which instrument to try and at what age?

[Sammy867]

Hello,
I have a three year old daughter and am debating how best to introduce her to instruments and what best to pick at which age?

As my particular background I began piano aged 3 (as my sister aged 5 was going and I wanted to go with her), guitar and ukulele aged 8, clarinet aged 10, saxophone aged 13, flute aged 15 and violin aged 16. The piano was obviously my parents choice, the other instruments I wanted to learn myself and chose them instead of other presents for various birthdays or christmases along the way as well as saving money from part time jobs after school.
I had instruction on piano, guitar and saxophone and self taught the other instruments (most of which I play badly but thoroughly enjoy to do so!).
I have only ever played for leisure (although I am grade 8 piano classical ABRSM, 5 in jazz and 5 in saxophone jazz ) so am unsure how or when to introduce my girl to music. There are obviously a variety of instruments in the house and she has been exposed to all of them pretty much in utero as it's my favourite way to relax after work.

Currently she has a ukulele which she strums, and she plays on my piano although we haven't given her any formal instruction as she just likes to play around and is still very young.
She has her own child keyboard with mic and is regularly seen singing and thumping around and she has a harmonica.
I have dug out all my things from when I was a child and she does look at the music flash cards, can locate middle C, recognises the patterns of the 2 and 3 groups of black notes etc (she's obsessed with reading and flash cards)
She regularly handles all my instruments anytime she choses and I point out the differences between them and the sounds they make (I regularly have to clean out the flute as she seems particularly keen on this instrument, as well as the saxophone as my dad also plays this to her) however is always drawn back to my piano (probably as this is the instrument I play the most in the house for joy).
All of my family play a variety of instruments and usually make a racket when we are all together so she is exposed to a lot of people playing a variety of music.

I would love for her to "pick" her own instruments but understand at first she will need help. She does seem drawn to the piano and flute in particular. At what age should we be looking at any particular instrument and which would be the most useful or helpful for her as I imagine flute would be best for an older child due to the breathing actions and size of the instrument? Obviously I started at 3 on piano however I am unsure whether this is too young?

When I was younger I would have loved to join a youth orchestra to feel more involved in the music community, but the instruments I played were not really open to this; are there any instruments that will be more useful, or sought after in the orchestra as my LG will be an only child so it would be nice if we can get her involved in a variety of group activities as she seems to love playing and performing and there is an amazing youth orchestra and concert hall right on our doorstep if she would like to pursue this path

General wisdom I've come across both in RL and on here is that dc need to be about 7 to be able to make any sustained progress on most instruments. Particularly when people ask about piano lessons.

A recorder tends to be the 'first' instrument for many though, if you feel a need to start them younger - it is one line of music, and you can get a simple tune very early on.

For strings and I believe piano, the Suzuki method is a good option for this age range. @Pythonesque is an expert and I’m sure will be happy to advise further if she is around.

If your daughter doesn't have a strong preference I'd really recommend chatting to people with musical older kids locally. They will know which teachers are great with young students. There are particular methods like Suzuki and String Babies (think they may do piano and recorder too now?) that may have a group locally but there may also be just general teachers who're known for being great with little ones. DD started violin at 3 with a teacher like that. Bonus points for getting her in with a fab teacher who rarely has spaces after school but has more time during school hours!

If there's one local to you, a preschool music class run by actual musicians (rather than the franchise ones) could be a great starting place too.

I have one child who started with piano and then took up an orchestral instrument as second instrument and one vice versa. Second instruments tend to be quicker to learn, so I think either way round works. But yes definitely good to have a band/orchestral instrument for the social aspect!

I guess an instrument that comes in small sizes could help if she's going to start very young - how did you find piano in that respect? DD now 6 can just about stretch an octave or reach the pedals, but is tall for her age.

They don't make as fast progress very young normally, but that goes for any hobby, main thing they have fun with it which mine definitely did.

Thanks.

Yes, we live beside a large concert hall that has an amazing youth orchestra programme.
They start with music foundation designed for age 4-5 in year 1, which is a 3 year programme, starting with a half hour ‘Small Group’ instrumental lesson (2 or 3 students per group) and One hour integrated Musicianship and Ensemble session per week. By year three they have a
Half hour Individual instrumental lesson, 45 minute Musicianship Session and 45 minute Ensemble Session a week.

Then can then chose to either stay with strings and step up to foundation strings at age 8 and they can chose viola, violin, cello or bass or they can chose to join the step up wind with a choice of flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, trombone, tuba and french horn.
The strings class consists of an individual instrumental lesson
45 – 60 minute, 30 minute small ensembles and 60 minute String Orchestra a week and similar for woodwind. They can then join in with the adult orchestra and they have their own performances as part of the youth orchestra.

It all sounds very structured and is exactly where I think we will head as it seems pretty well rounded and the social side seems ideal as they have a well rounded social scene as well, I just wasn't sure how to fill the time between now and then; encouraging her to continue with piano, or just leave her to it for a few years which seems a shame as she's so happy playing her instruments.

To be honest I feel like learning to read music very young was to my advantage more than the playing piano young ever was. It wasn't so much learning the notes, but learning the language that was important so young. I learned to read music the same time I actually was learning to read so therefore my sight-reading is impeccable as I effectively don't need to translate it; it is akin I suppose to a bilingual child. To make her life easier this would be my goal, as my sister who is older effectively still has to "translate" the notes as it is her second language and she was taught it much later. I do have a solid memory however of playing a concert aged 4 (which my mum has on an old video) and I was playing the Bell's of St Mary's so I suppose I didn't have much of an issue with stretching or octaves although there was a resounding "awww" when they used to have to lift me onto the piano stool.

Wow that sounds like an amazing programme to have on your doorstep. How long is it till she would start that? You say a few years but then also say she's 3 and programme starts at age 4. Given that is coming up soon though maybe stick to your playing around for now? sounds like it is working well for her. If you wanted to try a bit more systematic learning we loved the Piano Adventures books - lots of duets to play so it's great to do with them if you play yourself. Seems to me it would make sense to stick with piano for now if she's going to get strings anyway, and option of wind at an appropriate age.

In such a musical location I bet there is a quality preschool class too? DD went to one where they did lots of singing and percussion like normal baby classes, but also learned about different instruments, very beginnings of notation, teacher encouraged them each to try singing a solo to the group. Really brilliant.

Hi thanks,
I never clicked on to that it would only be a year! still thinking of her as my baby
Thanks for your input. Yes we do the preschool class as well which is more of a sound / movement baby class. She's a bit of an exhibitionist however and usually stands in the middle of the circle dancing her own way so I don't believe it has been too helpful on that front. They don't introduce notes at all or singing, but there is a theatre school around here that starts young and they do a few of these things. I'm a bit reluctant to add another group however as I work and I don't want to lose all our time together for another class. I think we'll just continue as we are for another year then join the young orchestra and go from there now that I realise it is only a year away!

I personally think that people who suggest you have to be at least 7 to make progress on an instrument are thinking of individual lessons and practice. Most children under about 8 (and some older) will be limited if they are expected to do everything on their own, but if a parent attends lessons and helps with practice then it is very different! Suzuki method talks of the parent being the "home teacher" - which is exactly what you are with little ones.

Surrounding a child with music is absolutely the first step. If you are interested in early music reading my experience of Kodaly-based groups is that they can support this very well. Personally I was able to read music fairly fluently even at a time when I was rather tone-deaf due to glue-ear; at 6 I started Suzuki violin but the listening required supported my ear development rather than me being a child who could "learn by ear" at first.

The biggest difference in early learning especially age 3-4, is having a teacher with experience and training in teaching young children. If a teacher is uncertain about taking your child on until they are older, consider asking if you can observe lessons with your child, but otherwise don't push as they may not have the "teaching tools" to start young. I have acquaintances who love teaching 3 year olds and are very good at it; in my limited teaching experience so far, I am better with 5+ though happy to try with 4 yr olds. Teachers who mainly work in schools may have a different skill-set much better suited to 6-7+.

If flute seems to be of interest to your child, there are Suzuki flute teachers around (I don't know how many); and you can get a curved head-joint that allows you to start much smaller than with a normal instrument. But holding the weight would still be an issue. I don't know what starting ages they suggest.

Recorder was my very first instrument and I still think it is a great one; but most 3 yr olds will struggle to control their breathing so as not to overblow.

Good luck with your musical adventures ahead!

Sing! Best preparation ever ... and it's fine to start much younger with the right teacher/method. Take her to children's concerts and see what she likes the look of.

The local programme sounds perfect!

I'd do singing and glockenspiel with a 3 year old. I wish I'd thought of glock when my two were little. Same layout as the piano, but bigger bars and easier to play. Just experiment, and figure out some well known tunes together!

I started my eldest (who was and is extremely tall) on recorder at 3... she then chose flute for herself and started at 6 on a curved one, then piano at 10. My youngest is little, so didn't have as many options early on, but she started recorder in her late 4s, cello late 5, and clarinet aged 8. They learned to read music at a very basic level at 3 and 4 respectively, but lost interest a few times and then really flew at 5.5 ish. It's not really necessary to teach notation to preschoolers.

PM me if you want any specific info about tiny orchestral woodwind/ saxophones... but quite honestly, you'd still be looking at age 6-7 for those.

Best advice I can give would be to keep playing yourself. I didn't play much when my older 2 were little as it felt a bit selfish. They have a sibling 10 years younger who has grown up listening to them practice. She is intrinsically musical just from this constant exposure - wish I had known this before.

She also has a mini xylophone which is great for note learning and a bit easier on the ear than a glok. Her older sisters cracking grade 5 theory gave her something to join in with too.

We also have access to structured music stuff but I have never bothered because we are able to offer so much at home. Older 2 were a bit off by too much structure too early in choirs etc. - other DC might be different though.