it isn't in orchestras so I would avoid that. One of mine did drum kit as his 3rd instrument (very very noisy - he still often plays but he was older and I would wait for that). I quite like brass instruments for that age but thoseare not on your list.

So I would pick keyboard if it means piano (athough that again precludes orchestra etc involvement later) and you have a piano at home perhaps or otherwise cello. The one of mine which learned the violin - just too painful sounding.

Most important issue I think is whether the parent is prepared to sit with the child just for 10 minutes a day and listen to them though as to whether they succeed with it or not so pick something you will like to listne to.

Wheelybug · 18/05/2007 18:08

Recorder good for learning basic fingering - many wind instruments follow a similar pattern. I started on recorder (inc. alto and tenor) and so could convert fingering at least to other instruments - flute, sax, clarinet.

I also learnt violin early - very hard on the ear for beginners I think and quite tricky.

Wish I had learnt keyboard early though - I think this is also a good grounding (and not so hard on the ear for parents !).

Califrau · 18/05/2007 18:11

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EnidTheInvisible · 18/05/2007 18:14

violin

Judy1234 · 18/05/2007 18:15

Ah yes, taking daughter 2's cello to and from school several days a week was a biggish thing and she had to take it on a school coach too. Sounded lovely though......

My ex husband teaches loads of children. He would say the piano is quite hard (but worth learning) and he found not much difference between those whose parents twisted his arm to start them very young at 5 or even 6 and those who started at 7 or 8 - they didn't end up 2 years ahead by starting 2 years younger. Your hands don't stretch very hard and it's hard to concentrate and remember things when you're just six.

Califrau · 18/05/2007 18:24

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Original poster
hex · 18/05/2007 20:58

wow, thanks for all your messages. I'm completely unmusical but wish i wasn't. I'm assuming they mean they stick the keyboard on the 'piano' function (is this possible?) It wouldn't be out of the question for us to buy one at some stage for her to practice (younger dd (aged 2) is incredibly attuned to music in a way that older dd, aged 6, isnt so i guess she too could learn it later. Looks like a toss up between recorder and piano.

OP posts:
Judy1234 · 18/05/2007 21:03

I would probably therefore start with the recorder. It's what a lot of schools start the whole class on and is easy to carry around and can sound really nice too once the initial squeaking stage is over. Our twins' school gets them all a CD with the recorder book too and they play at home along to the CD and at school.

jura · 18/05/2007 21:13

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pointydog · 18/05/2007 21:19

fanny, the recorder is a streak of piss, surely?

pointydog · 18/05/2007 21:20

jura, that is an almost unbelievable collection

colditz · 18/05/2007 21:29

Keyboard is the best - you can transfer the majority of what you learn to other instruments, and it sounds lovely even when you are still crap, which is more than can be said for the others.

pointydog · 18/05/2007 21:30

thought you were on sabbatical, solditz

pointydog · 18/05/2007 21:30

colditz

Twinklemegan · 18/05/2007 21:33

Why don't they teach piano? Keyboard's all very well to learn to read music etc. but she won't learn anything about basic technique. How old would she have to be to transfer to piano?

tortoiseSHELL · 18/05/2007 21:36

FOr a first instrument I would say recorder or violin. Ds1 is learning violin (he's nearly 6) and going great guns. Dd is SORT of learning recorder (very slowly) - she knows three notes, but plays them with GREAT enthusiasm (she's 3). As a piano teacher, I think the piano is quite hard, because you've got 2 lines of music in different clefs, and hands can sometimes be too small.

Ah, just noticed she's 6, I wouldn't go for 'keyboard' (and in fact wouldn't do that at all!, just go straight to piano in a year or so).

tortoiseSHELL · 18/05/2007 21:37

I've taught piano from age 5, and really I think 7 is soon enough - they take ages to get going before that unless they really are going to be talented. Ds1 has just asked to start piano, but I think he's too little at nearly 6, so am just doing the odd bit with him.

Twinklemegan · 18/05/2007 21:40

I started piano at 5, but my teacher made sure I was very very good at reading before he would agree to teach me. I'd agree that there is probably no real benefit to starting piano as early as 5 or 6, but I still wonder when Hex's DD will be offered it as an option. Keyboard is pointless IMO.

colditz · 18/05/2007 21:49

I know, I know, I did!

but I came back again. I have missed it and have read my birthday books. You won't see me for dust when the next Terry Pratchett or Stephen King comes out.

twentypence · 19/05/2007 02:13

Please do not assume that she WILL be taught treble and bass clefs if learning the keyboard. She may learn treble and chords (but with little understanding of the notes just memorising the hand shape).

My guess is that it is keyboard (rather than piano) because this can be taught in a group.

Ds is 4 and plays (his choice) the cello and thinks it's wonderful, but I am very aware that if I wasn't a musician his progress would be frustratingly slow. As it is his teacher can spend 15 minutes just teaching the instrument and I can deal with music reading and crotchets and quavers. After 3 months he can reliably play 3 piece with accompaniment and therefore give mini concerts.

If she does the same as her friends they can all play together which may ensure some pracise. Does she get an opportunity to see and have a go of the instruments offered.

nappyaddict · 19/05/2007 02:15

guitar. my neighbour started this at 6 or 7.

Original poster
hex · 19/05/2007 06:47

The letter said they teach in groups of 4. I have no idea if she will move to the piano or not...I can't imagine they've got enough pianos for all the kids who might want to learn it might even just have the one for the teacher?)
now I'm wondering whether keyboard will be appropriate. I just assumed she'd be able to transfer her knowledge to a piano but now, after reading some comments, I'm not sure. I guess also I thought the level of noise with a recorder might be impossible (our household is too noisy IMO at the best of times), and dd2 will want her own whistle to blow (scenes of screechy chaos). I suppose I could always send her out into the garden to practice tho not sure neighbours would be too impressed

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Original poster
hex · 19/05/2007 06:49

it's a good point to ask whether she can see and have a go at the instruments before signing up.
They've also not told us how much 30 minutes lesson would be...anyone have any ideas. It's a group lesson and run by by peripetic (sp?) teachers at the school

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MaryLou · 19/05/2007 07:01

I am a music teacher and also have two children of my own. I would recommend both piano/keyboard (advantage of keyboard is that they learn to play chords which are the basis of all songs - great when they are older)and also the recorder as first instruments. Cello fine when they are older - probably school year 5/6. Guitar also slightly older is better. Violin is a hard instrument to play and takes about 2 years to sound good as you create the notes yourself rather than having the notes already made ie on the keyboard/piano. Drums would also be good when older -- but very noisy! We have just purchased a drum kit and it is incredibly loud.

Good luck with the instrument lessons!

Judy1234 · 19/05/2007 07:51

I would add to the drum kit comment. My son's is 2 flights up and very very noisy... he did pass grade 8 which gets you some extra university UCAS points but I'm not sure the noise is worth it and it was his trumpet which is portable and gorgeous to listen to which is most useful.

I would see if she could have a go at a few of them. On the list in terms of instruments for an orchestra it isprobably the violin and cello which are the "proper" instruments in a sense (guitar players can shoot me now) and as the violin sounds so dire in the early stages the cello may be the nicest one.