How Do You Help A Child Decide On A Musical Instrument?
Your child has decided to enroll in an instrumental music class. Congratulations! Kids in band generally make more friends and get better grades. Now one big question remains for the future band member: “What instrument should I play?” Pay attention to the input you will receive from the instrumental music teacher who has experience in helping children make good decisions about instrument choice as well as how to purchase or rent a musical instrument. Pay attention as well, to the child’s preference. Most children will be considerably more enthusiastic and successful when learning an instrument which they want to play rather than one which is selected for them. Consider the child’s size. A smaller child, for example, would have difficulty reaching the lower positions on the trombone. (That is not to say that eventually the child could not transfer to that instrument.) The same can be said for full-size string bass, tuba, and saxophone (other than an alto sax). Children learning string
