Good second instrument for music scholarship?

[Justchanged]

DD is in year 4, and has just passed Grade 4 violin. We're starting to think of applying for a music scholarship for secondary, and they all require a second instrument. Any recommendations on what would be a good one to add - I was thinking of something which has more rarity value, as the violin is so popular. Any opinions on clarinet/oboe/viola etc?

Does your DD play piano? That would be the most useful second instrument, as she already plays an orchestral instrument.

PS violin was my first instrument but I also played recorder, oboe and piano. I'm now Head of Music in a secondary school and the instrument I play day to day is piano.

Dd plays oboe . It is a real technique to make a nice sound and quite pricey in terms of reeds, maintenance and hire/ purchase of instrument. He needs to have front teeth established.

Endangered species instruments:

Viola
Bassoon
Double Bass
Also brass if looking at single sex ed

Thanks! She enjoys most music. She attends a Saturday conservatoire and loves it, though the standard of some of the other violinists is amazing, and I guess there will be a lot Grade 5/6 violinists applying. She has started clarinet in group lessons at school, which she enjoys, so that's the obvious one. However, I heard that there was a surplus of clarinets, so that it may better to have a less popular instrument. The school we are looking at does have jazz ensembles, so maybe clarinet is fine?

Is she interested in learning a brass instrument? Schools are often short of French horn and trombone players. I would say French horn but only if she is keen as it is physically quite a tough instrument to play. Could she have some try-out lessons on different instruments?

Viola would be very easy to switch to from violin, and is more of a scarcity instrument.

Many clarinet players move on to play other (rarer) wind instruments. for jazz groups the saxophone is a good one. Learning the clarinet or sax will teach her about transposing (not needed for oboe) so you learn other musical skills as well as how to play.
Bassoon is the rarest orchestral instrument. dds (state) secondary school were offering free lessons to anyone wishing to learn to play! The main difficulty of a rare instrument is finding a good teacher though.

Hmm.. I've just looked at one of the other schools and they've said they'll consider candidates with less than Grade 5 for Oboe, Bassoon, Trombone, French Horn and Double Bass. Any recommendations for any of those in terms of ease - I don't fancy having a double bass in my living room!

I am going to go a bit different - but I would suggest percussion, especially if going at an all-girls school. Drummers are rare to begin with - and even then they are predominantly boys.

DD1 has recently taken up bassoon alongside her clarinet, and is enjoying it so far (and finding the transition fairly easy).

Double reeds are much in demand whereas clarinets are two a penny , round here at least. Dd plays in 2 ensembles at school. Viola may not be sufficient point of difference on its own.

An other orchestral instrument (including clarinet) would be competing with her violin so from a pragmatic point of view you would have to decide which would take priority. She has to love playing whatever she chooses otherwise the commitments that are part of a music scholarship will become a bind.
Double Bass or percussion would allow her to play in different types of music groups and be useful but rhythm would have to be her forte.

I do think it is worth considering what a music scholarship entails before selecting instruments on that basis (particularly if she actually prefers 'less useful instruments') At secondary school it may pigeon-hole her and prevent her doing as much as she would like of other activities which she may eventually prefer such as drama or sport or other extracurricular.

I would double check what having a Music scholarship really means OP. At the independent schools in my area it means free instrumental lessons plus a small percentage (about 10%) off the main school fees. So if you're expecting a higher percentage off the fees, please check before making this decision.

Was just going to make a very similar point as catslife. Know quite a few reasonable teenage musicians whose parents are forking out for French horns, oboes and bassoons. The instrument costs are eye watering. Horns > £3k; Oboes> £5k and Bassoons are even more. Reasonable instrument cases to transport said French horns and bassoons on the school bus are around £400 apparently plus there is insurance to factor. Also French horns and bassoons are heavy to carry to school along with PE kit and English folders. Try to do some reconnaissance in the school car park if DD/you are thinking double bass as that doesn't normally make the school bus in our neck of the woods .

Also second what bringmejoy says.

A good student instrument isn't that much ! Dd's oboe was about £800 2nd hand and ds' horn around £600 new, both happily survive the school bus. You can hire to start with or buy on hp. If you are currently in the state system you may be able to purchase vat free through school or county music department.

DS is a music scholar. Considering the hours and commitment whatever instruments they play they have to really enjoy them and it has to be a good fit to their natural abilities. I am not sure it's fair to give them "the rare instrument they need" unless they like it. If she likes the violin so much, what if the school asks her to always play bassoon in the orchestra because they don't have one. She will be forever wishing to be with the violins! A boy I know got a scholarship with clarinet and voice.

Is she a good singer?

I was just going to suggest voice. My dd had a music scholarship based on voice and piano. Lots of schools have choirs and want really good singers who can sight read well. But do look into the exact requirements of schools you are considering . Don't push an option unless this is really what your child loves. An All rounder scholarship might be worth considering too, eg one instrument and art or drama or sport etc....

My DC drag tuba, trombones, cello and bari-sax onto the school bus!

Please let your DD choose an instrument she wants to play.

Clarinets do tend to be popular, although there is a shortage in DCs school at present for the Senior Groups.

Thanks for all the responses and point taken! I won't force her to do something she hates. She does enjoy her music and begged to go on a residential music camp last summer. But good point that it would be a shame to be struggling on oboe and watching others play the violin.

We're interested in a scholarship mostly in case it increases her chance of getting into the school. The school is great for music which is a real plus point for us, as I'm not sure she'll continue (or indeed be allowed to ) the Saturday music school beyond year 6. She should hopefully be around Grade V/VI on the violin by 11+ time, but that's not enough on its own for a scholarship as most schools want two instruments. I'll discuss sax/drums/voice with her, and see what she thinks.

Maybe you can use it on its own towards an all rounder scholarship if that exists for you? DSs guitar grade 5 helped him achieve one of those even though we had no music teacher reference to give them and he only really plays rock music. My direction to him about the assessment in sports and guitar was just to relax and treat it as an extension to the interview and forget about it being for scholarship which I think he managed to do.

If the school has one, I'd bet that proficiency in the pipe organ would all but guarantee a music scholarship.