Which instrument - DD's choice (recorder) or our choice (keyboard)

[jumpyjan]

DD will be going into year 1 next year and has the opportunity to learn an instrument. We always thought she would like to learn the keyboard as she has one at home and enjoys playing it but she is adamant she wants to learn the recorder.

We were going to go for both but have discovered the lessons will be during school lesson time so want to minimise the amount of time outside of the classroom.

I, of course, don't want to impose our preference on her but is there any point in learning the recorder? DD says she wants to learn the flute so she needs to learn the recorder first - is she right?

I wouldn't have thought she would need to learn the recorder to learn the flute, the breathing is completely different.

However I would go with her choice rather than yours (no matter how painful amateur recorder playing is!). There doesn't seem much point making her do something she's not 100% keen on if she wants to do something else.

Flute does require good breath control which she will learn from recorder, both do teach you to read music of course..
The keyboard will be less irritating initially, but recorder music is lovely and it won't be long until she can play flute anyway.

Learning a single line treble line instrument will make piano easier if she does want to do it later ...

She doesn't need to learn the recorder before learning the flute. But yes, there is certainly a "point" in learning the recorder. She will learn to read music and almost certainly enjoy playing alongside her friends. It's also the right size for 5yo hands.

The disadvantage, obviously, is that you can't install headphones ........

And you never know, she might end up playing like

It worries me when people dismiss the recorder. I did Grade 8 on the recorder (or rather recorders as they come in lots of sizes) - and was studying for a teaching diploma before I eventually let it go ran out of money for lessons
It is a valid musical instrument, easy for youngsters to pick up but can be breathtaking when played properly.
I guess it is like anything else, the more effort they put in the better it gets.

FWIW I also played flute, clarinet, oboe etc - but did my exams on recorders.

DD2 started on the recorder in year 2 - she learnt to read music, played in numerous ensemble groups and concerts and played the bass and treble recorder as well. Then when she decided to learn to play the flute she progressed very quickly because the fingering is very similar.

There are distinct advantages to learning the keyboard and piano, she will learn how to read bass cleft and learn how to co-ordinate her hands to do two different things at the same time.

The flute and the recorder have similar finger patterns but are not the same, as the breath control and technique are quite different.

Surely though, the point is for her to enjoy music and learn a new skill and passion! Let her chose and have fun.

And stock up on the cotton wool for your soon to be assaulted ears!!

C&C

Thanks everyone, that is really helpful - I guess recorder it is then. In my heart of hearts I know I could not really put my preference onto her over her own but I didn't want her missing school time on something that wasn't worth it iyswim.

achicken that video clip is amazing - will show that to DD in the morning.

I hadn't really thought about the fact that she will learn to read music (I am not musical - can you tell!) Also good to know that it might give her a bit of a headstart with the fingering if she did go on to learn flute.

Negative for us is definitely the lack on headphones - but on the plus side recorder is much cheaper and we will have a happy DD

Relax about it. She's Y1. Plenty of time to pick up keyboard later if she enjoys the recorder. Great to learn to read music and to enjoy playing/performing. If she has an aptitude for music, and - possibly more to the point - enjoys practising - then the keyboard can come later (if she wants to!). Or the flute, or whatever really. I played clarinet to a very high standard, and although the fingering isn't all the same, my early days on the recorder definitely helped me to pick it up quickly when I got my first clarinet at 9. (I also had piano lessons, btw, from Y1 onwards and was bloody awful at it - massive waste of money for my parents!).

Thanks Sylvie. I think she certainly would get enjoyment out of it and you are right that is really the most important thing.

On my phone so not sure the link will work but try here for another example of 'proper' recorder.

I learnt the recorder in primary, went on to also play treble recorder and then flute in secondary, but I must admit I struggle reading music under a c.
I still pick a recorder and would love to have a flute again.

I learnt recorder.

If you play them for a long time dribble comes out the bottom.

35 years later and THAT'S my abiding memory.

DD2 is in year 2 and plays both the Violin and Recorder. When she gets to year 4 she will have the opportunity to do Flute or Clarinet too. They keep these by as a clarinet is too big for 6/7yo hands!

Recorder is fun for younger children, DS is picking it up already and he's 2.10!

(Buy earplugs)

Thats awesome pushme DD is going to love looking at these vids in the morning.

Yuk re the dribble coming out of the bottom.

Right off to look on line for a recorder and some ear plugs

Dribble comes out the bottom, if you dribble into the recorder.

Although the embouchure (mouth shape/position) is different, learning to tongue is the same, reading music in the same, and some of the fingering is very similar, so I would go for the recorder to start with. Even though the flute is quite hard, and she might not ever actually get on with it, I do think the recorder is the ideal starting point. I started on descant recorder, learned flute, tenor recorder, and clarinet. You could even consider a fife as an in between instrument before starting flute. I used to play one, and irrc, the fingering it the same, but it is played like a flute, so you start to learn the embouchure for flute.

My ds is learning violin, but I am teaching him recorder at home, since it is a lot easier than violin, he can progress faster, and improve on his music reading, sense of pitch, etc which he can then apply to the violin.

Bruffin, I can't read below g below c! Never needed to!

That is amazing bander! I used to like playing very old traditional English music on mine. It's a shame really how bad the reputation is.

Chops,
Trouble was my dcs had piano lessons and decided to try and teach myself to help them and struggled read the lower notes.

Banders that is an awesome clip. Vivaldi with attitude!