If your dc play or played more than 2 instruments, could you talk to me please?

[ZZZenAgain]

Atm my dd plays violin and piano. She practises a great deal and is involved in two orchestras, both of which are also, I feel, quite demanding in level so these pieces also require practice time. Now she has asked if she could try a third instrument which she would want to play alongside the other two. It is also a string instrument. I feel this is unrealistic in terms of time and effort on her part and I don't really see how we could fit in it very well. She also plays tennis, swims and has another sport on Saturday mornings. I would not like her to drop sport for a third instrument really. I think a balance is a good thing.

Does anyone have dc who play more than 2 intruments, if so, could you tell me how it works out for you/your dc?

She is 11

Hi.
I have only just found this but FWIW my dd 8 plays 4 instruments and also dances (5 classes) now I know this is not the answer for many but we gave up school to allow her to practice and she does this throughout the morning. She is very single minded and knows she wants to be a musician and dancing is her hobby. She was so shattered last year and missed alot of school through performances, competitions and rehearsals that she decided it was what she wanted to do. It is very time consuming and costly as you will probably know already. I just thought I'd share the other end of the spectrum. She is loving it now and is coming on in leaps and bounds, we don't have to say no to anything musical now and she can join as many ensembles as she likes. If she was still in school it wouldn't have been possible to keep the 4 instruments to be honest.

hi morethan, yes I can imagine that works brilliantly for your family. What will you do around GCSE time? Are you planning to continue HE and have your dd sit the exams, preparing for them at home alongside all the music and dance?

ZZZenAgain.

I'm not sure yet about GCSE's. If she wants to go to school to take them its up to her, or we'll carry on with H.ed. Its a long time off yet and they can change their minds. If she is still determined for a career in music I can't see why more than 3 or 4 would be necessary for conservatoire entry. The exams in music and dance that she will have taken by the time of college entry will cover 3/4 of the required UCAS points.

My Year 8 DD does violin, viola and guitar, all at Grade 5 and above. On a weekly basis she has lessons for all the above plus she has quartet/orchestra at school and externally on Saturday mornings.

For non music fun she goes to an athletics club twice a week plus does netball after school.

She goes to a very academic school so plenty of homework. So its not as if GCSE is going to add any additional time pressures in a few years time.

So, it is do-able :-)

The fact that your extra instrument is the viola makes the decision easier since it only requires a minor adjustment in technique if one already plays the violin. So it's not like there is a great learning curve.

Hi, sorry I didn't see your post before, the thread had slipped off my active list. Your dd certainly sounds as if she can manage to juggle everything.

What I am wondering atm is if it would't be a good idea to learn an instrument that would get her into different ensembles from the violin. Afater all you can only play either violin or viola in the same string ensemble, orchestra or chamber music group really.

I think I''ve decided to try a month of viola lessons after Christmas if she is still interested. THanks for all the comments and advice

Dd plays 3 instruments. Also does a very demanding sport plus other activities.

We have eased up on the music exams so that she is only doing grade exams on one instrument. The other two she plays for pleasure. She is in the school orchestra, a school band, and has her own band.

I have let her set her own pace and she knows she can choose to have a rest from an activity if she needs to. She is doing GCSE music, and TBH, her instruments are a form of relaxation for her. Maybe let your dd have a go, but make it a condition that if she finds it too much, she has a break for a while.