It should be understood early on, that should a child learn any instrument, it will vastly enrich their life. However, when the goal is to nurture a musicality within a child and allow them the easiest point of entry into understanding the fundamentals of music theory then the piano is preferable over the violin.
The most beautiful music ever composed was composed for either the piano or violin. The instruments are icons in their own right. The mechanics and approach to playing the instruments, however, are so vastly different that it is often difficult for parents to know which is best for their child to learn first.
What Instrument Is Best For A Child To Learn: Piano or Violin? The versatility, range, accessibility, and immediacy of the piano mean that it will be a far better choice for a child who is new to music. The violin wins in terms of portability but it can be a difficult instrument with which to begin, often requiring months of practice to produce a clear tone.
There are further considerations when assessing what might be the best starter instrument for your child. Both instruments hold a special place in everyone’s heart and it almost feels unjust to compare them in such stark terms. It should be understood early on, that should a child learn any instrument, it will vastly enrich their life.
However, when the goal is to nurture a musicality within a child and allow them the easiest point of entry into understanding the fundamentals of music theory then the piano is preferable over the violin.
There is an important caveat to this and it is one which should be taken quite seriously. If your child has already expressed an interest in violin and has their heart set on playing violin then you should encourage this interest and help your child to begin learning the violin.
If on the other hand, your child does not have a preference either way then I would present the piano as the perfect instrument. You may also find it easier to win them over to the piano than the violin. I’ll show you how.
Why Is The Piano The Best Instrument For A Child To Learn?
As you know, the piano works on the principle of pressing a number of keys in combination to produce melody and harmony. Press that key combination on Monday and you will produce a set of precise tones. Press the same key combination on a Friday and the same tones will be produced.
My point is that there is consistency in the simplicity of the action. Much like typing on your keyboard, each time you press that key, you can expect the same response. Now, how much pressure you apply when pressing the key as well as how rapidly, with how much vigor and for how long you hold it down will affect the tonal quality of the note produced. However, it is sufficient to say that each time you press a key on the piano the same note will play.
On an instrument like the violin, this is not the case. To produce precisely the same note requires years of practice. I would even argue that a violinist very rarely produces the same note each time they play it. Small variations in bow position, pressure and finger position will mean there are tiny discrepancies each time the note is played.
This ‘press and play’ nature of the piano makes it an instrument with a very low threshold for entry. Perfect for a child.
Many instruments produce a note by vibrating a string at a certain frequency. The length of the string dictates the frequency at which it vibrates. To change frequency we normally shorten the string by pressing our finger down on it.
The piano also uses strings to produce a tone, however for every available frequency, the piano has a string pre-tuned to that frequency. As a consequence, the piano has 88 individual keys tuned to a different frequency.
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Why does this matter in terms of making it easy to play I hear you say? Well, what if I was to tell you that every note within the normal range is available at the press of a piano key. And they are all in order of ascending tone from left to right, low to high.
In fact, if you take the musical stave (the lines on a page of music) each space and line on that page corresponds to an exact key on the piano or vice versa.
Look at the diagram below.
This quality of the piano means that it is immediately accessible to a child of any age and the introduction to music theory becomes much less onerous. Not to mention that the piano covers the bass and treble clef, whereas music for other instruments is written only on the home stave of that instrument.
One more argument to be made which makes the piano the best instrument for a child to learn is the sheer versatility of the instrument. The piano will be found in everything from classical music to modern rap. It caters to all musical tastes which is a selling point that cannot be passed up when presenting the idea to a child.
Which Instrument Will Be More Useful To A Child In The Future?
Firstly let me say that to make a career from playing the piano or violin will be difficult unless your child has the passion and dedication to invest hours every day into practice. Not everyone can be a concert pianist or violin virtuoso and as ever with music, if you can make any money at all you are one of the lucky ones.
What I can say however is that if your child becomes proficient on the piano they will be invited to every party. They will be considered more intelligent by their peers which will open doors. They will be the object of affection for many suitors. They will be asked to perform at family and community social functions like weddings, prayer ceremonies, funerals and everything in between. Being in demand like this is of immense benefit to any young adult and their confidence, as a result, will flourish.
While some of the same advantages could be said of the violin, they are defintely to a lesser extent. It’s quite subjective of course and depends a lot on the society in which they move however on average, a violinist is much less in demand at similar gatherings as outlined above.
Also, you’ve probably noticed, despite their size, pianos are everywhere. It is not often you see a violin lying around ready to be played.
This spontaneity and ability to play music when called upon should not be laughed off, considered to be pompous or purely an affectation.
Music is a language which speaks directly to an individuals core. It crosses social, racial and ethnic divides. If your child can learn to speak this language then it will allow them to form bonds and friendships throughout their lives. They will be more resilient in times of hardship as they can use music to soothe themselves and others. They will provide the melody to the shared times of joy and they will locate places of love and understanding within themselves which they may not have realized without music. To be the musician is a fun and joyful experience but it is also a necessary and serious role in life.
My Child Wants To Play Another Instrument. Should I Persuade Them To Learn Piano Instead?
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No. If your child has expressed an interest in any instrument then help them to realize that interest. Be it the violin, the cello, or even the tuba encourage their curiosity and let them begin their musical journey where it feels natural for them to do so.
I do recommend, however, that after a year or so of musical instruction on the instrument they have chosen to encourage them to pick up the piano as a second instrument. All the benefits above still apply and there is no issue with learning two instruments at once. Don’t believe me, read this article to learn more.
A Piano Is Large And We Don’t Have The Room
Nonsense. Look around you now. Are you sitting at a desk? If so, get rid of the desk and get an upright piano. The piano can double up as a desk. Okay so maybe that’s not practical right now but I am sure you can find one desk-sized area in your home in which you can fit a piano. Does your child really need a whole wall dedicated to toys? Do you need that sit down dressing table?
You don’t even need to purchase a real piano, they can be quite heavy and will usually have to stay downstairs. Instead, you can buy a digital piano which these days are beautifully made and have the same action as a real piano. They also have the added benefit of being able to take a pair of headphones so that your beloved mini Virtuoso can practice with the wild abandon of Rachmaninoff for hours on end in blissful, uninterrupted silence.
Related Questions
How Much Do Piano Lessons Cost On Average?
This will depend on the quality of the instruction for the most part but a good figure to keep in mind is anywhere from $30.00 and up for an hour-long lesson. This may be considerably more if your child studies at an Academy of Music but there will usually be other lessons like Music Theory and History of Music included in an annual fee.
How Long Does It Take To Become Good On Piano?
Concert pianists practice for 6 hours per day. They will be the first to admit that they need to improve. However, to play a few basic tunes by memory is achievable within the first few months if a proper practice routine is adhered to. To sight read any piece of music proficiently is a much more difficult task and can take years. Like everything it largely depends on the amount of practice, the individual puts in.
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Photo: Pavel Danilyuk
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