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Many children are keen to learn an instrument from a young age, and parents are often concerned about judging when is the right time for their child to begin. When it comes to learning woodwind, the age of the child is less of a factor than their size. They need to be big enough to hold their chosen instrument and reach all of the keys. In the past, this meant that some small children had to wait until they were older before they could take up a woodwind instrument. However, with modern technology comes good news. Manufacturers are making smaller and lighter instruments especially for beginners, and children can now begin when they are smaller than ever before.
The obvious starter instrument for young children is the recorder. This is a great instrument for a beginner, as it is very light and doesn’t require a large volume of air. (You only have to blow softly to produce a sound.) By learning the recorder, children will develop the basic motor skills required to play any woodwind instrument, in addition to increasing their aural awareness. A basic recorder is also very cheap compared to other instruments, so parents will not need to worry about making a big financial investment.
If a child is ready to begin learning one of the orchestral woodwind instruments, there are many options for beginners. Smaller versions of all of these instruments are available, and children can use these until they have grown enough to graduate on to the full size instrument.
Flutes are now available with a curved headjoint. The curve means that the flute is shorter in length, allowing children with smaller arms to reach the end keys more easily. Very young children have the option of beginning to learn on a fife. These are very small, and very cheap, so are a great option for young beginners.
Lightweight oboes are suitable for younger children. Not only are these less heavy, but the keys are spaced more closely, so reaching them is less of a stretch for small hands. These instruments can take a child up to at least grade 3, so will probably last for the first few years.
Aspiring clarinettists and saxophonists may consider learning on a clarineo. This is a plastic version of the clarinet, and is light and durable. This allows children to develop the skills needed to play a single reed instrument without subjecting them to the physical strain of playing the full sized instruments, which are heavy.
Even the basson, the largest of the woodwind instruments, is now available in miniature! The mini bassoon is smaller and lighter than the full sized instrument, and is suitable for children of primary school age.
