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Original poster

An instrument for DD

33 replies

ottilieeberstark · 22/07/2014 22:19

My DD is very gifted musically and is a grade 3 at the piano and has been playing for just over two years. She asked me yesterday if she was allowed to start another instrument next September and of course, keeping her interests at heart, I said yes. The problem is, she is fussy and likes to be different. I suggested the violin, guitar or flute but she said she was wanting something to different to the other children who play instruments. I thought of a few instruments but looking into them I realised her little hands would find it extremely hard to play as most are for children 9+! Does anyone have any ideas of a different but easy instrument to play? Thanks in advance.

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Pimpf · 22/07/2014 22:23

You may ot like my suggestion, drums. Brilliant. I'm learning with dd2, love em. Got an electronic kit so you can have headphones, not as good as a proper set but still a lot of fun

catkind · 22/07/2014 22:24

How about cello, or maybe viola then? Too few kids take up the viola, she'd always be in demand!

twentyten · 22/07/2014 22:24

Ukulele?

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Original poster

ottilieeberstark · 22/07/2014 22:41

Yes I think drums sound lovely it's just when DH is working it might not be so good but an electric kit sounds a lot quieter!

Also catkind I like the idea of a viola or cello. Thank you.

And twentyten I think a ukulele is also good if she was thinking about guitars which I think she might possibly be.

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Smo2 · 22/07/2014 22:44

How old is she?

mckenzie · 22/07/2014 22:47

DD has just started the trombone (or rather the Pbone which is what the youngsters start with).
She is 9 and loving it.

Original poster

ottilieeberstark · 22/07/2014 22:50

DD is seven and going to be eight in August.

Brass instruments are a good idea, we haven't talked about them and I think she'd enjoy that sort of thing!

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puddleduck16 · 22/07/2014 22:52

I know going for a traditional brass or wind instrument may sound boring just now, but in later years opens up wind bands and orchestras which are great fun. I've made tons of friends and been to social events from my school days at wind band (and their camps, but don't want to hear any jokes!!).

NotAnotherPackedLunchBox · 22/07/2014 22:52

French horn would be lovely. Are all her big teeth through?

steppemum · 22/07/2014 22:53

brass instrument? Cornet/trumpet? Horn? They can begin those at 7, so she is easily old enough.

vincentaroony · 22/07/2014 23:06

Oboe or bassoon were always in demand when I was in youth orchestra! Harps are incredible if you can afford / have the space.

steppemum · 22/07/2014 23:08

sax?

CheshireSplat · 22/07/2014 23:17

I'd second the oboe. Not obscure, but not as omnipresent as flute , useful for wind band/orchestra and easy to carry.

Sounds pretty awful to start with though!

pootlebug · 22/07/2014 23:21

Why don't you see what appeals to her? She is obviously musical...play her Britten's Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra and see what sounds she is drawn to.

To be fair some instruments won't be achievable by a 7 year old due to size of hands / lung capacity. But it would give her/you some ideas.

Original poster

ottilieeberstark · 22/07/2014 23:26

I think a traditional instrument would be lovely, she is easily persuaded so of it comes to the point where no teachers are available I will talk to her.

NotAnotherPackedLunchBox all of her lateral and central incisors have grown as well as first molars and her bottom canine teeth have grown, still waiting on upper canines and second molars to grow through.

I think brass instruments are lovely so I'm keeping an open mind on them.

We can afford and have the space for a harp I'm just concerned it's too heavy for her to carry and that it's too big. She's quite small for her age! But I love the idea of an oboe or bassoon. I was thinking woodwind and these are perfect. Definitely on the possibilities list.

Saxophone again is a great idea as I know they come with straps so they're not too heavy.

I think the oboe is great and I'll look into how hard it is to start aged eight!

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Original poster

ottilieeberstark · 22/07/2014 23:27

Yes I agree I think strings would be easiest but I know she likes her little plastic recorder! That's a great idea as I don't want to force her into anything.

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NotAnotherPackedLunchBox · 22/07/2014 23:41

If she likes her plastic recorder then it might be worth looking at the recorder more seriously.
Did she watch BBC Young Musician this year? One of the finalists was a recorder player and was very impressive.

Original poster

ottilieeberstark · 23/07/2014 08:22

Unfortunately we were away seeing family abroad, and I will consider the recorder as I saw the pictures of the girl on BBC website.

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BikeRunSki · 23/07/2014 08:25

My initial thought was clarinet, which could later lead to sax, but I'm wondering if 7 is maybe too young for a reed instrument.

SilasGreenback · 23/07/2014 08:32

I have a small 9 year old about to start the harp. It's true that they won't be able to move it themselves but they certainly seem to come smaller than the one we will start with.

The oboe is lovely and same fingering as the descant recorder. Howarth do a junior oboe - great to start on and lasts up until grade 3.

Smo2 · 23/07/2014 08:37

WE tried out some P Bones yesterday, they're fab. She needs her Adult teeth through at the front first, which is a general rule with wind and brass instruments. You can get mini bassoons.

Saxaphones etc are great...but look at what is available near you, you want to get her playing in ensembles...so I'd go for a more conventional orchestral instrument if that is all that is available to you.

However, the main thing is to ask her! I'd take her to a concert and see what grabs her! I don't know where you are, but here we have lots that I can take kids to in the summer xx

Hakluyt · 23/07/2014 08:40

Oboes are always in demand.

I wish, wish wish I had learned the French Horn.

Original poster

ottilieeberstark · 23/07/2014 08:59

I think I agree with the reed thing. Not sure whether she could get the mouthing position right and might break the reeds by biting!

I'll check out different sizes for harps and she what she can manage. I'll go to Howarth when I'm next up in London (two weeks) and take DD with me.

I've heard a few good things about P Bones and I'll ask her about brass French horn etc. We live near Bournemouth area, I'll take her to one of the pier concerts with DSs and other DD.

I heard oboes are always in demand so they are right at the top of the instrument list. Not sure if I've mentioned but DS plays Cornet so he can always help her with brass.

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Primafacie · 23/07/2014 09:37

If you are considering private secondary, I have heard from reputable sources that playing a brass instrument goes a long way towards securing scholarships, especially for girls :o.

Pollaidh · 23/07/2014 09:51

I took mine to my amateur orchestra and she came away convinced she wanted to play the cello - children will fall in love with something.

Clarinets, flutes etc are good for wind orchestras but in a normal orchestra there's only a couple of spaces for each. Brass, especially French Horn, are always in demand; also the weirder woodwind like cor anglais, bassoon. Better to start with clarinet and have sax as an extra, as there are fewer ensemble opportunities for sax. Personally I love the soprano sax sound. You will get through a lot of reeds at the start - single reeds (clarinet, sax) are a lot cheaper than double reeds (obeo etc).

Also consider the noise - violin and obeo are particularly painful to listen to for the first 8 years or so...

NB people don't normally swap between woodwind and brass as I believe it requires different and contradictory mouth muscles. However flautists will have piccolo as an extra, clarinettists often also play some saxes, as well as bass and alto clarinet, etc...

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