All About Music For Beginners & Selecting Instruments

[Elizabeth35]

I think that the piano is the best first instrument, and that’s coming from a saxophone player. The guitar would also be another good option though. On the piano, your first note can sound good, whereas the violin or flute for example takes years of practice for one note to actually sound good.

[Dreamaurora]

I think the general consensus is that piano is a good starter instrument as it allows a wide flexibility of genres from classical to pop and also it is easier to lay solid theory background with the instrument. Instrument wise if budget is tight or not willing to commit yet can always get a 1000+ digital piano or rent studio at music schools on hourly basis. Unfortunately good instructors for any instruments are usually not cheap, though you may luck out in getting a good freshly graduated teacher. You do get what you pay for music lessons. Piano and violin instructors are of course the most numerous, other instruments such as flute or voice the options will be more limited. For cost wise, I guess violin may be the cheapest if your child’s primary school offers violin CCA.

[Crazy C]

Both piano and violin have their own plus and minus points.


Piano vs violin

Piano - good for two hands coordination, but investment cost on the instrument is quite high.

Violin - it helps to train the listening skills as the child progress to higher grades. At the beginner grades, the children have stickers pasted on their violins to help them identify the notes. Progressively, they have to listen by ears (without stickers on their violin) to get the notes. Cheaper outlay if you are not sure whether your child is into music. Of course, they will out grow their violins and have to replace every few months to a year. But once you hit about Grade 4 or 5, you may need to change your violin to a better quality one ($500 and above).

Guitar vs Ukelele

I think for the younger children, ukelele is much easier to pick up. I find the chord fingering easier to handle than a guitar (even as an adult).

That’s my 5 cents worth of view.

[Curry]

Guitar is not an instrument that is easy to pick up, ukelele is easier and fun to string.


Not sure about other instrument, but i think piano is a great start. IMO easier than guitar, i have been playing piano all my life but just cant seems to coordinate guitar lol.

If the cost of learning plays a part in the decision, how about getting a 2nd hand piece? There are a few places that sells 2nd hand instrument such as piano, and they provide servicing too. So long as they fine tuned it, you can go too wrong with it. And it can last a long time!

But most importantly is which instrument attracts your child more. Because interests go a long way and thats when such investment are made worth.

[phtthp]

Are there any (p1-p6) children who play both piano and violin? How do u juggle time to practice both instrument everyday, mon-Fri? How much time do you practise both instrument everyday?

[sautille]

phtthp:

Are there any (p1-p6) children who play both piano and violin? How do u juggle time to practice both instrument everyday, mon-Fri? How much time do you practise both instrument everyday?

I know of two kids who play 2 instruments. One boy obtained Gr 8 in violin at P5 and Gr 8 in piano at P6, both with distinction. He went on to RI later. One girl obtained Gr 6 in cello and Gr 8 in piano at P4...she is still in P4.

I understand that they might not be able to practise on both instruments everyday.

[metz]

I know of two siblings (P4 & P6) doing both piano and violin. The P4 girl is preparing for grade 5 theory, grade 6 practical for both piano & violin this year. Her brother did grade 7 for both instruments last year, should be taking grade 8 exams for both this year. Very disciplined and motivated kids.


Besides instruments, they sing too and have won awards in competitions. Not forgetting acting, they do appear occasionally in some okto shows.

Both are also strong in academics.

[MommySherrie]

I think it depends on the child too. I started my older boy on violin as I thought young kids look really cute with the small instrument. Ended up, he struggled as the violin proved to be a difficult instrument for him to pick up, plus he is a slow learner when he was younger and the violin teacher just simply rushed through the suzuki book even when my son was not able to play the tune out.


Shifted him to piano and he was able to cope much better (Die also must make him learn at least an instrument!!). His piano teacher is very kind to not rush my son at all and understood his learning pace. When he was in Grade 3 piano, I persuaded him to pick up his violin again and viola! He got it as he told me that he was able to understand the different fingering or notation on the violin better through the concepts he learnt in piano lessons.

And because he was genuinely interested in both instruments, he would spend 30mins on the violin, followed by 30mins on the piano each day. Then he would play his piano pieces with the violin and vice versa

Younger daughter has no problem with both. Compared to her brother, she picks up things rather easily. But I have to drag and force her to practice. For her, I gave her abit of discount, 20mins each instrument per day. :roll:

[jedamum]

Which is a good grade or age to introduce violin, for those starting with piano? Thanks.


For kids taking grade one, can someone share their practice regime based on the three pieces? Practicing the same three shepieces for the next three months can be very boring.

[phankao]

jedamum:

Which is a good grade or age to introduce violin, for those starting with piano? Thanks.


For kids taking grade one, can someone share their practice regime based on the three pieces? Practicing the same three shepieces for the next three months can be very boring.

Really depends on your child. How to prescribe?

Mine started piano first then violin at 3.