The story behind the music- or my story – goes way back to when I was a little girl. My mother was a violinist and my father a guitarist, so music was always part of my life. I remember my mother singing with me as one of my first childhood memories, and my father practicing the guitar late at night – mostly flamenco. I guess the classical repertoire was for the daytime.
When I became 6 years old I was able to start playing an instrument. I remember trying out both the violin and the guitar. But somehow none of them were right for me. So how do you pick an instrument? I was lucky. My parents had the skills to pick out the cello for me – and they made the right choice. They could see how it suited my personality and my anatomy and so I’ve kept on playing. In this writing moment I’ve played the cello for over 30 years and I don’t see myself stopping anytime soon. Here is a few ideas on how to choose the right instrument for you or your child.
– It is crucial, that the new instrumentalist like the sound of the instrument. Listen to a lot of different instruments and pick a few that you like. Attend some concerts. One thing is listening to music at home. It’s a whole other story hearing it live!
– Once you know what sound you like it is time to try out a few different instruments. If you are lucky, you will be able to find a teacher who are willing to give you a trial lesson before signing up. Often you will need to rent or purchase an instrument before you are able to start lessons though. So it might not be possible in your area. Another possibility is to see if your local music store has a few instruments you can try out before seeing a teacher. Or maybe your local music school has a venue for trying out some different instruments. At my old Music school in Denmark we had a concert for young kids where they could see and listen to all the different instruments. After the concert, they were able to meet the teachers and try out the different instruments.
– Do your research on instrument prices. Some instruments are more expensive to purchase than others so if money is an issue you might have to go with the cheaper option.
– You should also consider how much it requires to keep your instrument. Would you need to get it checked out by a professional instrument maker from time to time? Is it likely that it will need to be repaired often? Most instruments do need some repairs from time to time but some more often than others.
– What kind of personality does the new instrumentalist have? Some personality types just fit perfectly with some instruments.
– Once you have decided on an instrument you should give it a good chance. All beginning is hard and learning how to play an instrument is not an exception. Your child will need support and help when practicing at home. If you are an adult beginner, you might need some patience and persistence. It is not all fun and games every day – but if you keep practicing you will get there some day!
Good luck – and have fun!
Love, live, Play!
Julie