PP - So when you blow into a flute, do you get a nice sound right away, or is it like clarinet where it squeaks a lot and takes a while to get the sound right?

I played a bunch of instruments - violin was primary, but also piano, clarinet and flute along with some other dabbling. Favorite was piano, but that's not a band instrument. Of the band instruments, I found flute easiest. With any, you have to learn the fingering. But I found the blowing of the flute easiest. It's kind of like blowing into a glass soda bottle to gat sound, which was something all kids were good at back then.

Violin hands down was the hardest, I've heard that harp is the most difficult of all.

Oh, and I might have liked flute a lot because of the instrumental in "Billy don't be a hero". Now I've totally dated myself.

Anonymous wrote:I played the violin, trumpet, French horn and oboe growing up. The trumpet was the easiest by far.

I'm not sure trumpet is good if you can't sing on key though.

Anonymous wrote:I wasn't particularly musical as a child (piano lessons, got bored like your daughter) but I did quite well with the clarinet. I didn't think it was hard to play, so I would encourage that over flute. At least at that age (I was in fifth grade when I started), it seemed like the flute was harder. More girly though, if that matters!

Agree. For our musically-challenged children, son did percussion. Band teacher said hands down, "clarinet" for similarly challenged daughter.

I wasn't particularly musical as a child (piano lessons, got bored like your daughter) but I did quite well with the clarinet. I didn't think it was hard to play, so I would encourage that over flute. At least at that age (I was in fifth grade when I started), it seemed like the flute was harder. More girly though, if that matters!

Anonymous wrote:OP here - Thanks for the replies. So, is the flute sort of like the recorder -- basically blowing and remembering which finger corresponds to which note? Or is the blowing part more complicated?

My brother played clarinet as a kid - and I remember it being really hard for him to play without squeaking and he gave it up in less than a year. I would guess oboe would be similar to clarinet. Are the woodwind instruments difficult to blow into to get a nice sound?

It seems that the brass instruments would be harder if you have to make different notes with the same finger position. So I think those are out.

And definitely no percussion...unless she miraculously develops rhythm.

Flute is similar to the recorder, but the fingerings are more complicated and you blow across the opening instead of into it (like blowing across a glass bottle to make a sound). Oboe is hard because of the reeds and most band directors won't let a beginner start on it. Clarinet and flute have different aspects that make them challenging, but I'd put them on par with each other. Will they have a demo night before they have to pick - a lot of teachers do that. If so, just have her try both and see which is initially easier. Also, a PP is right that saxophone is pretty easy too - definitely easier than clarinet, though it'll be a lot more annoying to you to hear her practice cause it's quite a bit louder!! The main thing to remember, is that nothing is "easy" to pick up and play. She won't sound good at first, and that's fine. It's takes work, but that's the beauty of learning an instrument.

When I was growing up I remember an inordinate number of beauty pageant contestants played the sax for the "talent" portion. I always understood that was because it is easiest. Seriously, don't underrated your daughter. Have her play the instrument she is most attracted to.

OP here - Thanks for the replies. So, is the flute sort of like the recorder -- basically blowing and remembering which finger corresponds to which note? Or is the blowing part more complicated?

My brother played clarinet as a kid - and I remember it being really hard for him to play without squeaking and he gave it up in less than a year. I would guess oboe would be similar to clarinet. Are the woodwind instruments difficult to blow into to get a nice sound?

It seems that the brass instruments would be harder if you have to make different notes with the same finger position. So I think those are out.

And definitely no percussion...unless she miraculously develops rhythm.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Easiest musical intrument to learn and the only one I know how to play is the radio

Seriously, I was having this discussion with my sister (who can play like 5 instruments) about my own kids learning how to play at least something suggested the brass instruments - trumpet, tuba, french horn, ect. Three valves to remember.

Yes, but she said her child couldn't carry a tune and for brass instruments you need to be able to hear pitch BECAUSE you only have 3 valves. In the woodwinds if you get the right fingers down the note will generally come out. Not the case for brass.

Just so you know, I'm a professional musician with a music ed degree.

Not a professional musician but a french horn player here (who went to undergrad on a music scholarship) ... and this comment is right on. I remember singing through plenty of exercises and solo pieces with my teacher before ever trying to play something and as a technique to work out hard parts, so the tune would be in my ear and I could play it properly on the instrument. And to give you a sense of how well-tuned your ear and embouchure need to be, on an F horn (which a typical student will start on) the C, D and E above middle C are all the same fingering, so you are just varying the speed with which your lips vibrate to hit the right note.

Thinking of band instruments, since the child is interested in playing in band, woodwinds extend to saxaphones as well flute, clarinet, oboe ... or there's drums. I know rhythm might be a problem too, but worth considering.

Anonymous wrote:Easiest musical intrument to learn and the only one I know how to play is the radio

Seriously, I was having this discussion with my sister (who can play like 5 instruments) about my own kids learning how to play at least something suggested the brass instruments - trumpet, tuba, french horn, ect. Three valves to remember.

Yes, but she said her child couldn't carry a tune and for brass instruments you need to be able to hear pitch BECAUSE you only have 3 valves. In the woodwinds if you get the right fingers down the note will generally come out. Not the case for brass.

Just so you know, I'm a professional musician with a music ed degree.

Easiest musical intrument to learn and the only one I know how to play is the radio

Seriously, I was having this discussion with my sister (who can play like 5 instruments) about my own kids learning how to play at least something suggested the brass instruments - trumpet, tuba, french horn, ect. Three valves to remember.

I played the violin, trumpet, French horn and oboe growing up. The trumpet was the easiest by far.

I took flute and piano growing up - I actually thought piano was easier. Maybe it was something about my technique, but it took me ages to get used to the finger movements, even after I was used to moving both hands independently with the piano. Maybe Clarinet or trumpet would be easier because it's not off to the side?

I would say the "easiest" instruments (though they all take work!) are flute, clarinet, or trumpet. A good band director should be able to steer her in the right direction. Since you said she doesn't have a great ear for singing in tune, it would probably be better to go with a woodwind instrument (flute or clarinet) since basically if she can get the right keys down and use a little air she'll be able to get something out.

DD tried learning violin and piano when she was younger....and after over a year lost interest. I don't think she has too much natural musical ability (eg., she has trouble clapping on the beat, sings out of tune, but doesn't even realize it).

Now she is ten and wants to learn a band instrument (this is the year they start band in school). I'd like to set her up for as much success as possible, so I want to make sure I guide her to one of the easier instruments, but I never played in band myself.

She mentioned wanting to try the flute. Is this one of the easier ones? Anyone with personal experience with the band instruments who can advise me? Thanks!