Instrument choice 8 yo

[FrenchFancie]

My Dd wants to learn to play clarinet - she’s 8 and from next term can do short (20 minutes) group lessons within school. I’m dubious about clarinet as from what I remember, woodwind instruments can be tricky to get a good tone from for beginners. She says she wants to learn clarinet as she likes the sound of them more than, say violin or flute.
Would I be unreasonable to steer her towards piano? (We we have in the house and she can tap out a few tunes on) or guitar (which I play) or the dreaded ukulele (I have a massive things against ukes, but recognise it’s an easy thing for a young kid to learn to play).
Or will she only really be engaged with an instrument she loves the sound of, even if it’s hard?

my ds plays the clarinet, and he started at 9. I would say let her go for it, but do not buy a new one until you know she will stick with it (a few years at least). Rent one, or buy second hand. I think you will find it harder to get her to practice if she doesn't want to play that instrument.You could get her to agree before you get the instrument to practice 2 times per week, as a deal, so you know she is commited?

I'd go with the instrument she wants to play. Hard is a bit of a relative concept, with practise things become easier and practise is easier if you want to learn, and i personally wouldnt consider violin, flute or piano as objectively easier than clarinet either. (Disclaimer - none of my kids play clarinet but violin, piano, flute, ukulele and various others get a look in)

let her play what she wants. Give her some ownership over it.

I teach the clarinet and have a few pupils around the same age. The main issue is that they need to have their adult front teeth in place as otherwise you can't form a correct embouchure (and probably do damage but I'm not a dental expert). The other issue can be that if they're very small they might struggle with covering the holes properly but a short 20 min lesson should be great to start with. If they like the sound of the clarinet then I'd go for it.

Clarinet is fine and she can play with an orchestra when she is a bit more accomplished. Flute is also woodwind btw

I used to teach children violin and I can assure you that clarinet is much easier on the ear for a beginner. Piano is far too ubiquitous.

I started playing the clarinet at 8 with great pressure from school and home to learn to play the flute instead, but I preferred the sound of the clarinet. By the end of my first year of playing I had outgrown 20 minute group lessons and a few years later went on to join a junior music college.

I'm sure I'd have been okay at the flute (I can play passably now), but I doubt I would have excelled (as a child) like I did with the clarinet because I loved it.

I’d also let her learn the clarinet if she wants to. Orchestra instruments are more fun (in my opinion) because you can play in a group. And of course she doesn’t want to play any of the instruments you already own - that would be far too convenient!

Clarinet player here! I'd say let her try (if she has her adult front teeth, as a previous poster said).

Clarinet is a very versatile instrument - can be played in a (classical) orchestra, but also Concert Band/ Wind Band/ Swing and Jazz bands (which lots of kids find more fun than orchestral). Also it is relatively easy to learn/switch to saxophone from being a clarinettist and saxes are COOL instruments!

IME children who play in music groups are much more likely to enjoy it and stick with it, and it's a great extra curricular hobby to make friends through in secondary school.

Piano is lovely, but it is very insular - lots of practicing on your own - and there is very rarely an opportunity to play piano in school groups etc.

If she gets interested in music, you may be able to teach her guitar as a second instrument anyway .

Don't steer her towards piano. It's lovely to play, but there are no ensemble opportunities, and it's fun for kids to play in bands, orchestras, etc & a nice social thing.

It's also hard enough to get children to practice instruments they choose themselves, never mind ones their parents have steered them towards.

I'd give clarinet a try; talk to a teacher and go with their advice if any concerns. Piano - well my personal perspective is that ideally children learn both a "social" instrument and (at least) enough piano to get by / support their musical understanding. So if she gets going properly on clarinet I would then encourage her to learn at least some piano later on.

My eldest started with violin and recorder, (my instigation when she was still small) and added piano about 10. About 11 or 12 she started asking about clarinet but we postponed starting that till 13 as she was changing schools. It's ended up being her natural instrument much more than violin/viola even though she's good on both, if she wants to play something to relax she will pick up a recorder or her clarinet. Piano wasn't ever her territory but she knows her way around a keyboard (and enough to do chordal accompaniments to songs which is a very useful skill her teacher worked on with her). (she also sang in various choirs from age 5 at her own instigation)

Definitely not too young. My just 9 yo started clarinet in January (after a term of recorder with the same teacher) and is flying - I think she’ll do G3 when exams re-open. She’s s chorister so could read music already, which helps.

My DD started playing the clarinet around age 7. We listened to lots of instruments and that is the one that she loved - well after the harp but there was no way we could afford a harp! It is squeaky to start off with and a bit heavy and if she has little fingers it could be worth waiting another year. We were worried about potential damage to front teeth, but we checked in regularly with the dentist about it and the dentist was happy they were growing fine. She's 10 now and loves it! It is a really beautiful and versatile instrument.

Definitely go with what she likes the sound of. We were lucky enough to have a teacher who let DD try out clarinet, flute oboe and bassoon. She was very definite in her choice of oboe, she just liked the sound. As previously mentioned, they will be more motivated to practice when they have chosen. Tone quality takes a while to develop but regular practice will make a difference. Piano can be added later and is very useful for understanding music as well as musically satisfying.