If you could have any skill you wanted, which one would you choose? Ask around and you'll find a surprising number of people wish they could play an instrument. Without expert advice, non-musical parents of eager children – and adults wanting to learn for pleasure – face a bewildering choice: which instrument would be best for me or my child? Which are the best instruments for beginners to learn? How much will it cost? Where do I find a good teacher? How difficult is it to learn? This guide is intended to help you make up your mind and decide which instrument you should learn.
Over the past 50 years or so, Britain's much-admired peripatetic instrumental teaching service has helped children take up a variety of instruments, filling youth orchestras, wind bands and jazz orchestras with enthusiastic, self-disciplined players. Of course, some children give up lessons after a year or two, but the experience stays with them for life. Often, after lying dormant during adolescence, the desire to play reappears in adulthood, and goes on to become a satisfying leisure activity.
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How to choose what instrument to learn
What sounds do you like?
Which instrument you choose to play should depend primarily on your personal response to its sound. Some people instinctively identify with the particular tone quality of a flute or basson; others with the emotional appeal of a violin or cello. You may even decide to take up the saxophone simply because it looks good.
What's your personality type?
Instruments and their players have distinctive personalities. Players of string instruments usually play in groups so can be sociable or brass players are often extroverts unafraid of making loud noises - but there really is no one-size-fits-all approach. Everyone is different, and can learn whatever they'd rather!
Think about your body
There are a few physiological things to consider when choosing your instrument. Wind and brass players benefit from a strong physique (and sometimes even straighter teeth), while double-jointed fingers can present challenges for string players and pianists.
What's your budget?
Other practical factors may influence your choice of musical instrument. In some parts of the country, teachers of certain instruments may be difficult to find, while the sheer expense of a few instruments may prove prohibitive. Sometimes, you may be given free access to certain instruments at your child's school, which provides a low-stakes opportunity to learn an instrument, for instance.
Consider transport: do you have access to a car?
Double bass and tuba players find owning a car useful. Transport considerations are essential for harpists and percussionists.
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Top tips for buying your first musical instrument
Serious aspiring musicians will usually want to own their instrument, but most reputable shops operate a rental system. There's often the option to buy the instrument after several months or even a year. If you're considering buying, consult your music teacher first. Avoid buying at auctions or from Facebook or other social media platforms unless you've taken expert independent advice. Buy only from reputable dealers offering a guarantee, and always insist on a trial period.
Many dealers offer discounts and there are good second-hand bargains around. Buying second-hand is always risky, so never buy an instrument you haven't played and tested. Don't buy as an investment – top-quality wind and brass should just about hold their value, and fine strings will probably appreciate over a long period, but no musical instrument is recession-proof.
Should I insure my musical instrument?
Yes! Always insure you're musical instrument if the loss of it would cause you a financial impact. Normal household content policies will usually cover musical instruments, but most only offer a limited amount of cover up to a certain cost. You'll need to check whether this is enough to cover the full value of your musical instrument. More valuable instruments should be insured with a specialist company.
How to find a good music teacher
All instruments require dedication and constant practice, especially in the early stages. Although some exceptional people are self-taught, generally it is vital to find a reliable teacher. Many children are offered instrumental lessons through their school. Finding a private teacher, personal recommendation, or expert advice from the local authority, music centre or evening institute is best.
Failing that, the Musicians' Union, the Incorporated Society of Musicians and the European String Teachers' Association have lists of teachers. Some teachers advertise in specialist journals, locally in libraries or newsagents or on social media or online forums.
But beware – teachers who adveertise are not necessarily the best, and the most successful often have a waiting list. Following word-of-mouth recommendations will likely lead you to the best teachers, but you might have to wait if they are fully booked.
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What is the best age to start playing an instrument?
You are never too old to play an instrument, but while children aged two or three can start the violin, and five-year-olds often start piano lessons, there is little advantage in starting on woodwind or brass before the age of 11, and many fine players started older.
However, if an eight-year-old is eager and sufficiently physically developed, no harm will be done by starting them on the flute or clarinet.
Adult beginners may find their problems are more psychological than physical. Children rarely worry about the initial noise they make: any kind of sound, however raucous, is a bonud. Adults, however, are more likely to be discouraged by embarrassing squawks and squeaks. This is where learning through an evening institute may prove useful – you discover everyone else is having the same problems.
