Help choosing instrument

[Anonymous]

My daughter wants to take up a second instrument. She currently plays piano. When I was a kid we got the chance to try out different instruments in elementary school. We’re in DC public school and they don’t have these programs. She says she wants to play clarinet, but I’m hesitant to invest the time and money without her having the opportunity to try a few different instruments. Any idea of any local music schools have programs that let kids sample different instruments before choosing one?

[Anonymous]

You can buy a recorder and have her see how she manages that and progress to a clarinet. Personally I think clarinets are fantastic instruments with a very pleasing sound. But blowing into a wooden recorder for a few months will definitely test her dedication to wind instruments.

[Anonymous]

What year is your child? My son wanted to play guitar so before I invested a lot of money, we signed him up for FFX County guitar lessons 1x week for a few weeks. It was about $85. He ended up not liking it so I'm glad that we didn't invest a lot. He signed up for strings in school and started out with cello. No payment for lessons bc it was part of school. He is now in band playing trombone and loves it. This is his instrument.

Can you wait until kid gets to band or strings? Or go through parks program? It worked for us and we managed it over time.

[Anonymous]

Try DC Youth Orchestra Program now back n Takoma DC. They often have an open house where kids can try instruments. And if she starts with one instrument there she could probably switch at the end of a semester.

[Anonymous]

Most of the music stores have a 3-month rental program so you're not locked into renting for a full year if it doesn't work out.

Same with lessons taken at a music store-- there's no full-year contract like they have at conservatories so you just pay as you go. Switching teachers wouldn't be a big deal if she tried out one instrument for a month or two and decided she wanted to switch.

She already reads in treble & bass clefs so might have an easier time initially with an instrument that plays in one of those (e.g. flute or cello, not viola).

[Anonymous]

Try Harmonic in DC. They have loads of different options and are really flexible with families/kids as they figure out what type of instrument they want to play.

[Anonymous]

How old is your daughter? My daughter plays piano, violin, viola, guitar, and drums. I play the clarinet and my husband plays the oboe. Learning to blow the clarinet can be a little challenging, the oboe is worse. I would say not to start before age 10 or 11. If your child is younger than that I recommend a string instrument. It’s nice to have piano plus an orchestral instrument. The oboe is always in demand but it’s hard to make it sound good. Clarinet is fairly popular and sort of the nerds choice. There are lots of opportunities for strings so it’s pretty good as a second instrument.

[Anonymous]

OP here. She’s 9. I’ll definitely check out Harmonic and the youth orchestra. She says she doesn’t want to play violin because the chin rest bothers her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. She’s 9. I’ll definitely check out Harmonic and the youth orchestra. She says she doesn’t want to play violin because the chin rest bothers her.

There are soft chin rests. That doesn’t have to be an impediment.

[Anonymous]

My son started trumpet lessons when he was 6, despite everyone saying he was too young. But he was committed because he loved it, even though obviously his progress was slower than that of an older student. If your daughter says she wants to learn clarinet, let her try. If it doesn't work, the only money you are out is the instrument rental fee, which isn't that much.