Second Instrument for a 5 Year Old

The cello is a great idea, because when the girls get together for trios (eventually), there will be a line for a bass instrument. Another thought: my family member took up the viola, knowing that he would be welcomed eagerly into groups, because there are never enough viola players to go around.

i'm trying to see any good reason NOT to let her play the instrument that interests her.
if she's old enough to play the piano, why would her age bar her from playing the cello?
if the time needed to practice two instruments is prohibitive, she can practice one of them less, or let another activity go, right? at 5 i hope she's not being jammed into a restrictive practice regimen anyway. surely you can negotiate some degree of time for her to faff about with both and see how it goes.
is it necessary to predicate it on her future with an orchestra? isn't time spent learning and loving an instrument a great goal in and of itself?
at this age (and for many years to come) i think kids should be trying on a gazillion things for size. i don't understand even contemplating restricting a child's explorations unless they're financially or logistically unfeasible (tropical scuba diving if you live in the desert sort of thing.)
khairete
S.

It sounds like your family and children have talent. Why not let her play what she wants. It's not different than playing two sports. If she loves it, she will find a way.

I'm with Suz T. If your daughter is intrigued by the cello, wants to do something different from her siblings, and a string teacher says she is up for it, then definitely let her do it. If she turns out not to have the interest/drive to practice both piano and cello, then she will pick the one which interests her the most. Of course, I would suggest holding off on buying a cello until she has played for several years and seems to be truly committed.

I would ask her teacher about this. The teacher has experience with your daughter and other children. She will know much better how this would work for your daughter. If she's not helpful, talk with a different teacher who may have more training and experience.

I say if she wants to go for it and you can afford the instrument (rental?) and lessons, then why not? A young man in my family started cello at age 4 or 5 and also plays drums, piano and electric guitar. He noodles on the drums and piano at home, plays cello in his school orchestra, and plays guitar in a band that actually performs at small venues in his area. And he's only 16. I say go for it!

My only caveat on a string instrument is that a child (or adult) has to have a good ear. Finger placement is key, but the only way someone learns whether their fingers are in the right spot is by being able to hear the difference. If you hit a piano key or a trumpet key, you're going to get the right note. (Yes, I know there are many aspects of fine musicianship needed to play those and other instruments as well! But strings are a special challenge especially in the beginning.)

However, since your family is musical and since the kids seem to be willing to spend the time, I think it's fine to let her explore. I get a strong feeling that the kids are not in any way being pressured into lessons nor are they rebelling at too much structured time or resisting practice. Assuming they are getting exposed to other things as well and spend a reasonable amount of time reading things of their choice (age and education-level appropriate) and getting outside to play, I say go with their instincts. If she wants, at some point, to play the cello and give up piano, that's okay too. Nobody should be "stuck" with any activity they started at age 5.

I wonder if, being a twin, she has an even stronger desire to be an individual and not part of a "pair" all the time. That's an added reason to let her explore her individuality.

Absolutely let her do it. If you can afford it - what a wonderful gift to give her.

I would ask the violin teacher if she thinks your daughter can play a cello okay. Some strings teachers look at children's hands and if they have very slender fingers, it's violin, and if they have meatier fingers, it's cello. (The cello strings are bigger, heavier...)

It's kind of cool to have violin and cello to play together - lots of repertoire for them to enjoy.

I'm not sure how old kids are to try instruments in the woodwind family...

For many, a recorder is a great first instrument.
You/she can consider woodwinds, brass, percussion, etc.
Our son is in 11th grade and has played clarinet since 6th grade - and he LOVES it!
There are many instruments she can explore!

I'm all for musical exploration. I have one who started on piano at age 7, and now plays piano, clarinet, flute, violin and just bought herself a ukulele. If you have the financial means to provide her with lessons and a rental (?), then why not? I'm assuming you have already checked with an instructor about her viability as a student of that instrument at her age... if not, do so. It might not be advised due to some hand/size/musculature reason, but if not, I would allow it if you can.

For me, personally, I would do so with the child's understanding that they will ALSO still be responsible for practice/progress on the piano. It won't take long before she will have SO many things she can play for fun on the piano. And probably many more opportunities to play outside of the home later. It's just not a skill I would let her slip away to the wayside... I would expect her to continue with it as well. But that's just me. If in another year or two, she decides that Cello is *her* instrument of choice for the long haul, then fine. But I wouldn't let her stop piano in favor of Cello *at this juncture* and as long as she knows that and still wants to try her hand at Cello (in addition to piano) then I would say, "go for it!"

I would rent one that fits her as much as possible to see how she likes it. Then if she really wants to continue you could purchase one.

I begged for piano lessons when I was a kid. I went out into the garage several days per week and uncovered the piano and picked on it. I even wrote the whole alphabet, then repeated it as far as I could, on the keys so I could remember what notes were what.

My mom said "I paid for piano lessons for your brother and then your sister and had to fight with them every day to get them to practice. I'm not going through that with you!"

In 5th grade we were given the opportunity to join orchestra. I wanted to play an instrument so I begged to take cello. I borrowed one and broke my right arm the next day playing kickball on recess. So I didn't get to play cello after all.

When I started 7th grade I guess I'd had some testing done in 6th grade that showed my parents my hidden talents...possible skills, and it said I might do well in music.

So they let me enroll in band in 7th grade. Changed my life. I practiced every single day, hours, and ended up playing clarinet all the way through high school and got national awards for my skills. I took adult piano lessons in college, the group class kind, and even paid for private lessons later on. I stink at piano because I find I can only think is treble clef. I just can't get past that hurdle for some reason.

I have that old piano sitting in my house right now. I play some and my grand kids take piano and they practice on it. I love music, I sing, I play clarinet, I got a flute for my birthday one year so now I play the flute too (not well but I "can" make it sound okay), I play tenor sax, and I've even tried to play a guitar.

I am musical. My mother nearly killed that skill in me. I am so happy you allow your kids to explore music. I think you should go with it and see how she likes it. She might or might not love it but at least she got to try.

I would have loved to play the harp. Of all instruments that one makes me think of heavenly things each time I hear it.