What Instrument Should Johnny Play?
So you think that Johnny should play an instrument? Is he old enough? Is he ready? How do we choose which instrument? What about lessons? How much is this going to cost me? (That’s Dad’s input.) Fear not. It’s not as ominous as it might seem. All children benefit from musical instruction of some kind, whether it be singing or playing an instrument. Young children’s brains continue to develop at an amazing pace, and the acquisition of musical skills will serve them well in years to come. Music trains the way the brain thinks. Most trained musicians are successful in their chosen careers whether it be music or engineering.
Children should start lessons around the time they first learn to read. Fine motor skills are beginning to develop, and reading skills are an advantage in learning an instrument. The size of the instrument should be considered. A four-year-old shouldn’t undertake a string bass. Another consideration is the attention span of the child. Is he able to sit for at least a half hour in age-appropriate concentrated focus on a subject? If not, let it wait a while—there’s really no rush if he is not ready.
Learning to play an instrument is a crucial part of a child’s growing years. Learning any instrument reinforces self discipline, artistry and general music appreciation in every child. There’s no rhyme or reason to the first instrument, just go with what your child thinks he would like to play.
The piano is the instrument that most families first consider when it comes to the choice of Johnny’s first instrument. Children as young as four years old are able to begin lessons. As a member of both the percussion and string families, it uses principles of rhythm and harmonics, which are easily accessible to a youngster. As the child’s hands and motor skills grow, a wider repertoire is available at the student’s level. My son Joseph started on the piano and is a wonderful pianist to this day, now venturing into the world of music composition. There are, however, many options when considering an instrument of this size and stature. Do you already own a piano, or is there space in your home for a new piece of furniture? Has the instrument been tuned lately? Piano rental is an expensive option. Another option is a digital piano; however, most piano aficionados will frown on that option. The sound of a digital instrument is not the same, nor is the feel of the instrument like a piano with actual strings and hammers. If you’re considering purchasing a piano, your family should carefully consider the financial investment. Acquiring a piano is a major concern. Make sure that any upright or spinet piano faces an inside wall of the house. Changing weather conditions can make the strings go out of tune more quickly. Piano is considered a solo instrument for the most part, and is not considered an instrument of the orchestra. Ensemble playing is an important aspect of any musician, so if you can find a teacher who emphasizes playing duets in the studio, it will help with playing in an ensemble structure.
My first instrument was the guitar, and I still play and teach it to this day. My parents gave it to me as an instrument that I could take to the beach—it has great versatility! Little did they know I would go the classical guitar route. The guitar is a great first instrument. You can easily find beginner instruments that are built smaller for younger students. Usually you can get a good deal on a used guitar. You can string and tune it yourself. Guitar can be used as a harmonic instrument with elements of percussion. It is the standard for most contemporary music, and fairly easy to learn. It helps with motor skills and trains the ear to tune. I always have my students tune their guitars by ear to build aural skills, but you can also purchase inexpensive electronic tuners. There are many types and styles of guitars: steel or nylon string, acoustic or electric. My recommendation is to start with a basic nylon string guitar (easier on beginning fingers) that fits the size of your child. Your local music store can help you with the correct sizing. Guitar can be taught in many different styles. Another option is tablature, which actually shows a miniature graph of the fingerboard, but I don’t believe that this is a good building block for other instruments in the future. The student should be able to read notes on a staff as well as chord charts. From there, if Johnny wants to study a different instrument in the future, all the building blocks are in place. Guitar can be played either as a solo instrument or in an ensemble. Often there are several guitars in a praise band, and I enjoy playing with a classical guitar ensemble in my studio. Both are suited to ensemble playing, in which several different musicians work together toward a common goal.
Orchestral or band instruments are always great instruments on which to start. Usually they can be rented for a nominal fee (which can also be easily returned if Johnny decides it’s not the instrument for him) and many are well-suited to smaller fingers. Basically, these instruments are divided into four main categories: strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. There are many instruments in each category, but I’ll just focus on those that are good beginning instruments for the young musician.
Strings are associated with orchestral instruments and are great beginner instruments, primarily because they require a good ear in tuning. This skill can be mastered in time by almost any student. Many of our students start on the violin which is the foremost soprano (or highest) string instrument in this family. Children as young as four years old can start on a half-size instrument and begin making music immediately. The violin is placed under and held with the chin, while the bow uses horse hairs to vibrate the strings. Although there are some “scratchy” first sounds, it doesn’t take long to acquire a beautiful tone. The cello is my favorite instrument, with its rich harmonies and easy accessibility. Although it’s a bit larger, its lower overtones are a beautiful way to begin making sound. Because of its larger size, it is placed on the ground between the legs of the musician, and the bow is stroked in the same manner as the violin. I would recommend this for a child ten years or older because of the larger size. The viola and bass round out the string section; however, they are much harder to attempt as a first instrument primarily because of their large sizes.
Great woodwind instruments would be the flute, clarinet, or saxophone. These instruments require adequate breath control (much like a singer’s) and a certain placement of the lips or embrasure to play the instruments effectively. The flute has a lovely tone and is easy on parental ears as a first instrument. (As a parent, I realize that has to be a consideration, as the tones echo through the household!) The clarinet and saxophone are a little tricky to maneuver. They require negotiating a reed that is vibrated in the mouthpiece and can let out a few good squeaks before the embrasure is figured out. But once that is accomplished, the tone of the clarinet is beautiful! Oboe and bassoon are also good woodwind instruments but, again, should be reserved for more advanced musicians, primarily because of the greater wind power and tricky embrasures involved in playing them.
Brass instruments are foremost in any band, and are also in many symphonies too. My husband started with the trumpet in school and continued all the way through college with a trumpet scholarship. (Yes, there’s college money to be had if you’re good!) Brass instruments are not retiring by any means. They function by a buzzing of the lips into a mouthpiece, which then vibrates through a series of brass twists and turns until the sound escapes from the bell at the end. Often they are called “horn” instruments. The trumpet (higher) and trombone (lower) are probably the most accessible of this family. They also require a good amount of breath management. French horn and tuba are also in this family of instruments, but not suggested as beginning instruments, primarily because of size and the amount of air needed to play such large instruments.
Finally, we come to the percussion family. Percussion is anything that is struck, banged, or hit. Boys love this family; parents, not so much. Every guy wants a drum set in his room, but every parent prefers to house it in the garage. Most percussionists start with a mere snare drum and practice on a rubber practice pad. Actually, beginning drum lessons are not as musically stimulating as an instrument which actually produces a pitch, but soon you’ll find out those who are born to play drums. They walk around with drumsticks in their back pockets and play on anything solid. Often piano players are placed in the drum or percussion section of an orchestra or band because of their ability to read rhythms so easily. The marimba and xylophone are also laid out in a piano format, so that also lends to an easier transition for a pianist.
Learning to play an instrument is a crucial part of a child’s growing years. Learning any instrument reinforces self discipline, artistry and general music appreciation in every child. There’s no rhyme or reason to the first instrument, just go with what your child thinks he would like to play. Visit www.dsokids.com where you’ll find actual representations of how the instruments sound in concert (not a midi representation)—and lots of other things too. It may help make the decision for you and your child as to what they’d like to play. Have fun finding your special new instrument!