garddwr Posted October 13, 2013 Share Posted October 13, 2013 My 8 year old is asking for a third instrument; he has been playing piano and cello for about a year and a half. Both his sisters have three instruments (violin, viola and piano for one, violin, harp and piano for the other) and he wants three too. He wants a wind instrument. Is there something that would be good for this age? My experience is mostly with strings (I played flute for two years in high school, but I don't think he wants to play flute), and I know wind instruments don't have fractional sizes like violins and cellos. We have recorders, penny whistles, and a couple of fifes--should I just teach him to play those for now? Maybe get him an alto recorder? My husband has a trombone, but I'm pretty sure he's too young/small for that. Can young kids learn brass instruments? Aside from arm length issues I wonder about lung capacity. I love the sound of the oboe but hear it is difficult to learn--is there a good beginner instrument that could later lead into playing something like oboe or bassoon? I'm really hoping he would continue to put most of his energy into cello for now, but he has brought this issue up several times recently so I need to come up with something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2bee Posted October 13, 2013 Share Posted October 13, 2013 Is he at all interested in adding the recorder? Its a cute yet charming instrument. (I listen to recorders, I don't play so I have no idea of the skill level involved to play one.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThatHomeschoolDad Posted October 13, 2013 Share Posted October 13, 2013 DW is a middle school band director, and recommends 4th grade (figure about 9ish) to start a band instrument. Sure some start younger, some older. For flute, there are curved head joints to move the keys closer. Clarinet and sax might have an issue with finger spread. Cornets are a bit smaller than trumpets, but no such thing for trombone and tuba (I think). French horn (DD's instrument) is more compact, but heavier, with a very tricky mouthpiece. Best bet is to go to a music store that will let you try several different instruments to see what clicks. Whether you wait until next year is probably a function of your son's physical size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThatHomeschoolDad Posted October 13, 2013 Share Posted October 13, 2013 Is he at all interested in adding the recorder? Its a cute yet charming instrument. (I listen to recorders, I don't play so I have no idea of the skill level involved to play one.) Yeah, I forgot about recorder. We did that. Look for a book/recorder combo called "Recorder Karate." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PinkyandtheBrains. Posted October 13, 2013 Share Posted October 13, 2013 Oboes are small. That said, the double reed is tricky. Starting with very soft reeds helps. *ETA Oboes are hard because of the double reed, however it was my first instrument so I didn't know any different. They do sound dreadful at first :) Oh and the fingerings are very close to flute. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrixieB Posted October 13, 2013 Share Posted October 13, 2013 Soprano recorder might be a good choice. Alto recorder requires bigger hands or longer fingers. Have him try it out at the music store before buying. Recorder could lead to flute or clarinet when he's older, and then to saxophone, oboe, or bassoon at some point. Most brass players are a bit older due to the sizes of some of the instruments, though trumpet might be a possibility. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garddwr Posted October 13, 2013 Author Share Posted October 13, 2013 OK, I will take him to the music store this week and see if he can try some things. If he is OK with recorder we can go that way , I'm not sure he sees recorder as a real instrument. That's why I was wondering if alto recorder would be better as there are so many toy-like soprano recorders around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrixieB Posted October 13, 2013 Share Posted October 13, 2013 OK, I will take him to the music store this week and see if he can try some things. If he is OK with recorder we can go that way , I'm not sure he sees recorder as a real instrument. That's why I was wondering if alto recorder would be better as there are so many toy-like soprano recorders around. Recorder is definitely a real instrument. You may find that plastic recorders (not the toy store kind, though!) sound better than somewhat more expensive wooden recorders. Yamaha had a good reputation a while back when we were shopping for recorders, as did Zen-On. We went with the Zen-On. Definitely play before you buy because sometimes different recorders of exactly the same kind sound different... sort of like trying on a couple of pairs of the exact same jeans, but they all fit differently! My dd took group lessons and worked on her own from Penny Gardner's Nine Note Recorder Method book. Depending on where you live, you may find private teachers. One more thought -- if you or another family member learned to play the alto recorder, your son could play duets with that person. One of the moms in my dd's group class did this with her daughter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted October 13, 2013 Share Posted October 13, 2013 Can young kids learn brass instruments? Aside from arm length issues I wonder about lung capacity. I was playing the cornet, trumpet and horn at 8 years old in my school band. My classmates who was 9 years old played the alto saxophone in the same band. I swam because of asthma so lung capacity was a none issue. I was blowing the harmonica from 6 years old for 1st grade music lessons in school. My boys are asking for woodwind too and we are going to a music store to check out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garddwr Posted October 13, 2013 Author Share Posted October 13, 2013 I was playing the cornet, trumpet and horn at 8 years old in my school band. My classmates who was 9 years old played the alto saxophone in the same band. I swam because of asthma so lung capacity was a none issue. I was blowing the harmonica from 6 years old for 1st grade music lessons in school. My boys are asking for woodwind too and we are going to a music store to check out. Wow, I haven't seen young children playing the trumpet etc., glad to know it is possible. He would probably like that, don't know if my ears want to hear it (my sister played French horn for a time and I remember when she was just getting started it sounded something like a dying elephant). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mergath Posted October 14, 2013 Share Posted October 14, 2013 Wow, I haven't seen young children playing the trumpet etc., glad to know it is possible. He would probably like that, don't know if my ears want to hear it (my sister played French horn for a time and I remember when she was just getting started it sounded something like a dying elephant). It's definitely possible. I was that age when I began playing the clarinet. I don't recall having any problems with the instrument's size, and I was fairly small for my age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandragood1 Posted October 14, 2013 Share Posted October 14, 2013 I attended a magnificent concert a week ago with a 13 year old trumpet soloist. He was amazing. He began playing trumpet at 4 (picked up his older brother's horn). So it is definitely do-able. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maus Posted October 15, 2013 Share Posted October 15, 2013 It's definitely possible. I was that age when I began playing the clarinet. I don't recall having any problems with the instrument's size, and I was fairly small for my age. My son started clarinet last year, when he was nine. He's biggish for his age, though, so you'd have to try one for fit. One thing that helped him was buying a clarinet neck-strap (wish they'd had them when I started) to take the weight of the instrument off his thumb. It's a good beginner instrument for someone interested in saxophone, too. And a small kid who really wanted to do clarinet could start on Eb, though finding a teacher comfortable teaching that would be harder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garddwr Posted October 18, 2013 Author Share Posted October 18, 2013 Thank you for the responses everyone. We talked to the folks at the music store and they recommended recorder, I have some Yamaha recorders and the nine note recorder book. I found Recorder Karate (someone mentioned this) here http://www.recorderdojo.com/ and it looks good. I admit that I picked up cards for oboe and saxophone and French Horn teachers at the music store... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmmetler Posted October 18, 2013 Share Posted October 18, 2013 Do NOT start on Eb clarinet due to small hand size. Eb clarinet is a lot harder to play and play in tune than Bb and is just plain a finicky instrument. And the frequencies are high enough to start with that played with a lack of control and all the squawking and squeaking that comes with a beginner, you really are risking hearing damage. Similarly, don't try Soprano saxophone if hands aren't big enough for an alto yet. As a woodwind specialist who focuses on single reeds, I play all the saxes and clarinets-and even as a pro, the Eb clarinets and Bb saxophones are just plain harder than the Bb clarinets and Eb saxophones. It's not like strings where a smaller instrument is the same instrument, only smaller. It truly is a different instrument, requiring different methods to play and play well. And a given instructor may or may not actually have the experience to know what those differences are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srs Posted October 18, 2013 Share Posted October 18, 2013 Professional oboist here... I started at age 10 on clarinet, switched to oboe one year later, but it would have been okay to start on oboe, my school just wouldn't let me. It will sound dreadful for awhile no matter when you start, but double reeds are fun. The woodwind fingerings are all related to each other, so adding another or switching is not too difficult. Saxophone and oboe are almost identical. I'm glad dmmetler explained about the need to start on the "basic" instrument. All of the woodwinds have an auxiliary instrument you are also expected to learn (oboe has English horn), and they are all harder than the basic one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MusicianMatt Posted October 19, 2013 Share Posted October 19, 2013 Hey I'm in middle school, 8th grade, in band, and I am multi-instrumental. I am going to explain some of the different instruments and if your son can learn them! :) Alto Sax: Good beginner sax instrument, if his hands are too small, definitely wait because when your left hand wraps around the top keys you will hit other noise altering keys. Second smallest of the 4 common saxes Soprano Sax: Highest sax, also the smallest sax. However,playing one is incredibly difficult and the embouchure can actually be painful. The embouchure is very tight and the reed can dig into the lip and get all "pinchy". Also, the soprano is probably not taught in your school band since it is not a common or easy instrument to play. Tenor Sax: Bigger than alto, second lowest sax. Usually taught after alto sax because of lower pitch and harder to play. Need bigger hands Baritone sax: Biggest and lowest sax. Need big hands, carrying the case takes two people and weighs like 50 pounds. Flute: Takes a lot of air to play, only about 70%of blown air goes into the flute. Beginners may feel dizzy playing the flute. Good instrument you can move up to piccolo, or it helps learn how to breathe and stuff like that Piccolo: small flute, MUCH harder than flute, less people play it though. Bb Clarinet: Need somewhat large hands to play you can move on to bass clarinet which is bigger and less people play Trumpet: Sound made by buzzing into a mouthpiece. Buzzing is like giving a raspberry to your mouth piece. Only 3 valves but you can change pitch by lip tension Trombone: Need to buzz into mouth piece and move slide to make notes. Baritone: Mini tuba kind of, and you also must buzz to make noise, as with all brass instruments. Tuba: Lowest instrument in band, buzz into mouthpiece to make noise. Also adjust lip tension as with all brass instrument. Now, those were all good beginner instruments, but the ones I am going to name next are the hardest instruments, but they are VERY rewarding. Oboe: The oboe is a woodwind instrument, the 3rd highest woodwind to play, only to piccolo and flute. Since it is a double reed instrument, (reed is two small reeds tied and stapled together), it is incredibly difficult to play since having to push a lot of air into the instrument. Not very many people play the Oboe, so scholarships are always a possibility. SECOND hardest woodwind to play, THIRD hardest wind instrument to play. Pitched in key of C. WARNING: People have been known to pass out playing oboe because playing it requires so much air the CO2 can build up in the player's lungs and make them pass out. English Horn: A big oboe. Even less people play English horn than oboe. Pitched in key of F. Should begin on oboe and then switch to English horn. Sounds lower than oboe, and the higher tones sound nicer and warmer than the oboe. Oboe and English horn are not for everyone. WARNING: English horn comes with quite a price tag. Bassoon: A double reed instrument. 4 feet tall, with like, 5 thumb keys. Need BIG hands to play bassoon. Unlike the oboe, the bassoon is a very low instrument, in fact, the lowest woodwind, aside from contrabassoon. Dark, rich woody tones. Not many people play bassoon. Hardest woodwind instrument to play. Contrabassoon: Lower than bassoon, plays in bass clef like bassoon. French Horn: French horn is the third highest brass instrument. Played by inserting right hand into the bell. Buzz into the mouthpiece, which unlike most brass mouthpieces, is cone shaped, not a rounded. THE HARDEST instrument to play. Hard because of the overtone series, which is with the same fingering you can play the same notes. the empty position is capable of playing C, E, G, and High D. I would buy a double horn (ask music store employee what the difference between a single horn and double horn.) Not many people play because it is the HARDEST instrument to play. Good for scholarships as well as oboe, English Horn, bassoon, contrabssoon and tuba. Hope I helped with telling you about some band instruments!!! Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garddwr Posted October 21, 2013 Author Share Posted October 21, 2013 Hey I'm in middle school, 8th grade, in band, and I am multi-instrumental. I am going to explain some of the different instruments and if your son can learn them! :) Alto Sax: Good beginner sax instrument, if his hands are too small, definitely wait because when your left hand wraps around the top keys you will hit other noise altering keys. Second smallest of the 4 common saxes Thanks for taking the time to share all this information Matt. I don't have much experience with wind instruments so this is helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MusicianMatt Posted October 27, 2013 Share Posted October 27, 2013 You're welcome, garddwr! If you need any more questions answer, or help with instruments, feel free to post some questions! I'll be happy to help!! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MusicianMatt Posted October 27, 2013 Share Posted October 27, 2013 You're welcome, garddwr! If you need any more questions answer, or help with instruments, feel free to post some questions! I'll be happy to help!! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MusicianMatt Posted October 27, 2013 Share Posted October 27, 2013 You're welcome, garddwr! If you need any more questions answer, or help with instruments, feel free to post some questions! I'll be happy to help!! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MusicianMatt Posted October 27, 2013 Share Posted October 27, 2013 You're welcome, garddwr! If you need any more questions answer, or help with instruments, feel free to post some questions! I'll be happy to help!! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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