Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Culture vultures

Get tips on theatre and art from other Mumsnetters on our Culture forum.

Original poster

Choosing an instrument for your child

42 replies

Bramshott · 27/03/2010 21:48

I'm undoubtedly overthinking this, but feeling the pressure of choosing an instrument and steering DD in the best direction. She is 7, in Yr 2, and will have the opportunity to learn an instrument at school next year.

DD is very keen to start clarinet, although the teacher has suggested that she waits a year, which is fine. There are various practical reasons against choosing violin or cello in any case, and the only other thing on offer seems to be cornet, which has always struck me as a bit of a limited repertoire.

I suppose the thing I'm struggling with, is how do you decide (or steer your child to decide) what instrument is right for them? I was a woodwind player and struggled slightly with not being fantastic at it, and therefore getting less opportunities to play. I also feel that I chose the wrong instrument - I was a flute player, and much too late decided that I should actually have been a bassoonist (!), which I think would have suited me better.

I am very aware that I categorise people by what instrument they play (I work in the arts), so it feels like a big deal!

Am rambling now!

OP posts:
Katisha · 27/03/2010 22:48

I would say if she is keen on clarinet then go with that. As you know there is not the pressure to start so young with woodwind and brass as there is with strings.

If you wanted to start her on something soon I would go for piano if it's at all a possibility - you can play on your own, intonation is not a problem and it is a solid basis for any further musical training.

I wouldn't get hung up on on there being the perfect instrument for each child - it can be a bit trial and error and there ought t obe the opportunity to change if it's not working out.

But yes - there are always hordes of flute and clarinet players who don't get into the orchestra - depends how keen you think she'd be on wind bands!

If you want to get into county music groups fast then play the viola! I speak from experience!

This book might help. It's also on Amazon.

gerontius · 27/03/2010 23:07

What's the practical problem with playing violin?

bran · 27/03/2010 23:31

I am very shallow and would choose the instrument that sounds least horrible when being played badly.

Shaz10 · 27/03/2010 23:33

Same here bran so I recommend choosing anything but the violin! Or recorder.

gerontius · 27/03/2010 23:36

Violin's good though because it's much easier to get into orchestras with....and although it sounds horrible at the beginning, it sounds gorgeous when played well. For the first few years you can always shut the door......

Shaz10 · 27/03/2010 23:38

My cat used to run out of the house when I practised violin

BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny · 27/03/2010 23:39

Ds found the piano was a good place to start.

mistlethrush · 27/03/2010 23:41

I never sounded awful on the violin - my mother has confirmed that. Ds got a violin at 2.5 and can make a nice sound on his violin....

Shaz10 · 28/03/2010 09:30

Guess I was just crap then.

snorkie · 28/03/2010 10:38

The Right Instrument For Your Child is an interesting read about how to choose an instrument that is compatible with your child's temperement and physical atributes and that they are more likely to stick with. It's not all that fond of pianos or violins as I recall - thinks too many children start them by default who aren't suited to them & end up being put off music for life.

It is a bit stereotypical in places, but did have some good insights I thought.

helyg · 28/03/2010 10:55

DS1 is also in Year 2, and started private piano lessons about 6 months ago. He has been offered the chance to learn either violin or trumpet next year in school, he is quite keen but I'm not sure that he will put the effort it in to practice both (especially when the sun is shining and his friends want him to go and kick a ball around the park).

He seems to be progressing quite well with the piano, and as I see it the theory knowledge will transfer to other instruments if he chooses to pick them up later.

ImSoNotTelling · 28/03/2010 11:01

Aw shaz. The cat was prob tone deaf

snorkie · 28/03/2010 11:02

piano is a rather solitary instrument - you need to be really, really good before you can play in an ensemble, so you do rather miss out on the group music making side of things. On the other hand, there's a huge amount of music to play and you don't need an accompanist to make it sound good. It is good for theory, but is much harder to learn than single line instruments - the book I mentioned reckoned it's best suited to very academic types.

snorkie · 28/03/2010 11:04

and the cat was probably in fear of a string breaking & its guts being used for the replacement.

helyg · 28/03/2010 11:06

Actually he is reasonably academic, but DS2 definitely isn't... Do you recall which instrument they suggested for fidgety little boys who never sit still or concentrate for more than 2 minutes at a time? Or will I have to buy/borrow the book? He is currently expressing an interest in the trumpet...

jemart · 28/03/2010 11:08

Piano gives a good foundation of general musicianship useful for learning all other instruments. As you already play woodwind it also makes sense to teach that yourself so she learns both.
If you wish to venture into strings I would advise you to wait a bit until she is bigger, hands stronger, learn guitar first (because it has frets so is easier) and then move on to violin/viola/cello etc.
Between my DH and I we have piano, guitar, violin, viola, clarinet and drums. Our DC will be having a go at all of them.

frakkinaround · 28/03/2010 11:09

I used to teach clarinet and I would say wait a year at 7 because her top teeth may not be firmly set enough. Clarinet does put quite a lot of pressure on the teeth so I used to recommend waiting until 2 years after the adult teeth have come through. I didn't start until I was 10 and reached Grade 8 in 6 years (had done flute and recorder previously which helped with fingering) so there definitely isn't much advantage in starting very early.

Clarinettists are 2 a penny and like a flautist you need to be good to get to play interesting stuff whereas oboists and bassoonist are much rarer, likewise viola players and female brass. Cornet is a good starter for other brass instruments even if it itself doesn't have a huge repetoire.

can you go to a music shop and let her try some instruments and see what she's drawn to?

sarah293 · 28/03/2010 11:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

frakkinaround · 28/03/2010 11:10

helyg - percussion!

jemart · 28/03/2010 11:10

Helyg - drum lessons, definitely.

snorkie · 28/03/2010 11:11

He's onto the right thing I think - as far as I can remember brass (and maybe wind) was generally for active children, strings for quieter sit down types - and I'm sure there was something about tuba players being fat .

southeastastra · 28/03/2010 11:11

let her choose, what's the point in choosing for her?

snorkie · 28/03/2010 11:13

Oh yes - very important to go and try out some instruments - some children really don't like the feel of eg reeds vibrating on their lips etc. And some children are more drawn to deeper sounding instruments than others apparently.

MillyMollyMoo · 28/03/2010 11:19

So far we've gone through the violin, guitar and piano and fancied none of them.
The teachers say they are musical but they didn't practice at all so am wondering if they really want to continue, or try something else or just play hockey instead
It's literally only been 2 terms of each, would you keep going ?

snorkie · 28/03/2010 11:23

If they won't practice, there's no point.