chance for children to try out different instruments

[crescent]

Hi - wondered if anyone on the forum might be able to help me? There are lots of activities set up for children to 'have a go' at different sports and see which they like, and I wondered if there was something similar for music/ musical instruments?

My eldest is 7 now, and I started piano lessons around this age... but I always wished I learned to play something in an orchestra :o) Sadly, my children don't have access to musical tuition at their school until Year 5, and we don't have a piano, so not sure if the traditional piano lessons make sense!

Does anyone have any suggestions? Any tips gratefully received!

[westof]

Southwark Music Services saturday centres?

It looks similar to the Lambeth set up, where you try out a different instrument every term or so.

Or JACMC (James Allen Community Music Centre), but I think you had to commit to learning one instrument for a whole year.

I don't have direct experience of either, but they look worth finding out about.

[lorraineliyanage]

I teach the cello and piano, you are welcome to come and try out either. I have cellos in varying sizes.

Http://www.se22piano.co.uk

[Pickle]

I play flute - if you can wait a while the next concert I am doing with the orchestra I play in (Harmony Sinfonia) is an ideal one for children.

It's on Sat 2nd July at 3:30pm and the details are here:

http://www.harmonysinfonia.co.uk/concerts.php

The concert venue is just a 10 minute drive from East Dulwich. Might be a good way to give your little one exposure to lots of different orchestral instruments at once - my oldest boy has a really good idea of what he's interested in playing from simply coming and watching me perform with various groups.

Alternatively over the summer a lot of London's "concert bands" play free bandstand gigs at the parks round London which are great for kids. I play for Lewisham Concert Band, our summer schedule isn't confirmed yet but I can let you know - it's wind and brass only.

Pippa

p.s... 7 is an ideal age to start on an instrument like recorder - it's a great starting point for learning to read music and a good basis for a lot of wind instruments.

[lorraineliyanage]

You can also see Pickle (Pippa) and other instrumentalists performing on Sunday 5th of June at Dulwich College. See here for information about the recital.