My daughter is not interested to play the piano but recently she told me that she is keen to learn an instrument but i am not sure which instrument is suitable for her ?


I had not been playing tenor saxophone for 26 years ,( i played for 4 years in school band) would it be easier for me to pick it up again? Is there a different between playing alto saxophone and soprano saxophone? would it be suitable for my daughter ,she is thin and small built?

I'd say she should pick the instrument she likes the sound of and fancies trying.

Try and get to a children's orchestra concert in your area; they happen quite regularly. (If you're in the south-east, I can give you clues.) If you can't manage that, find some CDs, or download some pieces, that feature all the different instruments.

I'd totally agree with Claire21, better to let her try some instruments out, see them played or just listen before deciding.

I'm only a parent like yourself but as I understand it Soprano Sax is not really a starter instrument. SAomeone will come along that can explain better but I think it's difficult to keep in tune (prepares to be shot down).

Could you go along to a largish music shop and see if she can hold an Alto Sax or anything else that takes her fancy? I wouldn't buy anything straight off and when that time comes it might be worth doing so through school and getting it VAT free if you are going for a new instrument.

It might also be worth investigating local teachers so you know which instruments are being taught near you.

The best idea would be to try a few out. Or play some cds of solo instruments and see if she likes the sound of them.

I would recommend an instrument (such as wind) where she can play tunes fairly quickly and join in local/school bands or orchestras. The social side of playing music in groups is fantastic and she will learn so many skills alongside music (such as teamwork). She could make many friends for life.

If she likes her own company then strings or piano might suit. Strings take longer to start off but the challenge can be fun and there are still orchestral opportunities.

Does her school have any music teacher she could meet?

Would recommend that you have a look at the book, "The Right Instrument for Your Child" by Atarah Ben-Tovim and Douglas Boyd. It's very interesting reading and may be useful to you.

some music shops will let you try or why not ask at school to see if they have any. perhaps you could narrow it down would she like to play woodwind, brass or strings. Does she want to be in demand or one of a crowd? in demand then try brass, oboe or bassoon if she has got largish hand, cello or viola. wants to be one of the crowd clarinet or flute, violin. What ever she chooses she needs to want to learn that instrument, otherwise practice will soon become a problem :-)

It is highly desirable that she should have lessons, in which case you should not buy an instrument until you have discussed this with the teacher. Nearly all will have views on a suitable instrument, and some will be happy to accompany you to the shop and try various instruments out. In the latter case, at worst you will avoid a "Friday afternoon" product; at best you may get a bargain.

... although please take it with a large pinch of salt. Some of what is in there is nonsense. (See recent thread on teachers' forum)

You could take your daughter along to the local authority music school and see if they have the facility to try different instruments with a music teacher to see if she is more natural at a particular instrument. Alternatively to see which music lessons have vacancies for new pupils.

Good luck in choosing.

Hi everyone , thank you so much for your invaluable advice. Frankly speaking , bringing my child to music shop to try on the instruments , bringing her to attend the children concerts and listening to the CDs etc.... have never cross my mind , what a shame indeed!

After choosing an instrument , we may face another problem, that is to engage a teacher for this particular instrument. In my country , we can get piano, flute , violin, cello and saxophone teachers easily but not for less popular instruments like clarinet, oboe , tuba etc... unlike England , there are many instrumentalist around

Hmmm.... another way is to encourage her to join a school band when she enter secondary school.

Her physical size means she may find some instruments uncomfortable to hold or play, but that's not to say they should be ruled out entirely until after she's had a looked at them and heard them.

I'm built like your daughter, but I can comfortably play a suitably sized cello, a small double bass and a short reach bassoon. Musical instruments normally associated with tall gawky people or those with hands the size of shovels, are now much more accessible to the smaller built individual.

One thing that's always worth remembering though, is that we will all have instrument(s) which naturally suit out musical taste, personality and even body shape (rather than body size). Sometimes it's not the first instrument we choose to play that turns out to be 'the one'. If for example piano lessons didn't go well, this doesn't mean a child (or even an adult) is unmusical, you just need to find your own forte - if you'll pardon the pun.