4th grade musical instrument

[Anonymous]

4th grader has the following instruments to pick from:

Flute, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Trumpet/Cornet, Trombone, Baritone, Percussion, Violin, Viola or Cello.

It seems like it is optional, what happens if kid decides not to pick any musical instrument in 4th grade or does terribly in music class (will that affect MS magnet or anything like presidential award?)

DC did poorly in recorder at 3rd grade and salina is everywhere every single time he blows. He has no music background and can barely read music sheet. Is percussion easier or maybe violin/viola (differences between these 2)?

[Anonymous]

They don't need any musical background as that's the point of the lessons. No one does well at recorder, except a select few. I'd pick percussion. Strings is hard. No it doesn't impact magnet or presidential award as its not graded.

[Anonymous]

Usually they bring in all the instruments and let the kids try them out. Kid picks based on what they are able to make noise with and feel excited about. Don't overthink this, let your child choose. There's zero impact if your kid is not a musical genius. Please them try. It sounds like you have a deep fear of failure that you need to get under control and not pass on to your kid.

[Anonymous]

At our school instrumental music is optional. They can opt out and do a media class instead (library). It's just a chance to try things. Don't do a wind instrument if you had clarinet issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They don't need any musical background as that's the point of the lessons. No one does well at recorder, except a select few. I'd pick percussion. Strings is hard. No it doesn't impact magnet or presidential award as its not graded.

It is graded. It s a class. But it’s not a hard one. If your kid practices, they will do fine. And that is not a class that counts toward magnet admissions so Jo worries there.

[Anonymous]

String instruments are the hardest to learn well. Not very versatile instruments. If he’s a big boy go baritone otherwise forget it. The easiest is in 4th is percussion but eventually that gets harder, whereas other instruments are harder initially and get easier with time. He should be able to keep a beat if he wants to play percussion. He will learn to read music don’t worry about that. If he hated recorder I’d skip clarinet. Flute is not bad to learn, not many males play it. Males have larger lungs can handle bigger instruments. Trumpet is easier to enjoy in the learning phases, trombone sounds like a sick cow for at least a year. Alto sax is a good medium choice, flexibility to later play any type sax. If he’s interested in marching band but hates the idea of marching around then pick percussion and learn to read music- good xylophone players are always needed and they can play in most any kind of band. If he enjoys jazz music pick sax, trumpet or trombone. Percussion is harder to ease into with jazz because there’s usually only one space and the best set player gets it. Saxophone would be easiest for this because there are more in a jazz band, trumpet would be second. If he likes classical music choose flute, clarinet or trumpet. If he just wants to always be able to play in any band choose trumpet or buy him a drum set and let him get good. He should like the way his instrument sounds so I’d start there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:String instruments are the hardest to learn well. Not very versatile instruments. If he’s a big boy go baritone otherwise forget it. The easiest is in 4th is percussion but eventually that gets harder, whereas other instruments are harder initially and get easier with time. He should be able to keep a beat if he wants to play percussion. He will learn to read music don’t worry about that. If he hated recorder I’d skip clarinet. Flute is not bad to learn, not many males play it. Males have larger lungs can handle bigger instruments. Trumpet is easier to enjoy in the learning phases, trombone sounds like a sick cow for at least a year. Alto sax is a good medium choice, flexibility to later play any type sax. If he’s interested in marching band but hates the idea of marching around then pick percussion and learn to read music- good xylophone players are always needed and they can play in most any kind of band. If he enjoys jazz music pick sax, trumpet or trombone. Percussion is harder to ease into with jazz because there’s usually only one space and the best set player gets it. Saxophone would be easiest for this because there are more in a jazz band, trumpet would be second. If he likes classical music choose flute, clarinet or trumpet. If he just wants to always be able to play in any band choose trumpet or buy him a drum set and let him get good. He should like the way his instrument sounds so I’d start there.

Flute actually takes the most air of all instruments, including Tuba. You blow over the flute as opposed to in it….

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:4th grader has the following instruments to pick from:

Flute, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Trumpet/Cornet, Trombone, Baritone, Percussion, Violin, Viola or Cello.

It seems like it is optional, what happens if kid decides not to pick any musical instrument in 4th grade or does terribly in music class (will that affect MS magnet or anything like presidential award?)

DC did poorly in recorder at 3rd grade and salina is everywhere every single time he blows. He has no music background and can barely read music sheet. Is percussion easier or maybe violin/viola (differences between these 2)?

What is the presidential award? I’ve not heard of this…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:String instruments are the hardest to learn well. Not very versatile instruments. If he’s a big boy go baritone otherwise forget it. The easiest is in 4th is percussion but eventually that gets harder, whereas other instruments are harder initially and get easier with time. He should be able to keep a beat if he wants to play percussion. He will learn to read music don’t worry about that. If he hated recorder I’d skip clarinet. Flute is not bad to learn, not many males play it. Males have larger lungs can handle bigger instruments. Trumpet is easier to enjoy in the learning phases, trombone sounds like a sick cow for at least a year. Alto sax is a good medium choice, flexibility to later play any type sax. If he’s interested in marching band but hates the idea of marching around then pick percussion and learn to read music- good xylophone players are always needed and they can play in most any kind of band. If he enjoys jazz music pick sax, trumpet or trombone. Percussion is harder to ease into with jazz because there’s usually only one space and the best set player gets it. Saxophone would be easiest for this because there are more in a jazz band, trumpet would be second. If he likes classical music choose flute, clarinet or trumpet. If he just wants to always be able to play in any band choose trumpet or buy him a drum set and let him get good. He should like the way his instrument sounds so I’d start there.

Flute actually takes the most air of all instruments, including Tuba. You blow over the flute as opposed to in it….

You blow into a flute, the airstream just moves downward rather than forwards or bidirectional. You need more lung stability vs lung capacity.

[Anonymous]

4th Grade instrumental music is worth the investment, IMO. If your child enjoys it, it unlocks a path to instrumental music in High School and/or for life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:String instruments are the hardest to learn well. Not very versatile instruments. If he’s a big boy go baritone otherwise forget it. The easiest is in 4th is percussion but eventually that gets harder, whereas other instruments are harder initially and get easier with time. He should be able to keep a beat if he wants to play percussion. He will learn to read music don’t worry about that. If he hated recorder I’d skip clarinet. Flute is not bad to learn, not many males play it. Males have larger lungs can handle bigger instruments. Trumpet is easier to enjoy in the learning phases, trombone sounds like a sick cow for at least a year. Alto sax is a good medium choice, flexibility to later play any type sax. If he’s interested in marching band but hates the idea of marching around then pick percussion and learn to read music- good xylophone players are always needed and they can play in most any kind of band. If he enjoys jazz music pick sax, trumpet or trombone. Percussion is harder to ease into with jazz because there’s usually only one space and the best set player gets it. Saxophone would be easiest for this because there are more in a jazz band, trumpet would be second. If he likes classical music choose flute, clarinet or trumpet. If he just wants to always be able to play in any band choose trumpet or buy him a drum set and let him get good. He should like the way his instrument sounds so I’d start there.

Lots of the marching bands don’t have mallets nor teach it.

[Anonymous]

Alto Sax, Trombone, Baritone.