For parents thinking of giving their children the gift of music, consider first which instrument might best suit them. Too many eager parents, with the best intentions, want to give their children something they wish they had been given, but go ahead without first thinking about suitability of instrument.

In studies of people who began learning a musical instrument, but stopped, the most common factor for their stopping was choosing the wrong instrument, not any lack of musicality or musical potential.

The piano is a popular choice as first instrument even though it is not easy to learn. It requires a certain type to progress on it. The piano is a ‘self-contained’ instrument, in that there are little opportunities for social interaction while first learning it. It would not suit the social, out-going, gregarious type.

It also requires the learning of two clefs, the bass and the treble, meaning two lines of music are read instead of one. Many other instruments, usually from the woodwind, brass, and string families, are single note instruments, in that they play one note at a time.

These single note types may better suit beginners, giving them the chance of progressing musically before moving to more challenging instruments such as the piano. Not to say that brass, woodwind and string instruments are not challenging.

Playing a single note instrument requires far less mental energy than playing a chordal instrument (where you play more than one note at a time) as with the guitar, piano or harp. Single note music is also not difficult to read.

The complexity of chordal instruments and their notation can soon demoralize a child better suited to a single note instrument. Children suited to single note instruments would be those who do one thing at a time, while those who enjoy mental arithmetic or take pleasure in complexity may suit a chordal instrument.

Brass or woodwind instruments suit gregarious children as they are played in bands and groups where there is a social output. Remember, learning an instrument should not involve any mental stress.

The second most common factor in stopping was starting too young. Children should be at an age where they can progress without mental stress. There is no right age to start learning a musical instrument, but between the ages of 8 and 11 serves as a good guide.

By that age they should have settled into their schooling and will have excess mental and physical energy to put into an instrument. They should be able to read and write fluently and with pleasure. They should be able to do simple maths: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. The right instrument has to somehow match your child’s body, brain and emotions.

Piano, violin, and guitar are among the most popular first instruments, but are also the most difficult to learn and so have the highest failure rates. The violin is mentally and physically demanding, and requires from the learner a keen ear for it to be played in tune.

Another consideration before choosing an instrument is the instrument’s feedback, which is the physical sensation created whilst playing it. For example, if your child dislikes objects against it’s lips vibrating, such as the simple instrument of a comb and tissue paper, then wind and brass instruments might not be suitable.

The above is advice, neither good nor bad nor ‘right’ in the truest sense. It is merely a well-intentioned guide as to possible suitability.

The right instrument for your child may not be determined by any of the factors listed. It also deals solely with music instrument teaching in the formal or classical sense where weekly lessons are taken and progress is measured by regular examinations.

It does not deal with traditional Irish instruments, fiddles, accordions, uillean pipes, or their teaching. Neither modern instruments, acoustic or electric guitars, basses, which are often self-taught.