There is no golden rule in deciding which instrument to go for, but the following may help:
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The student must show an interest in the chosen instrument.
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Consider whether your chosen instrument will offer opportunities to play music with other people or not. Students who learn instruments such asviolin, cello, flute, saxophone, clarinet, trumpet, cornet, and trombone will soon be able to play in music groups with others (usually within 12 to 18 months). This can open up all sorts of exciting possibilities, such as being able to take part in concerts with school or Music for Life music groups, and possibly one day even taking part in one of the many band tours that so many schools arrange. Playing music this way is a great way to meet people and make lifelong friends! These same opportunities can be available for guitarists – for example, Music for Life runs a large guitar ensemble which meets once every month, and many High Schools have several rock and pop bands - but opportunities are generally fewer. The same is true for drummers for the simple reason that most bands only need one drummer. Both keyboard and piano are generally considered to be solo instruments and although there can be occasional opportunities for these instruments to play in a group, they are few and far between. However, piano and keyboard are usually found to be more enjoyable to play on their own than instruments such as violin and clarinet, which are primarily designed to be played alongside other instruments. This can make home practice and performing to family and friends at home more enjoyable.
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The student needs to be old enough to learn successfully. Starting too early can be very discouraging. It is much better to wait until they are physically and intellectually able to cope with the demands of learning an instrument.As a rule, children aged around 6-8 years of age will usually find violin, keyboard or piano suitable. These instruments provide an excellent introduction to music. Many families may already have access to a piano or a keyboard and violins are relatively cheap instruments to buy or rent and have the huge bonus that, within 12 months or so, children can be making music with others in a group. Other instruments, such as guitar, may be started at around 8 years of age and children can start on wind instruments such as trumpet, trombone, saxophone, flute, clarinetwhen they are big enough to hold them comfortably and - this is important - their second set of front teeth are through! This is usually at around 8 or 9 years of age.
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Find out from school which instruments are currently being taught there. We may not be able to arrange lessons on other instruments right away, but will do our very best to do so should there be demand (usually six pupils or more).
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If this is still not enough, talk to other pupils or parents, go to a music shop to try an instrument out (don’t ever be put off because you can’t get a good sound first time!) or come along to one of our summer workshops where there will be the opportunity to try out instruments and to listen to MfL musicians in concert. Dates will be in our summer letter, which is distributed to every school we work in partnership with.
Music for Life - www.musicforlife.org.uk - Postal Address: PO Box 2071, Wrexham, LL12 9EZ
Telephone: 01978 761162 - email: admin@musicforlife.org.uk
Music for Life is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee.
Registered Office: 23, West Farm Court, Broom Park, Durham, DH7 7RN.
Registered in England and Wales Number 3548287
