DD1, age 9 wants to learn the xylophone!? Anyone know anything about it?

[mrsbabookaloo]

I know all kids play the xylophone at school, and that's where she's got the idea from, but I have no idea how to take it further.

Am happy to buy one (and looking forwards to having a bash myself!) and could teach her the basics....if we can remain patient with each other!

She has done 2.5 years of piano but has now quit, so she has learned how to read music, though seemed to learn all her pieces from memory, not sure how good she is at reading notes really.

We said she had to do some kind of music and she says xylophone. I don't mind going along with it, if it keeps her interested in music.

Does anyone's child play the xylophone? Any advice? What kind should I buy? Does it have to be huge to be worth learning on?

TIA

Goodness! Some children do present their parents with unusual requests. A young girl wanted to learn double bass the other week.

Now xylophone! Prices go from £300 to £3K or more, but for a beginner I wouldn't consider it a very 'satisfying' instrument. Why did she give up piano, and how far did she get? Not that far, I guess, if she was learning pieces from memory.

I coached children in primary school, when I was a TA, having recorder, keyboard, and percussion clubs, over a period of twenty years or more. But they were always 'fun' sessions, not for Grades or serious study.

Why do you say she HAS to do some kind of music? Is this for her benefit, or for your own ego? Sounds to me like a sure way to put a child off music for life.

Personally, much better I think, would be a good Keyboard, or digital piano with some Keyboard features. That way, you get a range of sounds, accompaniment styles, facility to record and multi-track (either self-contained in the instrument, or via MIDI and computers). And a Keyboard will have a range of xylophone, marimba, vibraphone sounds, that could be played with strings or choir backings.

Many secondary schools do music, but also music technology, where students learn about recording, composing, orchestration, and modern features that I haven't caught up with yet!

I have replied on many music related topics, so if you 'search' my name, and piano, keyboard, music etc you will several other replies.

Hello OP

Yes, your LEA will have a teacher I hope, there is a lovely little girl who plays in our county orchestra.
The teacher is percussion and it comes under the heading of tuned percussion.
If you call the music service they should be able to help.
The lessons don't cost that much and usually done at a centre or they come into schools.
Good Luck.

Any decent percussion teacher would be happy to give your daughter some lessons on xylophone. Just because things didn't work out on piano, there's no reason why she shouldn't get on better with a different instrument if it's one that she has chosen herself and really wants to learn.
Before we got a xylophone, my DD practised on a piano using just index fingers instead of sticks and it seemed to work well!

Sorry, forgot to say.
They don't own the instrument but are able to hire from the music service.
There are some exciting pieces written for it and this girl has won competitions.
Of course it's unusual as in not common/ popular choice but this is good as she will always be given opportunities.

I love the xylophone Evelyn Glennie

Thanks for your replies! I meant to mention evelyn glennie in my first post! In response to why we said she has to do music, I'm all for questioning my own motives, but I don't think it's for my own ego. I have no notions of her winning any competitions, we're the least pushy parents ever. Just that it's a great skill to have, and lots of adults who didn't learn music as a child, like dh, regret it later. Music is so enjoyable. I learned piano for way too long when I had no aptitude for it, and I'm happy for dd to choose and try different instruments and singing.

If you search on the extracurricular board for "xylophone" you'll find that you are not the only one to be looking to purchase. If I got it right then the link below is the search that you need.

www.mumsnet.com/SearchArch?mustmatch=xylophone&dontmatch=&nickname=&src_displ_option=s_m_d_m&fromDate=&toDate=&topicmode=chs&chosentops=5302

I'd always rent or borrow (contact your local music hub) to start with just in case your percussionist is really a bassoonist or a flautist in waiting. I wouldn't buy until they'd shown that they were going to stick with it and not change instruments/start gymnastics/whatever.

I have a xylophone-playing DS aged 13. He started off aged 11 picking out notes on our piano and then we rented a starter kit from the music centre, with a portable glockenspiel and a snare drum pad and stand. You can buy them ( e.g. Southern Percussion website). I would second the suggestion that you rent first from a specialist percussion store and see how keen DD is. Our lessons are with our borough music service. I bought a xylophone when it became clear DS was progressing fast and continuing with it. It takes up space in his room but sounds great. He does snare and timpani as part of the tuned percussion lessons and he'd been learning drum kit and flute before starting xylophone.

Just found the list of brands the teacher recommended if you rent or buy: Adams, Vancore, Bergerault, Condor or Majestic BUT I would definitely wait and find a teacher first as you need to discuss what you'll be getting for your money and take into account suitability for your DD. A primary school exam candidate I met brought the portable glockenspiel to his grade 1 exam because he was too small to reach the music centre xylophone! I think he was 8 or 9.

To learn xylophone, she will be taking tuned percussion lessons and it would be a pity to narrow it to xylophone because later on she may want to play in a school orchestra where timpani will be needed more. So a general tuned percussion lesson would be great. The day she plays a marimba she will fall in love with it! The downside like others have said is the cost of the instruments and the room they take! DS has a 3 octaves xylophone on loan, otherwise he would not have one as we can't afford it. He really needs a 3,5 octaves. His drumkit has 6 cymbals and a cowbell now. We live surrounded by things you can hit.

OP - I note your comments re your own music experiences, and that DH didn't learn: but it is NEVER too late, and these days, with so many tutor books and free on-line tuition available, most people could have a reasonable stab at learning digital piano,or Keyboard. Certainly I agree music can be a very satisfying experience - but also highly frustrating on occasions!

Why did DD give up piano, after a comparatively short time? Many of the disciplines for piano will also apply to xylophone, and other tuned percussion instruments. Learning EVERY musical instrument involves discipline, patience, concentration, and a sympathetic musical awareness, if progress is to be made.

Thanks for more replies! Sorry didn't check back sooner. I did do a search for xylophone threads on here, but must have missed that one, Icouldbeknitting. Thanks! I just thought I'd buy a cheap ish one for her to on bash around on initially, but will look into renting.

DH taught himself guitar as an adult and is in a band, and I'm in a choir and we both get a lot of enjoyment from music. I am aware that learning any musical instrument takes determination, practice and patience. We made some mistakes with piano, possibly with choice of teacher, with not being disciplined about practice, and she got bored and put off, so we're just making a fresh start with something new of her choice.