Trumpet or cornet for beginner

[The3]

Brass folk! Please help me out: I am a poor ignorant woodwind player!

Dd (nearly 8) wants to learn trumpet. Do we need to start her on cornet? Will it be easier for her to start on? Or is there no difference at this stage? She is average size.

DS is 7, almost 8 too, on the small size for his age, and is starting with the cornet after advice from the council music service. The trumpet was just enormous for him, it's tiring to keep it held up and he couldn't get his hands and fingers in the right place.

Ds and dd started on cornet because that was the instrument they were given by the county music service !! Dd still prefers it age 10 she says a trumpet is too big . Ds moved to trumpet to play in orchestras but as he was small aged 8 the cornet suited him when he began but lots start on trumpet aged 8 too. Can you go to a shop and try them both out for size?

Cornet is good for little budding brass beginners if they are quite small. Worth bearing in mind you can get plastic cornets and trumpets now. My son started on a plastic trumpet (it was trumpet he particularly wanted to play) and it really helped maintain a good posture as of course it's nowhere near as heavy! We have found the best plastic cornets/trumpets are the tromba as they have metal valves. The ptrumpet valves are pretty useless.

DD2 started on trumpet at 8yo, she didn't have any problems with size. She's missing her left hand, so she did find holding it horizontal a bit tiring at first though.

Cornet here too. Does she have her adult front teeth as they need those first.

DD1 started on trumpet aged 7.5 because that's what was available through school. Cornet is easier for small players though because it is shorter and so doesn't need so much arm strength.