My niece (age seven) is really wanting to learn an instrument. My sister lives in an apartment building and is worried about bothering neighbors, as they have neighbors both above and below them. But, she also wants to encourage her daughter's budding musical interest. What instruments should I steer my sister towards?
A keyboard. I play a few instruments myself and I teach lessons to children. I think the keyboard is the easiest instrument to learn over webcam or through video tutorials. Something like that might be important to your sister since we're still in the middle of a pandemic. Plus, you can turn the volume up or down on a keyboard and you can even use headphones so no sound leaks out to the neighbors.
What about an acoustic guitar? It was my first instrument and my family was in a similar living situation as your niece. There are lots of videos on YouTube that can help her get started playing!
Strum Drum Messages: 229 Registered: November 2017
Master
I think it's best just to let your niece pick. Most instruments can be played softly. It's a matter of controlling the technique. If the neighbors are fussy she could dampen the noise with mutes or pads. If percussion is her thing, then steer her towards one of the quieter kits. You can get low-volume cymbals and drum pads to help minimize the volume. Or just replace the heads with mesh heads. There are also different techniques for holding the drumsticks that affect the volume, or she could use brushes instead.
I think it's best just to let your niece pick. Most instruments can be played softly. It's a matter of controlling the technique. If the neighbors are fussy she could dampen the noise with mutes or pads. If percussion is her thing, then steer her towards one of the quieter kits. You can get low-volume cymbals and drum pads to help minimize the volume. Or just replace the heads with mesh heads. There are also different techniques for holding the drumsticks that affect the volume, or she could use brushes instead.
I think that letting her pick her own instrument is a good way to keep her interested in playing. When I was younger, my parents decided I would learn to play the piano. What I really wanted was to learn to play the violin. I lost interest in the piano pretty quickly. As Strum Drum said, there are ways to dampen the sound of her playing. I hope she has fun learning to play!
gofar99 Messages: 1949 Registered: May 2010 Location: Southern Arizona
Illuminati (5th Degree)
Hi, I agree with the let them pick the instrument. I was forced to do piano as a kid and forever resented it. I cringe even now when I see one. One of my daughters did go for music (the other is a rocket scientist ...literally). She picked, flute, piccolo and acoustic guitar. The guitar didn't go very far, but she was seated first flute in the band for several years.
Strum Drum Messages: 229 Registered: November 2017
Master
I think that once a large investment has been made in an instrument like a piano, the attitude is that every child in the family must learn how to play it. Pianos are costly, they're a pain to move, they require tuning, and they take up a lot of floor space. So for many parents, it's all about making the investment worth it. It's a shame too. I know so many people who hated their weekly piano lessons.
@gofar99, would you have been more enthusiastic if the music was different or was there just no interest in the instrument itself?
Rusty Messages: 1187 Registered: May 2018 Location: Kansas City Missouri
Illuminati (3rd Degree)
I would of been glad to had any instrument training when young. Folks had a tight budget with 5 kids. A large traditional piano would be too expensive and impractical for most young parents. But someone mentioned an electronic keyboard that headphones can be used even. Sounds ideal to me.
The guitar is a classic choice and it wouldn't bother the neighbors as long as it's not connected to a speaker. There's also the flute and violin which are leaned on producing soothing sounds. On the other hand, you can first ask your niece her preferred instrument and judge if it's too much.
Wow, I pity the neighbors! Seriously though, what does the child show interest in? My daughter played the flute, she was horrible! I think piano lessons outside the home would be a great place to start!
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