Another question for music teachers

[silverbirch]

any music teachers out there?
If you had a 8yo child who has been learning the piano for a year (is working thro? ?Piano Time 2? atm), who enjoys music and sings in a choir but is not completely passionate about it and has lots of other interests ? who is unlikely to be a gifted musician but works hard at it and will probably be reasonably competent at the enjoying it at home sort of level ? and who wanted to start a second instrument ? would you encourage starting a second instrument now or would you recommend waiting a while?
Thanks, SB

I'm not a music teacher but i would say probably yes. It would depend on how eager said child wanted to do this - and practice

Do you think your child is waning of the piano and would like to try another instrument with the view of replacing it, or just wants to try something different. If so, rent one for a couple of months and give it a go !

Best of luck

Forgot to add, it depends on the instrument. If its Brass (ie Trombone) you normally wait until 12ish. My 4 year old wants to learn this

What instrument is it?

Let him go for it! His piano grounding will give him a springboard start. He'll shine and the resulting confidencence carry him a long way...
Sorry - now for the me me me bit. I have a 9yo son in vaguely similar position - grade 2 piano (private lessons)and loves it. Grade 1 saxophone but enthusiasm waning (partly due to lack of 'spark' with student teacher through school).Really really needs people of similar standard to play alongside which possibly explains his enthusiasm to have a go at the accordion - there are no other groups in the area for young musicians other than an Irish Ceili group! Probably worth the £500 plus lessons I guess.....

you could be describing my ds some years ago now silverbirch. At that point he took up cello (initially for a years taster at school, and then properly). It worked out really well for him and I think he's very glad now that he plays an orchestral instrument as well as piano. Like your child he has lots of other interests, but he's gravitated to music more than I would ever have imagined. Give it a go!

(we just bought dd a cello of her own Snorkle, can I just say that I wish she'd played the flute, I have a bloody flute! )

( MB - there's something very special about having your own instrument)

She's not going to give it up in the forseable future, that is for sure!!!!!!

Dh is a brass teacher - he says "yes". If the child is keen then that's what you need - enthusiasm. He has a number of pupils who don't want to be there, but their parents want them to be there - very hard on teacher & pupil.

deannatroi - you can take up brass instruments when the child's top & bottom adult teeth are through. Dh insists on this - some teachers will take them before this, but dh thinks it is a big no no. My ds1 (9) is learning trombone and has been for about 18 months ..... in an on & off fashion!

Shhhhh - don't tell my son. I'm holding out for 12

Yes, as long as you make it clear to the child that buying an instrument is a big financial commitment and they have to give it a fair go.

It may be that the new instrument is the one that they have more of a flair for. Enthusiasm is worth a lot.

I would encourage him to learn another one IF he will practice.

We started by bribing ours to practice at this age - 10p per practice and if you do 5 you get a quid!

It worked until practice became so much a routine that they did it automatically.

Sounds like your child is doing great on the piano