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Learning an Instrument

Practical advice on commonly-chosen instruments
 

You can tell if it's suitable for your child if they get some positive enjoyment out of it, pick it up of their own accord, find some new way of playing around with it, so they're not just practising in a rote fashion but actually wanting to make music with it.

Liz Wilhide, Parent

Choosing the right instrument for your child needn't be a nightmare. Most children will begin on one of a handful of instruments: piano, recorder, violin or cello.

You'll want to make sure they are comfortable with it. Some instruments are better for younger players. The recorder, for instance, is easy to handle. Some stringed instruments are available in smaller versions for beginners. Whereas anything involving breathing, like brass and woodwind, should wait until they have the strength to blow and their second set of teeth have appeared. Every instrument is different.

• Take your children to hear live music to find out about different instruments. Encourage them to think about the genres that interest them - rock, classical or jazz?
  
• Try before you buy - an instrument can be costly
  
• Think about where your child will fit in. For example, there are often more clarinet and flute pupils than there are groups for them to play in, while bassoonists and oboists are more scarce, and so might enjoy more opportunities. Bass players are also rarely short of a gig, unlike their guitar-playing counterparts.
  
• If your child finds it difficult at first, encourage them to persevere, the rewards are worth it
  
• Some instruments, like recorder or piano, are best for beginners and some string instruments may be available in special small sizes
  
• Some, especially brass or woodwind, are more suited for older children
  
• Think about practical considerations: will the noise disturb the neighbours, is it too big too lug around, have you got room for your child to practise?
  

Illustration of a saxopohone

Illustration of a guitar
 

Trumpet & Brass
Neville Young and daughter Lottie

Drums & Percussion
Matilda Atie and son Wilson

Guitar & Strings
Russell Benjamin and son Jason and grandmother Frances Goldhill

Piano & Keyboards
Dipti Shah and daughter Sheena

Saxophone & Woodwind
Mary Brown and daughter Louise

Cello & Strings
Pat Hanna and daughter Tyler

Singing
Rita McHugh and daughter Melanie

Clarinet & Woodwind
Liz Wilhide and son Tom