Wednesday, March 4, 2015

A Parent's Guide To Choosing Woodwinds And Accessories

By Leslie Ball


If you are looking for a fun and exciting hobby for your child, you may want to consider having them learn a musical instrument. Woodwinds and accessories can be a great first step to introducing your child to playing an instrument for a number of reasons. They can be easy to learn and are available in a wide range of choices that will suit many children. Whether you like them because they are portable, nice to listen to or because they can be affordable, here is how to choose the right instrument for your child.

You may be surprised to find out how large this family of instruments are. Keep in mind that learning one type of woodwind can help your child transition to another type at a later date. Some are less expensive than others simply because they are more common and are manufactured more often. Certain woodwind options will also be less simply because of the materials that are used to make them. Look at all of your options before you make your final selection.

One thing to consider first is how old your child is and whether they have any experience playing a musical instrument. For a very young child, you may want to start them off with a recorder. They can learn how to read music as well as other basics on an instrument that is affordable and easy to learn.

You will also want to decide whether you want one with a single reed or a double reed. For affordability, single reed instruments such as clarinets and saxophones are usually more affordable than oboes, English horns or bassoons.

You may want to let an older child actually look at and handle an instrument in person. You want your child to be enthusiastic about what they are playing so that it is not difficult to get them to practice. Student model instruments will usually come with a lower price tag.

Once you have the instrument you can begin to look at accessories as well. One thing to purchase is a case. There are hard and soft options available. They protect the instrument and make it easy to carry. For large instruments such as a bassoon, the instrument will need to be disassembled to put into the case.

For woodwind options that have reeds, the choice of reed is important. They can either be very hard or very soft. Some will be easier for a young mouth to use. An experience music store owner will be able to give you advice about which one will suit your child best. You may also want to look at getting a stand that can hold sheet music while your child plays. A portable stand may be a great option if the child will have to travel to and from music lessons.

Learning to read and play music is a valuable skill for any child. It can help them in many different areas of their education. Taking the time to choose the right instrument and the right accessories can go a long way towards helping build enthusiasm for this skill in your child.




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