Orchestra instrument

[Pandadream]

DS is nearly 7, he has been playing piano for a few months and doing well. He’s good at singing and in school choir. He generally loves music. School has an orchestra what starts next academic year, I am keen for him to try, which means he need to learn a new orchestra instrument before he can join.

is there a “better” instrument for boys? Or any suggestions from experienced parents?

I’m hoping to avoid those very large instruments purely because the logistics but still open to them if there’s good reason / why they are good.

Tubas are always in demand. The small ones kids start in aren’t that big!

My sister was made to learn the bassoon aged 11, and ended up really enjoying it. One of the few grade 8 players in the country!

My boy had the choice of flute or clarinet, I wasn't going to put myself through the violin. I wouldn't say one was more masculine than the other! He went for flute.

Don't rule out percussion, lots of variety for him if you think he'd enjoy that.

Sorry missed the smaller instrument preference! Although we've only ever had a smallish electric kit at home, for marimba/xylophone/glok etc she practices at school or music service so it's only a case of taking drum sticks for her lessons.

Bassoonists can always find work!

I concur with this, I played oboe and frequently ended up in all sorts of groups. Took a long time to sound better than a strangled duck though!

Desperately short of decent oboe players in our county, and strangely not many clarinets either.

Most clarinet players i knew also played saxophone later, so option of jazz clarinet and saxophone too.

https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/products/right-instrument-for-your-child-book-atarah-ben-tovim-9781409138129?sku=GOR006111181&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17415896148&gbraid=0AAAAADZzAICuuSIMUbFxwEGTkIPik4q4y&gclid=CjwKCAjwhLPOBhBiEiwA8_wJHKN8Bc_5wT2OgSbrQU4V_BZZKixSr1csH9flK1x--upf4PM_Kg7NghoCpkEQAvD_BwE

I always recommend this book, which deals also with the right stage at which to start them (maturity - but also some wind instruments recommend adult teeth etc).

I am an experienced violinist and play in a very high standard amateur orchestra. I have never thought of any instrument as being sex specific: it’s more about the player’s character.

As an aside, the bassoon is a cracking instrument and has some wonderful solos across many great orchestral works.

My experience is that the woodwind in any amateur orchestra is so much better than the string sections - their sight reading is outstanding and they’re so much more exposed, as fewer of them across each section. Safety in numbers and a bit of herd mentality over in the strings (I’m a second violinist!)

Your DS needs to choose which instrument to play because the commitment to practice time and energy. He may prefer one instrument over another as it is a personal choice your DS needs to be involved in. For example, he may excel at strings as opposed to woodwind or may prefer brass.

Kids can learn more than one instrument at the same time and there is only one clef to a lot of orchestral instruments too.

Where in the uk are you OP?
If north-west id thoroughly recommend finding a training brass band - gives options for tuba / tenor/ baritone / euph / cornet / percussion

Both of mine are in various ensembles be it brass / orchestra / concert and it started from an amazing base in a training brass band. One started at 6, one at 8 - they have a wonderful family feel to them and have given both mine amazing opportunities.

At 7 check if his hands and arms are big enough for some of these suggestions. Violins are often started at a younger age because wind instruments are one size and too big for smaller children. Our primary school orchestra allowed recorders which are both cheap and portable.

I wouldn't go for the brass-band-specific brass (baritone, euphonium, tenor horn) unless there is a local junior brass band. Trumpet/cornet are essentially the same, and at junior level most groups will not fuss about which you play (technically trumpet for orchestras, cornet for brass bands) - we were advised to start with a cornet as it is easier to hold for a child. Some school orchestras are unfussy about including non-orchestral instruments, but this may depend on being willing to transpose parts for them, and it may not be the case at secondary school.

Definitely expose him to a range of instruments and see what he likes. Also check out what there is locally to play in; one of the biggest joys of playing an instrument is playing in groups, and our local junior brass band kept DD going when she wasn't getting on well with her teacher. (Getting the right teacher is important - unfortunately we didn't get it right first time. Good teachers are likely to agree to a taster lesson.) If there's a school orchestra, that's a good start.

Better for boys is an odd thing to suggest. Def no such thing

violin can be good in the long term as orchestras will always need more violins than say flutes and trombones however they are harder to learn. My ds took to the flute really well. Wind instruments will have band options instead of orchestras.

However, if your son is already playing piano and singing well I’m not sure I’d necessarily over complicate things by encouraging another instrument unless he is keen!

Do kids really learn trombone or tuba age 7? Things have changed since I was a kid if so.

One of the few grade 8 players in the country? Hardly!

OP, let him choose (but steer away from the violin unless you intend to invest in a good set of earplugs)

He shouldn’t be playing brass instruments til he has some adult teeth well in and any decent teacher should advise - I think for woodwind it is similar. Choice of brass depends on the person. I started on trumpet aged 11 but my ‘embouchure’ ie mouth and lip shape wasn’t suited so I switched to trombone. (I had a place in every band/orchestra in a girls school- violins, flutes and clarinets had to audition!)

See about some try it sessions - something he likes and enjoys and wants to play! Instruments are for all and there is no ‘boy /girl’ thing about it.

Having re-read your op if he’s only been playing piano for “a few months” then it feels far too soon to introduce another instrument IMO. Is he practicing daily without prompting?are you ready to persuade him to practice two instruments a day? He won’t make serious progress unless he does 15-20 minutes, most day, on each instrument. In my experience getting kids to practice is quite exhausting. My parents pleaded with me for years (and I’m pleased they did) a it was only at the age of 14 or so that I became self-motivated and didn’t need to be told to practice

is there a “better” instrument for boys?

None of the standard orchestral instruments are played with the genitals so no need to consider that angle.

Physical size is a consideration - in my primary school it was the tallest children picked for cello as they had the requisite arm and hand span.
He should choose something that appeals. There is time to pick up something else later.

echoing brass here…with added advantage that brass players can’t be expected to practice for the same amount of time as string players (lip goes)…I know violinists who are doing 3-4 hours a day in junior school ….brass if you can build up to an hour by grade 8 that’s pretty good!!!

theres always a lack of lower bass (euphonium/tuba) in brass bands…trumpet, trombone, tuba are also orchestral instruments.

They play plastic trombones even earlier than 7.
Tubas are rare even in older groups.

They start them on brass before adult teeth at conservatoires JD, there must be only indecent teachers there 😂

Well this one literally says about waiting til year 4 due to mouth development etc https://share.google/y9w0imcxSzDtdD0KL - It might be helpful info for the OP.

My DC was at JD on brass (not Trinity), the info is misleading, children have their teeth change later nowadays and start instruments earlier. Mine had adult front teeth when playing grade 4 iir, and still have many baby teeth now playing at diploma level. I guess half of brass department started before adult teeth. Embouchure changes anyway if they need braces in teenage years.

OP is not coming back anyway :)