Helping Your Child Choose the Right Musical Instrument

Whether your young musician is choosing an instrument for band, orchestra, or simply personal development or a hobby, there are a lot of great choices and no wrong answer. And while your musician will get to experiment with different instruments during testing, here are some helpful points to consider as your child gets ready to take their first musical leap!

What musical instruments are good starter instruments?

Most musicians and band directors will likely agree that no one instrument is easier or harder. While some students may find one better suited to their musical ambitions (more on that later!), each instrument comes with its own unique traits.

Brass and woodwinds, such as trumpet, trombone, flute, and saxophone, will require some serious time and effort to produce clean, quality sounds and tones (not to mention great stamina and lung capacity).

Strings, such as violins or guitars, are going to test your coordination and technicality.
And percussion instruments such as drums, while perhaps easier to produce a sound, are going to require an excellent sense of rhythm and tone.

Here are six things to consider in order to help your student decide what instrument may be best for them:

1. Size of the musical instrument

While perhaps an obvious one, size can be a critical factor in your decision. Does the instrument need to be easily portable? Does it need to fit in a book bag, or will your student’s school allow you to store it? Does it require more than one person to move, or multiple cases to carry around?

And how about playing the instrument itself - some instruments will require the performer to hold it without support, such as flutes, trumpets, and trombones. While these instruments may seem small and light, they will require your student to build up stamina in order to hold it for a prolonged period of time. And instruments such as the saxophone or clarinet (which will hang from your musician's neck) or violins and violas (which balance on a musician’s shoulder) will require muscular stamina and balance in order to support the proper posture. Instruments such as basses and cellos bring the added benefit of resting on the floor, but can oftentimes be taller than the student themselves, so they require some time and practice before your student will feel comfortable with them.

All of these considerations can be managed (sometimes quite easily and quickly!), however they’re good to keep in mind when considering what instrument is best going to suit your child’s unique needs and skills.

2. Physicality of the musical instrument

Another thing to consider is how the instrument is configured, and how it is actually played. Students and parents should consider how the musical instrument is physically put together before choosing what makes most sense for them. Are there valves or keys to press, strings, bows, or reeds to use? Is your student going to be up for the challenge of caring for and assembling an instrument that involves more daily maintenance?

In addition, will it require blowing, plucking, bowing, or banging? Instruments that require air passage, such as brass or woodwind musical instruments, may require someone with greater lung stamina or core power to execute the necessary technical elements. Strings will require strength in the shoulders to support holding the instrument whilst executing their techniques. Drums and percussion instruments will require some fortitude to produce consistent, ongoing and rhythmic strikes. Again, these kinds of physical skills can grow and strengthen over time, but perhaps there is one that is best suited to your student’s skills.

3. Sound of the musical instrument

It’s common for students to gravitate towards a particular musical instrument because of its sound and timbre. Brass can be powerful and guttural, whereas woodwinds tend to be more soft and alluring. Strings offer a more elegant array of sounds, whereas percussion can be more abrasive. Take some time with your student to listen to several instruments and see if there is a specific sound your student prefers. Choosing a musical instrument with a sound your student enjoys is an obvious but important element to ensure that they’ll both enjoy and be committed to practicing and developing their skills!

4. Musical instruments genres

Similarly to sound and timbre, picking an instrument that belongs to a musical genre favored by your student can help inspire them to keep up their practice. What kind of music does your student like to listen to? If your musician is one with an affinity for classical music, then perhaps strings, oboes or bassoons will appeal. Or perhaps they’re more into funk and jazz. If so, then saxophones and trumpets, as well as with rhythm section instruments like bass and drums, may hit just the right note. If big band music is an interest, consider the other woodwinds like flutes, clarinets, or deeper brass like trombones. And while they’re not always present in every school band or orchestra, the guitar can be a great, versatile choice for those interested in tackling many genres.

5. Home practice with your musical instrument

No matter what musical instrument your student selects, one rule remains true for all - practice makes perfect! Consistent and sustained practice, with both instructors and self guided, will help your musician better develop and grow their skills. Consider how accessible your instrument will be for practice sessions. Can the instrument be easily transported home, for extra practice sessions when necessary? If it is a larger instrument, such as a piano or bass, will your student be able to access it after hours at school? If not, are there options for access via a private instructor, or a proxy musical instrument, such as a keyboard? Is it an instrument your student can easily practice at home, without irritating the neighbors (or you!), or is there a practice space available where they can hit as many notes as their heart desires, without having to worry about sound? All things to keep in mind as you consider your student’s long term musical development!

6. Overall cost and budget

There are several scenarios for students to obtain a musical instrument from owning to renting to attending a school that provides students with a musical instrument to use and take home when needed.

Renting a musical instrument is a great option, especially for a newer musician. PM Music Center’s rental program is a great resource with knowledgeable and helpful staff. The program offers high-quality, name-brand instruments for players of all levels with instrument rental options to fit every budget. In addition, all band rental payments can go toward the purchase of the rental instrument.

When purchasing a musical instrument, it is important to consider the purchase along with regular maintenance and upkeep costs. Woodwind instruments require new reeds on a regular basis, whereas brass instruments require valve oil regularly. The majority of musical instruments will also require annual professional cleaning and repairs, to extend their lifespan and maintain sound quality.

In the end, understanding your student’s unique needs and musical aspirations, will ultimately help you make the right choice. As additional support, PM Music Center works closely with band and orchestra instructors and staff who can assist your student in finding the musical instrument that is the right fit for their musical endeavors!