Second instrument

[Pip290]

DD is in Year 3 and currently Grade 1 piano. She practises daily of her own accord and clearly loves it.

She has started asking about a second instrument. When is a sensible time to introduce one?

At the moment she is leaning towards the violin, which I admit I greet with mild dread given the well known “several years before it stops sounding like a distressed seagull” phase. That said, she likes that it works for both classical music, especially as friends play in the orchestra, and also for jigs and sea shanties, which for reasons known only to her appeal. She has also said she likes the cello, which I personally think is beautiful (although a friend said that can sound like a dying whale for a year or two).

Should I gently steer her towards the cello, or let her try the violin if that is what she truly wants, and if a second instrument is reasonable, when is a good time to start?
My slight worry is time and energy. Prep is already a step up and she does get tired. I am unsure how realistic practising two instruments alongside sport and everything else will be.

Alternatively, should she simply stick with the piano for now, given she genuinely loves it and it is wonderfully versatile, covering everything from classical to jazz to Disney and musical theatre.

The violin doesn’t necessarily sound terrible for several years if they are musically gifted, my dd got to grade 1 in 3 terms by which time it wasn’t terrible to listen to. Student violins are not expensive at least and easy to get second hand too, orchestras need lots of violins for opportunities to play are plentiful when older even if just for fun.

Personally, I'd prefer the cello, but I think you go for whatever she has the most enthusiasm for, because that will mean she is more likely to practise (and therefore shorten the length of time when it sounds ghastly).

And the sooner the better for learning any instrument, as you tend to learn quicker that way.

Speaking as a cellist, violin is both significantly more portable, and maybe also more versatile if she wants to do folky stuff later on. But on the other hand, early cello is probably a bit easier on the ear than early violin. If she’s likely to do ensemble playing, the viola can be gorgeous when played well, (provided she can cope with the inevitable viola jokes), and good violists are always in high demand!

100% cello. In my secret opinion even a lot of professional level violinists are ear splitting. (I play cello). Would she consider brass? Brass is so fun to play, and some bands offer free tuition/instrument loan.

Worth thinking about the future - the cost of a good cello will be far more than the cost of a good violin. Not to mention the lugging around! As beautiful as the cello is it’s not quite as practical. My daughter plays violin and is around grade 1 now and the sound is fine - has taken a year or so though of squeakyness! I don’t think it’s any worse though that say the squawks that come from a clarinet in the early days…

Violin is easier to transport.

both cello and violin will have a phase where it does not sound great (in fact most instruments will have this).

Violin is portable and plays so much
cello probably gives more chance to play high level professional

what about a viola ?

Viola more in demand for ensemble playing….

I started on violin after age 7 but changed to cello at 9.
The problem I have as an adult is there is nowhere I can play my cello. There are lots of fiddle groups but that's it.

Brass is hard to learn but at least there are plenty opportunities to play in bands.

Another suggestion to consider something portable, especially with piano has a first instrument it'll be fun for her to have something she can easily carry around. See if you can hire a violin to try, she might not ultimately take to strings. Flute would give her a similar level of versatility, and brass is fun for lots of ensemble playing (maybe a jazz band in the future if she goes off folk).

If she has aspirations to orchestral playing, something unusual - tuba or bassoon. Tuba also crosses over into brass banding. Our school music service and local brass band have enough to lend out, and actually both tuba or bassoon lessons are cheaper than more popular instruments. Both my dc have done violin up to Grade 1. It was ok to listen to even in a moderate sized house.

Of those you’ve suggested, cello is lovely, and small ones are reasonably portable.

She did take part in a musical trial of orchestral instruments and seemed keen on the strings, but I will mention that there might be more orchestral opportunities for brass. Particularly as I think part of the appeal of a second instrument is playing with friends.

In terms of the viola suggestion, can this be used for folky stuff too?

As a parent, part of the appeal of music is the mental health benefits. The point raised about there perhaps being more opportunities to play the violin after school is one to consider. I might see if she can do another paid trial lesson on each to get more of a feel.

When is a good time to start a second instrument after beginning piano?

Yes a viola can be used for folk stuff too - it’s not a common instrument like the violin but it does work well

Where I live most children start instruments at around 8.
We get lessons in school for brass, woodwind and strings.

My DD started piano and cello at the beginning of year 3 - she had a lot more opportunities with the cello even though it became her 4th study... Her younger sister opted for harp and violin and then switched to viola after grade 5 when she was 11. She was always in demand all over the place - but I really don't recommend the harp unless you are very rich and have a big car as they are eye wateringly expensive unless she wants to play only folk. Cellos are a bit less portable than violins and violas but you can still strap it on your back and get on the tube etc.

I would recommend sitting her down with a couple of you tube videos - Peter and the Wolf and Britten's Young Persons Guide to the Orchestra and asking her to have a really good look at the instruments and listen to how they sound and see if she is attracted to any in particular. YOu might also want to hop over to this thread - a lot of very experienced music parents around many of whom have DC on the rarer instruments. https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/extra_curricular_activities/5401991-autumn-winter-2025-music?page=1

My DS started piano in Year 1 and picked up cello in Year 4, after a school event in which pupils could try stringed instruments.

I played piano as a child and always regretted not being able to participate in ensembles. For DS, the social aspect of the cello has been fantastic and the two instruments seem mutually beneficial in terms of skill and knowledge development.

However, playing two instruments has been hard at times. Both teachers asked for 45 minutes of daily practise, which DS was not able to manage. We compromised on alternating practice days, with both being played on Sundays.

DS is now in Year 10 and will be taking his G8 piano exam in July. Cello has always been his second instrument, but his standard (G6) means he can play in local groups as well as at school. I harbour hopes of him carrying the massive case across a university campus one day…

Both instruments sound gorgeous and it is just wonderful having a house full of music.

Good luck!

At that age I was doing an hour’s violin practice and half an hour piano.

She’s quite old to be starting the violin and brass is hard work to play.

If I were you I would pick a relatively easy second instrument like the flute where she can get competent quickly and take part in ensembles.

You can take up an instrument including fiddle at any age and year 3 isn’t too old by any stretch of imagination

@Aluna out of curiosity what age would you say is a good age? Our prep don’t start music lessons until year 2. Did you start with the Suzuki method or find a teacher just willing to start early? Many teachers in our area won’t teach any instrument before age 6 as they feel children are not ready (we tried with piano)

Is cello easier to pick up than violin? She is set on strings. I’m not looking for a prodigy just a happy player in school orchestras and ensembles down the line.

@Londonmummy66 Thank you, such a helpful group! Also nice to see the kinds of issues that crop up later down the line.

Was it the viola that opened up so many opportunities for your second daughter? Just checking I haven’t misunderstood and that it wasn’t the harp. Glad to hear the cello also provided lots of playing opportunities.

Following the guidance above, we’ve asked for two lessons on violin, viola, and cello so our daughter can get a feel for each instrument and the teachers can get a sense of her too. It seems making the right choice is more important than making the fastest one. Hopefully it will also give her a chance to practise each and see which she’s most likely to stick with. The school have said they’ll loan the instruments for this.

My daughter began playing violin at 5 and then the clarient at 7, the violin isnt that bad to start with to be fair and it's portable. They are cheap to purchase initially although as others have said maybe Viola (my daughters orchestra are always looking for viola players). My son also plays two instruments - drums and bassoon although he started with the violin (it did not go well). I would second another poster that the bassoon is always sought after and he has found it not too challenging to pick up since he could already read music, expensive to purchase though! Whatever you go with as long as she enjoys it you're onto a winner.

I wouldn’t recommend the flute. If she ever wants to play in an orchestra they will have masses of flutes.
They will also have masses of violins of course, but that’s fine because orchestras need a lot more violins than flutes!

I second the idea that she should play whichever instrument she wants to play the most. Is there any possibility of trying out both instruments to see which she prefers?

Like most people, I prefer the sound of the cello to that of the violin. I don’t think my violin-playing daughter sounded decent until she was around grade 5, whereas the cello playing one sounded fine well before grade 1! However, if your daughter is starting at 8 or so you will at least be spared the hideousness of the smallest violins!

It might be worth thinking about portability. My daughter struggled a bit taking her cello to school on the train (from age 11). Violins are a lot easier to carry!

Finally, I would definitely recommend an orchestral instrument - and the sooner the better. It’s much more fun to play with others and whilst obviously you can play the piano with others, it’s much easier to do that on a violin or cello.

DS plays cello. Small sizes are less squeaky than small violins but as others have said there is a period where strings sound painful.

Small size cellos look cute and are reasonably portable but full size, especially with a hard case need a larger car. They are more expensive than violins but if you look around you can. Usually get preloved that then holds value reasonably well when you sell on.

DS plays in various school bands including double base style

I’d say cello. The problem with violin in my area is there are lots of Hong Kong immigrants whose kids started learning violin well before age 5 and whose parents are very strict and enforce practice. Similar situation with piano. I’m not sure why they all fixate on violin, I guess it’s the technical difficulty that appeals?

Anyway by secondary school there are lots and lots of these technically brilliant kids which means good seats in local orchestras have filled up and local kids who only started playing age 7 or older in a shared 20 min lesson before school aren’t getting a look in!

Plus it’s not much fun being in an orchestra sharing a stand with an 11 year old who just sat grade 8 when you’re 16 yourself - you want to be in an ensemble with kids your own age.

It’s become quite boring at the school music events, just endless recitals of violin and piano! I long to hear a squeaky oboe or a duff clarinet . Haven’t seen a bassoon or a French horn in ages!

I did Suzuki violin from age 3 and had a Russian piano teacher from 5.

The cello is certainly no easier than the violin and bear in mind that the full size strings are quite big (obviously not as big as the double bass) so you do need good strong fingers.