piano or flute? Advice please!

[mumeuro]

Hello and thanks in advance for your help with my question:

My dd is just finishing yr 3 and took piano lessons in yr 2 (she didn't in yr 3 for various reasons). In yr 4 she would like to go back to instrument lessons but I am not sure if to choose piano to get a really good grounding in it (and her school music teacher has advised her not to give it up - I could help her at home with it). The alternative is to choose a new instrument, probably the flute, as this would enable her to play in an orchestra later if she is good enough, which she couldn't do with the piano.

She herself would be happy with either...Not possible to do both instruments as she won't have the time and we won't have the money!

Thanksx

Children tend to progress very rapidly with wind instruments like the flute and the clarinet, which in turn increases the enthusiasm. From friends, I know that the flute is very much in demand in some orchestras, but equally there are only 3 places. The sooner she takes it up, the more likely she will get a place. Orchestras can be quite fun, and a flute can also play in a wind band - which often has really fun and lively music.

There are lots of teach yourself piano books, and maybe that is something you could do together to keep her hand in so to speak.

Hope that helps.

hi OMG, yes it does help and it reinforces what I was thinking myself. I really like the orchestra idea, I do think the piano is a bit solitary! Thanks!

have you actually got a piano at home for her to practise on? if not, flutes take up a lot less space...

My DD2 started piano lessons in Y2 & did quite well to begin with until it got more complicated (chords ) & she just got stuck. After a break from that she started flute, probably in Y3, loved it & went all the way up to Grade 7. As well as orchestral groups, & woodwind, there are flute groups too where different abilities can play together. It's a lovely instrument.

The only thing with flutes & very small children is the length of the thing. You can get outfits with a curved head as well as a straight one, which makes it mush easier for short arms.

Hi Ponders, yes we do have a piano and DD enjoys playing by herself and trying to master the pieces in the book she got in yr2. I do like the flute, it suits her personality, light and playful, and where we live there are flute groups as well as traditional orchestras. Thanks for the tip about flute length, I hadn't thought of that!

Orchestra instruments all the way for me. My Dcs have had so much fun playing in groups at school and County Music Service. Our junior school orchestra takes everyone after around the first year of playing (can lead to odd inclusive groups some years) and the secondary school has lots of wind bands, orchestra, special groups etc. Also our local Music Service has some very good (free!) groups which you can start pre-Grade 1.

Whose idea was the flute? If it was your DDs has she had the opportunity to try one before she decides? It may not be the right orchestral instrument fo her.

On the other hand Piano is a fantastic grounding and gives a really solid base to learn other instruments later on, if they have the motivation. Two of them do learn the piano as well, DS1 took it up later on and DS2 started with it.

PLP it was both of our ideas really, she has tried it on a taster day at school and has asked to take it up...if we do go for the flute option she will still practise piano at home with me as I understand how important it is to keep it going...There is another taster day at the beg. of September where she can try it again to make sure..I do want to get this right for her!

yes, they do recorders at school already and she enjoys that. It's just my feeling that the flute would suit her, and we went to an all flute music concert a couple of months ago that really inspired her. Also I'm not sure if her school offers clarinet or oboe lessons, I'll have to check...

That's great she can try it first.

I tried very hard to get DS2 to play the trumpet last summer. This was really against my better judgement as I know very well that the 'instrument chooses the child' BUT DS1 learnt it until Grade 5, then he changed to trombone as it suited him better. So we had his trumpet at home still. DS2 wanted to learn a brass instrument and we tried him on the trumpet but to no avail, I ended up hiring a second trombone!

Yes I don't like the clarinet myself and DD is not attracted to it, so I don't think we'll pursue that option really! The real decision here is between starting the flute in yr 4 or going back to "formal" piano lessons (not just me helping her at home)

As your dd has already learned piano for a while, then she will be able to read music and this will mean that progress may be quite fast on another instrument such as the flute. Some of the notes have fairly similar fingerings to the recorder but the embouchure (position of mouth and lips needed to form a note) is very different to the recorder. Some woodwind teachers carry out trials where dcs try out various instruments to see which ones would suit them best before starting lessons.
A possible alternative to the flute which you may wish to consider is the saxophone. In dds wind-band there are lots of flute and clarinet players and they are now considering holding auditions for new players. They are however short of saxophone and oboe players though in the woodwind section.

DD (12) played alto saxophone from Y5 when she was nearly nine and a half. Her friends didn't have a big enough hand span at that age. She isn't allowed in the local Youth Orchestra with it as it isn't a 'proper' orchestra instrument, but she does play in the Youth Concert Band.

At secondary the majority of the flute and clarinet players play sax as a second instrument.

(DD has recently added baritone sax, don't do it)

Friends' DD played oboe from Y4, its difficult to get going on and v expensive for reeds, but she is much in demand. (She also play alto sax as well now)

My dh teaches woodwind and often talks about there being an appropriate shape of mouth and lips and the fact that it may not be suitable for all people. Bearing this in mind I would ask a specialist tutor to help you in your decision. Also, if your child turns out to be musical and wishes to study it at length later on, a piano is more useful. There are also many woodwind players and unless it is a less popular choice such as oboe, bassoon, cor anglais etc, competition is high for places in orchestras. It can seem easy to play some tunes after a relatively short space of time however, good intonation and breathing techniques take just as long to conquer as the associated issues on other instruments.

wow thanks for such considered and helpful replies! This is clearly not a as simple a decision as I thought, I will have another chat with her school music teacher.
thanks again!

I don't play anything but my dd was advised against the flute as she is likely to need orthodontic work over the next few years. Maybe not a problem for you but I thought I would mention it.

Let us know what you decided and how she gets on!

mine did have orthodontic work, including fixed braces - she had to work at adjusting her embouchure but managed it

(she also had quite bad asthma as a child, & playing flute increased her peak flow readings massively!)

thanks, will do!