What would you do if 9 year old child has grade 5 distinction in one instrument and grade 6 high honours in another? Plays three instruments in all and wants to take up a fourth. Would you encourage them?

Has anyone else been in this situation... really need some guidance here on development.

Be led by the child! As long as it's because he wants to for himself and for nobody else. He obviously finds it easier than most, to put it mildly! (Did he, by any chance, post recently here himself?! )

My youngest who is 11 is about to take Grade 4 Oboe (next week) along with Treble Recorder. She already has Grade 4 in Flute and Descant and has the Grade 5 pieces for both sorted for Spring. When she wanted to try Violin I was mildly opposed thought adding another instrument was unwise and had already blocked Double Bass.

She bullied her dad to get the Violin for her Birthday last March and has done really well with it, her other instruments haven't really been effected and luckily the person that teaches her Recorder is a suzuki Violin specialist. The main problem initially was daughter being able to hash her way throught he pieces but not making a nice sound. The teacher persuaded her to play the Suzuki pieces and this really helped sort out problems with tone well made her aware of them at least.

I think what I'm trying to say is be careful of your choice for another instrument and try not to let him go it alone as you may find he will be able to play it straight off but not have enought basic technique in place. Also remember he is still in Primary school and year 6 will be demanding but High School is a different ball game due to homework etc.

We find it very difficult especially as neither of us are musical to know when to draw the line and I capitulated over Violin. It takes up less space than Double Bass and she'd already asked Music Service for lessons and enquired about borrowing an instrument. It's gone away for now but may resurface when she does not feel challanged but hopefully with all the homework she has that won't happen.

I think if he is detemind to try another instrument run with it. Good Luck!

I'm sure some would say to focus on his primary instruments, and I think the London conservatoires don't like children to study more than two. However, unless he's completely focussed on being a top soloist on one of his current instruments, I can't see it would be a problem. He's so young, he can always specialise later if he wants to. He obviously has a good idea of what's involved in learning a new instrument, so if he's keen, why not? He's got some years before school workload might become an issue.

.I'd have thought it would depend on the instrument. I currently play three instruments and was recently looking at playing another instrument but was advised against doing another woodwind/brass instrument because of the possibility of adverse effects.

Yes I have a student who passed Grade 8 Piano in last May with a pass with merite , got 126. He was only 11 years old then. Now he is planning for Diploma but I feel it is too early. His name is Vignesh Kumar studying only 6th standard in Oman

Depends on the child. Have a chat with him and listen carefully to his feelings, motivation and motives, etc. Is he showing off, do you think? Or, is he sufficiently mature and disciplined to organise and handle his daily practice of all 4 instruments without any supervision? If he's self-motivated and self-disciplined, then, I don't see why not since at his age, there usually isn't much school homework.

However, if he is really serious about becoming a musician someday (which some kids are, despite their early age like Daniel Hope, for example) then you will need to think twice/thrice. Junior conservatoire teachers and also music specialist school teachers invariably advised strongly against taking MORE than two instruments.

According to the head of a London JC, taking multiple instruments dilute practice time and therefore the quality (of play) and he added that at grade 8 level, you are expected to excel at your first instrument or so before they allow you to take up a third one. Parents were told in clear terms that taking up 3 istruments is not encouraged. The child must excel in the first one. Later, he elaborated excellence as getting for example, AT LEAST 140 marks, if not more for G8, for example!

Menuhin School is similar in attitude - most of their kids are G5 distinction level at age 8 (although they do look at potential when identifying future musicians) and they DO expect 3 hrs of practice daily on the first instrument so it seems you can kiss goodbye to being a soloist/chamber musician if you have to keep up the practice for all 4. We are looking at 0.5 hr each daily for the other 3. Where is the child's time to stand and stare?

You are his mother so you are the best person to know whether he loves music or breathes it as well.

Some kids do live and breathe music in a manner of speaking. Our daughter has to be prevented at times from over-practice as she plays after we've gone to bed and dreams of being a musician. On the other hand, if he isn't that Daniel Hope type, and he enjoys it and has the necessary innate self-discipline, then, provided you can afford it, why not? Let him have some fun. He has some years yet before school workload will become an issue.