10 Tips or pieces of advice about beginning to learn or choosing a musical instrument

I thought I'd share a post here for anyone whose children are thinking about learning an instrument or even YOU, the adult,  are thinking about it. As a music teacher, I have seen the pitfalls over the year of children learning instruments and how parents deal with it and thought I'd put together some tips based on my experience.

1. Go to a concert and watch- is there any instrument you particularly love the sound of? One child fell in love with the sound of an oboe after hearing it in a concert and a girl in my primary school started learning the flute after hearing me play. I heard one of my flute teachers play the flute when I was about 5 and longed to learn the flute. I play a myriad other instruments but the flute remains my true love.

2. If you are worried it might be a short-term fad and don't want to get involved too soon, investigate your child's musical ability by seeing if there are any local music clubs? The music school I went to as a child ran and still runs recorder clubs for all ages and abilities, singing clubs and choirs and since my time, has begun musical clubs for all ages including a musical Kindergarten and music for parents and babies. Here is a link with all the local authority music hubs in the UK.  Local churches or nurseries sometimes hold these. Also, sing together, listen to music, encourage going on music sites such as www.nyphilkids.org or the BBC music sections. A love can be built by gentle exposure.

3. You can sometimes go to music shops to try the desired instrument. My sister tried the bassoon at Footes in London as a teen. Some music shops run a hire scheme too. You can also get special interest free loans for buying instruments too.

4. DON'T buy a violin in Argos, Ebay or random locations. They come without being set up (i.e. on a violin, the strings and the bridge are not on the violin so you can't play it, the staff in the shop will have no idea to set it up and I imagine you wouldn't either.) It might seem cheaper, but in the longrun, it really won't be. It's a false economy.  Go to a reputable music shop. It's worth it. If there is something that disheartens children learning, it is having an awful instrument. A girl in my orchestra had a terrible violin with pegs that kept slipping so it was out of tune ALL the time. I spent most of the rehearsal retuning it- I hated that violin and so did she.  Or ask a teacher for advice.  Same with that colourful brand-new Ukele in the charity shop- chances are it will be out of tune and the strings will break.

4. Organisations such as the Wigmore Hall in the London, Spitalfields festival, The London Symphony Orchestra and many of the orchestras (For outside UK and America- look at what your most local profession orchestra is and see what outreach they do) offer workshops and family days you can get involved in. The Southbank centre in London holds children's gamelan lessons and often there will be opportunities to try instruments.

5.  Think about your budget. Some instruments work out more expensive than others. The oboe is a great instrument and we need more players of these but the reeds are quite expensive (and the instrument) and they wear out and beginners find it hard to take care of them at first. Bear that in mind. The flute and violin are relatively cheap although when you get good you will need to changes string and bow hair more often.

6. Often parents don't want their children to learn the cello because they think it will be too heavy for their child to carry to school.  (I've heard this lots of times) Really? Are you planning to bring it to school every day then? You'll probably only have to bring it on lesson day and I'm sure your child will like to build some muscles. Small cellos are lighter anyway!

7. Can't bear the sound of beginner violin playing? The cello sounds much less squeaky!

8. Instruments WILL sound dreadful at first. But the pain will go away with determination and practice. The instruments that sound the worst are: the violin (strangled neutered cat), the oboe (rancid duck with megaphone), the saxophone  (sick cow), cornet (demented magnified wasp combined with klaxon). But they can end up sounding the nicest.

9. When your child (or you) start/s learning, it is not in your/their natural inclination to want to practice. You need to support them in it. Sit with them, make it fun, earn stars. The number of parents I've heard go to the music teacher and say, "I want her to give up, she never practises." Of course she doesn't- she's a child and needs to be helped into good habits! I certainly didn't practice without support.  If you're a grown-up- yes, you need to practice if you want to get better. Don't be lazy and say, "Oh I'm just not musical.". Musical learning is a mixture of natural talent and just plain hard work or just needing a bit more hard work.

10. Try to find an opportunity to play with others. One of the greatest joys of music-making is the sociability of it.  My teenage friend Marianne's Dad learnt the Bassoon from the age of around 50ish. He did the above and practised and he got good fairly quickly. He then joined a local windband which was wonderful (not least because he played the bassoon and bassoon players are less easy to come by). As a child, I played at church, ran mini-concerts with my friends, played in school orchestras and clubs and the suchlike.



Let me know what you think and about any experience you have had in learning an instrument? Or what you think of these tips. Forgive me if I say anything which you disagree with or sound remotely patronising- not my intention!x

If you need any advice, just ask!

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