I would actually expect that the kids that join your school orchestra are experienced players like him. Our ES all the kids have been playing awhile no one gets in the orchestra just by picking up the instrument for the first time. All can read music. Have you tried talking to the teacher? Ask them what the experience level is for most kids. Tell her your kids experience and ask if they think it would be a good fit.

Anonymous wrote:Wow you have elementary school orchestra? Which suburb? We are in DC and my kid is similar to yours, a violin student, and I don’t think anything like this exists even in middle schools. Or maybe even in high school.

Not OP but our ES in FCPS has a string orchestra and a band starting in 4th grade. All kids have the option to take strings or band class starting in 4th (when it replaces the general music class) but there is also the opportunity for those interested to try out for the extracurricular orchestra and band. This involves practices before or after school and chances to play during special events throughout the year and have a year end recital.

DD was in the same situation. Mine started relatively late, in 4th grade but progressed pretty quickly that she did not want to take beginning orchestra in 6th grade, when most kids starts in middle school in our county. so she took a year of beginning band and learned a new instrument for a year. (It was hectic because my DD also studies piano. She had to drop the new instrument because of time constraints.)

She joined 7th grade orchestra, in hindsight, it was both good and bad. I think she really enjoyed the band experience, even 7th grade orchestra is really easy, the pieces themselves are not challenging her in any way, so she would have been bored if she had taken it in 6th.

The down side was that the kids already formed tight friendships before she joined. my daughter feels a little like an outsider.

Our county offers some opportunities for more advanced musicians, DD was in the all-county orchestra as a concertmaster and doing assessments with a solo piece. Her private teacher spent some time on school pieces before auditions.

So whether your child takes Orchestra or not, it is all about how much efforts he decides to put in. I think you guys will be okay whatever you decide to do.

Not Op, but would say join at 6th grade or middle school with violin, join at 5th for different music instruments only if your kid has time to practice both if want to get serious, and not another string instrument because it may get kid confused about the fingering/sight reading. DCs play both Suzuki violin and piano and the daily practice time is around 2 hours.

Have him play bass or cello for school. Will at least provide a new challenge.

I agree it might be better to wait for middle school when other kids have gained some skill. Maybe try a different instrument just for fun now.

I have four kids that are all in high school and college now. All of them started playing a stringed instrument in 5th grade through the school.

Honestly, I think your son will be bored out of his mind in 5th grade orchestra.

I would have your son wait until middle school and have him join his peers then.

Yes, but he might also find it confidence-building.

This is what is happening to DD. The orchestra itself is boring, but she has friends there and in secondary, there are opportunities for all-state.

Your son could also try another instrument or choir.

Anonymous wrote:DC is similar and joined elementary school orchestra, our private lesson violin teacher didn’t recommend and just like she said DC is learning everything he’s already known, but DC will continue to be with his group of orchestra friends through probably high school, and we don’t have much time to join outside school orchestra neither.

This is pretty infuriating. Private teachers should support the arts rather than undermine them in schools.

In FCPS, orchestra starts in 4th grade and it's very slow for kids who already know how to play. But it's still fun for kids to be in a group and begin to learn how to play in an orchestra. When students are in youth orchestras, they still learn in school orchestras and shouldn't be discouraged by their private teachers.

DC is similar and joined elementary school orchestra, our private lesson violin teacher didn’t recommend and just like she said DC is learning everything he’s already known, but DC will continue to be with his group of orchestra friends through probably high school, and we don’t have much time to join outside school orchestra neither.

I’m OP. We live in a suburb out west now. Our school district has a few nice programs that are funded by our education foundation, although I think orchestra is just funded by the state.

Wow you have elementary school orchestra? Which suburb? We are in DC and my kid is similar to yours, a violin student, and I don’t think anything like this exists even in middle schools. Or maybe even in high school.

Learning to play in a group like the orchestra at school is a fantastic skill, and is different from what he learns in his private lesson.
Any good elementary orchestra teacher will be able to keep all the kids engaged and will be used to letting those with experience be the leaders while the others are still learning.
Definitely no downside!

My kid loves doing school orchestra even though he is much better than most of the other kids. For an instrument like violin, your kid likely won't be the only one who has been taking lessons for a while.

DS is starting Suzuki book 3 in violin. He's been taking private lessons off and on since he was 5. I started him because a friend suggested it might help with his ADHD, and I think it has. He can't join any regional youth orchestra because it conflicts with sports practice. He really likes his violin and often will research and teach himself new songs. Will he be bored out of his mind playing violin in an elementary school orchestra next year (ours starts in 5th grade)? Should I encourage him to stick with the violin, which he loves, or pick up a new instrument to keep it interesting in school? I'm not musical so I have no idea what to expect. For all I know, there are going to be several kids as good or better than him who have also been taking private lessons from a young age. We live in a fairly wealthy suburb if that matters.