Our ES band director also told the parents early on that if the kid could get it to make a noise - ANY kind of noise - that they would be much more successful learning that instrument than if they can't get it to make a noise at all. This is when they are testing out the instruments before they had a clue as to what they are doing. Good thing my kiddo didn't get his first choice - a flute. He's a masterful trumpet player now and really, really enjoys the music. But he couldn't get the flute to crank out anything way back when, so the band director gave his second choice a try and he was off.

Anonymous wrote: If he is not musically talented then forcing tutors on him will make for one miserable kid.

Thank you - this was exactly what I was thinking. My mother was forced to take piano and hated every damn minute of it. She never forced anything on me - and I stuck with music all the way through college as a fun activity.

The nice thing about elementary band is they generally let you try out instruments, decide for yourself which one might be of interest long term, slow introduction. If you like it, great - if not, hey, moving on.

+1. I think anyone who has ever participated, of his/ her own volition, in band would whole heartedly agree with you. I am appalled at the venom being spewed on this thread. Why the bitterness? Slippery slope? Really? Give the kid a break. If he is not musically talented then forcing tutors on him will make for one miserable kid.

Anonymous wrote:


In your world, what works for you must work for everyone else? One "dumb" size fits all? I guess the next thing you will announce is your excrement doesn't stink...ever?

You are on something.

I am getting this impression from some posters on this board that somehow the music education program at the elementary school level isn't good enough for their kids. If that is the case, why don't you just have them take private lessons instead of slum it at the school with the rest of the riff-raff?

Look, my only point was that one doesn't automatically need to have supplemental music lessons when they are just getting used to an instrument. If a child wants to take their music education on a particular instrument further, by all means, look into extra lessons and time.

Let the kid try it first, rent the instrument and do the music lessons at school. Encourage them to practice for a given time per week. They'll know soon enough if they have a talent in this area or not.

I agree with the advice above. I just don't understand the rush to private lessons or tutors or whatever for every little thing. Let the kid start, practice on their own and then let them decide how far they want to take things. Private lessons are really unnecessary at the elementary level.

I played flute for YEARS, but always wished I'd taken up saxophone, too. I would occasionally play a little on a friend's instrument and truly enjoyed it. I never could get a trumpet or trombone to play correctly, though. In college, I took a class with different wooden recorders and that was sooo much fun - we did a couple songs at a special concert every semester.

I love music, but I never took any private lessons. Ever.

In your world, what works for you must work for everyone else? One "dumb" size fits all? I guess the next thing you will announce is your excrement doesn't stink...ever?

OP here. Thanks for the great advice. I never took band, and we haven't heard from the school, so I had no idea where to start. What you are saying makes a lot do sense.

I am a musician/teacher, and female. Though my degrees had a choral/voice focus, in undergrad we had to take everything. I say let them check it out at school, and see what they think. I was a brass person in grade school, I played the french horn. I had a much easier time with brass, than on the clarinet, or any other instruments with reeds. I hated the feeling of the wooden reeds on my mouth. There is definitely some peer pressure in some cases, but I would encourage you to tell your child to try out the instruments, and see what feels right, rather than just going with others.

Back in the 80's when I was in school the boys played the brass, tenor and bass saxophones and percussion and the girls played woodwinds and alto sax if she is "cool". Part of this had to do with the weight of the instruments since it was a marching band. Also woodwinds required less air and were deemed girly. And spit valves on the brass instruments were just yucky! The macho boys loved horns because they were loud and could be heard from the highest bleachers. I am not sure how it is these more enlightened days but you should check if you are worried about stereotypes.

I agree with the advice above. I just don't understand the rush to private lessons or tutors or whatever for every little thing. Let the kid start, practice on their own and then let them decide how far they want to take things. Private lessons are really unnecessary at the elementary level.

I played flute for YEARS, but always wished I'd taken up saxophone, too. I would occasionally play a little on a friend's instrument and truly enjoyed it. I never could get a trumpet or trombone to play correctly, though. In college, I took a class with different wooden recorders and that was sooo much fun - we did a couple songs at a special concert every semester.

I love music, but I never took any private lessons. Ever.

Let him pick what he wants. Has he expressed an interest in a particular instrument? Does your school let them try the various instruments out? I remember when I started in band, the school let us try them all and told us if one wouldn't work well for us. I desperately wanted flute, but couldn't actually get it to make any sound, so I chose a different instrument and was glad I did.

As for private lessons, check the flute thread from today for various opinions. I'm the music major poster who says wait and see how he likes it or if he asks. If he wants to be really good, he'll eventually need private lessons, but you don't need to do it right away.

The key is exposure to music and learning to love it (or at least like it).

My DC (rising 5th grader) is planning to start Band this year. Any suggestions about instruments that work well for boys who have never played an instrument before (or instruments to avoid)? Also, (1) Is better to to rent the first year, or buy; and (2) should we try to supplement with private lessons the first year? Please share your thoughts and experiences.