If you had an 8 year old girl who wanted to take up a musical instrument which of these would you chose?

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DD can start music lessons at school next year.
I know nothing about playing an instrument and wish to avoid the all round grimness that was my DS1's five years of misery at the piano.

I have told DD that I want to know what she would like to learn as, if she is invested then I can say 'be quiet, you chose the bloody thing'

Are any of these better than the others

Saxaphone
electric guitar
drums

All are offered and I can afford and have room for any of them. I just wondered if any are really bad ideas?

I Agree with frakked, 8 is too young for sax and if her school are offering it they are being irresponsible.

Do the school not offer anything like flute (not clarinet, same issues) or other acoustic instruments. I'm wondering if maybe they are following the Rockschool syllabus?

The guitar, either acoustic or electric.

Its a much more 'social' instrument I think in that you can use it to strum along whilst people (friends/children/party guests etc) sing.

Its also nice for people to listen to ie. can be relaxing and is possible to play at a quieter volume.

Saying all that,I have a sneaking suspicion that DS has aspirations to become a drummer . Time for DP to convert and, more importantly, soundproof the outbuildings I think

What about starting with the good old recorder it is relatively cheap to start, often there are group lessons, it is easy to make a pretty sound and you quickly learn to read music with it. Not only can the recorder be a great instrument, but skills are useful for any woodwind or brass instrument in the future.
It's easy and light to carry to and from school doesn't take up much room at home.

island

yes, they offer pretty much every instrument. As I said - I am asking about the ones in which she has expressed an interest

Fair enough, it is just not that usual for those instruments to be offered quite so young

My dh took dd to a music school and they let her try out loads of instruments. She made a great sound out of some; others just weren't right. I think it's worth your dd having a prolonged 'go' at each.

I am not sure how many of the younger girls take them up - most girls I see in the morning have a flute case of violin. I have been looking out for some hassled parent pulling a drum kit through the prep reception but so far ...nah

My daughter did drums for a few years, enjoyed it but frankly learned very little. Took up the cello when she was nine, and then there was no stopping her. Had to campaign a bit to get the school to bring the lessons in - she picked the cello after hearing someone play it at the music centre.

Son started with violin, and it has been a struggle to get him to practice. Recently took up the piano, and absolutely loves it. I never have to ask him to practice. But he continues with violin because he likes playing in the area orchestra.

So my advice would be:-

1. Different kids will suit different instruments.

1. Bear in mind stuff like - can you face tramping to school laden down with a heavy guitar - violins/flutes much more portable.

1. String instruments are great, because there is usually an orchestra to join after a few years. These can be great socially.

1. Finally, sort out what your objectives are - do you want them just to be able to read music, or express themselves musically etc. Things go wrong when parents become obsessed with their child becoming proficient at one instrument. If it really isn't working out with, say the piano, the time spent practising won't be lost if they switched to guitar. Its meant to be fun.

At least you know the procedure for getting lessons pag. No-one has informed us how you go about getting lessons, I assumed that once your child was old enough you would get a letter saying what is on offer and how much.

But no, you are supposed ot know that you contact the Director of Music at the Senior Schoolto request lessons on a particular instrument (and how do you know what is available?)

We decided to teach her ourselves.

Do you have access to a Wii? Allowing her to play rock band might be a way to look at whether she would prefer guitar or drums. It's not really like playing the instruments but lets them try out some music they might learn to play. Sax doesn't sound such a good idea.

As for hating piano - keyboards are more fashionable and might be more appealing. Violin is sociable but has been described as the hardest on a parents ears!

Acoustic guitars aren't heavy, only electric ones

Be careful about headphone based instruments,great temptation to turn it up to 11. Tinnitus in later life is BAD.

My DD is a tall (135cm) but slender eight year old. She wanted to learn sax but it was much too big and heavy for her. She stated on clairnet with a view to switching to sax when she is bigger.

I wouldn't got for drums partly because I couldn't stand the noise but also in any orcehstra, wind band etc there will be a samll percussion section and a lot of competition to be in it as drums are so popular.

We also found with DS now 14 guitar groups were few and far between when he was small. He does play bass in a band now though...

You can get sax mutes. Either one that deadens the noise for practising, or electric ones that you listen to through headphones.

Do you know what it is about those instruments that appeals to your DD?

I'd suggest saxophone but after having first learnt the clarinet; it is possible to have lessons on a C clarinet (produced to facilitate younger players being able to play in music groups with friends who play flute/violin the other popular primary instruments tuned to C) and later transfer to a Bb one. The advantage of the clarinet over and above the saxophone is that the clarinet is an orchestral instrument but also needed in jazz/swing/concert/marching and show bands. The clarinet may lead to opportunities to play classical music in a classical orchestra for which saxophones often end up doubling the cello part.

Clearly I'm biased; I learnt the clarinet aged 9 and picked up the tenor sax aged 14. The clarinet is considered (by clarinettists) to be technically more demanding than the saxophone which is one reason why lots of places offer the sax at a slightly older age or once a child has spent some time learning the clarinet.

That said, the sax is much easier to play and it's easy to get a reasonable sound from it fairly early on.

In time to come I'd love it if my DDs chose the trombone, trumpet or double bass (they fit my ideal of versatile, not considered girly and sound fab in jazz). I imagine they'll want to play the flute or violin just to annoy me.