What instrument for DD to start?

[IWantAnotherBaby]

OK, DD, who starts reception in September, is desperate to start playing an instrument (mainly, I think, because she wants to be like DS (8) who plays viola reasonably tolerably). She wants to play flute and piano. Does anyone have any advice about the best age to start either of these, of whether a different instrument would be preferable? Thanks

Recorder at that age, I wouldn't recommend piano until their hand are big enough really (probably between 6-8 years).

Really at 6 or 7 they should be able to learn anything but my recommendations would be piano, guitar, violin or clarinet (not sax that young).

You can start any string instrument - violin, cello, or piano (dont know about flutes but suspect you would need your two front teeth)- the important thing is that you need to find a teacher who knows how to teach very small children.

And it does not necessary mean a Suzuki teacher.

My DS started before he could read fluently but being able to read music really helped with his reading .

My DPs bought me a descant recorder and very old fashioned (even in 1983). Recorder book 1. - it had an orange cover, black and white diagrams and fingering photos, was the least child friendly book I've ever known, and I probably still have it somewhere.

That was the Christmas before I turned 5. My mean old cow of a reception teacher told me I was too little and wasn't allowed to join the recorder club, so I pulled out the book and taught myself. Within a term the difference in caliber of the two teachers was evident and I was playing the hymns in assembly by age 6. (Her super big-kids were still on 3 blind mice, so it was me and the top juniors!)

I'm splitting my evening between recorder and MN tonight (aged 33). I'll admit, the wine is a more recent addition!

This book? *danceswithyarns? If so, I taught myself from the same book in the mid 70s and ended up in the school "Recorder Guild" as they called it, playing everything from descant to bass (treble was my fave!)

It does seem very young to be able to handle an instrument - DD3 is starting school in September, but her hands won't reach all the holes on the recorder yet, and piano would definitely be too much of a stretch for formal lessons, though if you have one I don't suppose there's any harm in a bit of practising note recognition, the only risk would be if she really got into it and developed bad posture habits with her hands through struggling to reach notes (I am no musician - the recorder was the peak of my achievements - so I could be wrong!)

Housemum You found it!

I did have the green one too a little later on (for the treble) Treble is my weapon of choice this evening!