DS (year 3) would like to learn an instrument. But which one?

[mckenzie]

The form says you need all your adult teeth to do the wind instruments so they are out.
DS is toying with the keyboard or the guitar.
Am I correct in thinking that the keyboard/piano is a good grounding for any other instrument or did I dream that?
And what is the difference between the keyboard and the piano please?

TIA

interesting - DS started playing clarinet in y3, and he certainly doesn't have all his adult teeth yet.

I started clarinet at about the same age iirc.

sorry can't really help with your q though

I think either piano or keyboard are very good grounding for music in general. The real difference is that if you're wanting to play the piano, you should really be learning on the piano itself as the keys feel quite different from a keyboard. (Though you can now get very expensive electronic pianos with weighted keys which feel much more similar)

thanks very much. PandaG - off to read the sheet again. Perhaps I've got it wrong.

adult front teeth is recommended for woodwind instruments (flute in particular) as you need to relearn the embrouchure to play with gaps/new teeth. Brass should be OK though I think. It's easier to go from piano to keyboard in the future unless oyu haeva posh keyboard whcih has weighted keys (keyboard keys and piano keys are different to play). Keyboard has the advantage of beign able to plug into headphones so you don't need to listen to all the difficult early stages [bad mummy]. Pianos need tuning, and take up more space (we ended up with a digital piano as I didn't have a suitable wall for an ordinary piano. also it transposes so I can accompany DD1 on the clarinet without extra work).
Thre's abook (which I can't remmerb the name of, but I'm sure soemone else will know it) which is good for helpign you decide which instrument suits your child. Also some areas have "come and try" sessions - look on your council website.

sorry, rubbish typing, am in a rush

thanks Shrinking - teacher at school did not tell us that, but DS seems to be getting on ok. He does have his 4 front adult teeth now though

I play a couple of brass instuments and found when I had my braces I couldn't play. So if he's likely to need braces I wouldn't go for brass.

I played the flute too from age 7 and never had any teeth problems.

thanks for those replies. DS and I will have another chat in the morning (form has to be in friday so it's decision time!)

I'm hoping to encourage DS to learn guitar, mostly because it doesn't sound too annoying even when it's played badly.

I would like DS to learn the guitar but I don't think he will be able to do as he has problems holding a pen and cutting with scissors etc. Poor motor skills apparently.