Violin or piano (or another instrument) for a 6 year-old?

[StrawberryShortcake01]

We would like our daughter to start learning an instrument when she’s in Year 2 next academic year and she’s 6 years old. She says she wants to learn the violin. I played the piano for years and loved it, but sort of stopped when I started uni and I can’t really play anymore. I really regret not keeping it up but I hated playing on a cheap keyboard.

I have always been told the piano is a good first instrument, but I also feel it’s quite a lonely one. And as I explained above, once you go to uni it’s hard to keep it up.

Her junior school has an orchestra, and our local secondary has a music specialism, so, if she is into her music, it would be lovely to be part of it all. Orchestra, concerts, music tour, etc.

What do you all think? Piano as it’s a popular and more obvious first instrument? Violin? Or is it too hard for a 6 year old? Flute?

Thank you!

At my child's school they would let them try a variety of instruments to see which they preferred. Might they let her do this?

She wants to play the violin, so violin.
Unless as PP said she could try a few to see what she likes best.
I play the piano myself but wouldn't force it if she is not drawn to it.

Age 8 is better to learn the piano as children often cannot sit still long e.nough.

I play piano and yes it is quite an isolating instrument.

Let her learn the instrument she wants to play. She can always take up the piano later on.

Piano is really useful but six is a bit young.

Thank you, it’s really useful.

I am only mentioning the piano as it seems like all the kids around us are learning the piano, so I thought perhaps it’s because it’s easier for younger children? She can sit still for ages.

I am more than happy for her to learn the violin, but is you think it’s not too hard? What would be a good age to start learning it?

No instrumental lessons in her school so no instruments to try unfortunately.

I started violin at 7, it was a really good age to do it, and I liked being part of orchestra at my junior school. I had previously learnt piano starting age 4/5, but didn't like the teacher. Violin was what I wanted to learn, probably also because it was different to my mum (a piano and cello player)

Having said that, piano is helpful for learning to read music / developing a good ear, as the black and white notes and octaves make it all really clear. Violin needs a good ear to get the pitch right, so she could do a year of piano, then switch to violin?

The right age depends greatly on the child. I started at 6 and gave up, starting again at 8. DD got very interested at 6.5; once it was clear that this wasn't just a passing thing, I talked to a teacher. The teacher gave her a taster lesson, and agreed that she was ready.

I'm glad I play both piano and an ensemble instrument; piano is much more fun for playing on your own, but playing in an orchestra is more sociable. I don't think it matters which comes first, so go with what she's keen to do. If she learns piano, you will need to get an instrument - perhaps you can take it up again!

Actually, DD was coming up for 6, now I think about it.

I'm a violin (& occasional piano!) teacher. If she wants to learn the violin, I'd go with that, always good to let the child take the lead with instrument choice if a particular one has captured their imagination. If she sticks at it, you might want to think about adding in piano later on though, as it's a really useful foundation for theory. If you're looking at starting in Y2, that sounds fine to me - loads of kids start around then. You can start younger, but would depend a lot on the child (some have the concentration and fine motor skills, others need a bit longer to develop these before starting the violin) and the teacher. Are you looking at private lessons? At that age, I'd definitely look for suzuki teachers locally (you can find a teacher list on the British Suzuki website), as they're specifically trained to teach the younger ages. Hope that helps! Feel free to PM me if you like :-)

My son (7 next week) started piano at the start of year 1. It's been brilliant at teaching him to read music and has the benefit of sounding nice enough even when a total beginner. He has progressed well and was playing fun tunes quite quickly which helped with maintaining enthusiasm. He started violin at the beginning of year 2 (his request but very limited options at school for his age) - progress is much much slower and the sound it makes is pretty hideous. He also does group recorder at school. To be honest I wouldn't be surprised if he moves over to entirely different instruments when he's older - I started on recorder and piano and moved to clarinet and saxophone. Any interest in music should be encouraged and whatever you pick now doesn't have to be forever, subsequent instruments are much easier to pick up once you can read music.

Thank you all so much for your help. She won’t start until after the summer anyway so we have time to think about it and decide what to do.

See if you can go to live concert and experience lots of instruments. Lots of kids say violin as they have only maybe seen that. She might be taken by cello or trumpet or something else! No lessons are ever wasted though, even if she changes. Piano does give a good grounding though. I'm teaching a friend's daughter recorder and she has very little concept of going up and down the scale which she would get from piano. I agree it's important to have a social instrument for lots of people ( not all obviously)

Violin is maybe even more common a first instrument than piano. It has the advantage over piano that they come in small sizes, and as you say you can play in groups. And you don't need a whacking great piano in your house.

6 absolutely not too young with the right teacher. Some teachers prefer to start them from 7-8, some can teach much younger kids - DD was 3 starting violin, her teacher made it all games and she had a lovely time.

Is it hard? Maybe you're playing a recognisable tune quicker on piano, but playing and reading two hands together is very hard, I think a single line instrument is easier to start with. But perhaps I would say that because I always found piano hard going!

Some kids enjoy the violin because you can feel the music inside you and it’s a deep sensory experience.

Others do well with piano because it’s visual with the music and the notes laid out in front of you.

If there’s a way to do a taster of different instruments or be prepared to let her try and change her mind. We got second hand instruments and sold them on so they were basically free.

Thank you all, really useful again.

My DD played the piano until she achieved grade 8. She started at 7, however she also played cello at school and that was great as she was able to be part of an orchestra. My youngest DC plays piano and started age 6 but we have a piano at home and makes sense. I am keen for him to learn a string instrument as I think it’s nice to be part of an orchestra. Ultimately you need to let your child decide as they need to want to play.

Clarinet or perhaps flute. Child will make a tolerable noise MUCH more quickly than on a violin and will be able to play in bands as well as orchestras. It’s also easy to take up the saxophone as well if DC gets into jazz (fingering is the same). Finally, if things get successful, you won’t need to sell a kidney to buy a quality instrument…

I’d say avoid flute if you want her to be able to carry on…I speak from the bitter experience of getting to grade 7 and finding I couldn’t play in the most basic orchestra at university as (even at college level) they had plenty of much better flautists. If I’d played the violin (or many other instruments) I’d have been welcomed with open arms!

If you want them to be welcomed with open arms, go for viola or bassoon. ( Bassoon is ££££ even for a basic one though!)

You can start on a mini bassoon from about 7/8 depending on size of hands.

My twins started piano aged 6.5 with a 15 minute lesson (their older brother has 30 mins). The key is finding the right teacher. Their teacher is a local A Level student who is really quirky, enthusiastic, fun and amazing with kids. No exams, no pressure, just fun! They're doing really well.

I play piano, guitar, flute, violin, and trumpet.

Violin is REALLY difficult to learn as you have to pitch the notes by ear, which is almost impossible to do unless you have a good grounding of musicality. I'm a beginner, but playing other instruments I at least know when I haven't pitched the note right and can adjust it. Kids can't do that so it sounds horrendous for a long time!

Our local brass band does a complete beginners group and even loan out instruments, so my twins are about to start playing cornet/trombone. I would highly recommend a brass instrument as a first.

Just to add if she really wants to do the violin then I'd go with it! Just buy some ear plugs!

I would only go with what your child wants to do, I could not think of anything worse than having to play music if I did not choose to so would only be directed by my child

So if they want violin then this till they wanted to stop