My twelve year old daughter is threatening me that she is taking up the clarinet, I'd much rather see her pick up a guitar, something I can handle hearing her play for the next decade or so. What would be the best approach to bring her back to strings and what would you recommend a good package for her to start with?
Look forward to some good input. Appreciate it!

I would just be excited she wants music in her life in the first place.

I remember when I was that age, my parents tried to convince me to do things they said "built character". If anything, they tried to make me fit some kind of mold to contain me and break my spirits, thinking it would make them seem like better parents. But I had none of it, so I picked up guitar, and now I've seen more of the world and lived a life I only dreamed of.
So I guess my advice is to get her to rebel, and teen angst will do the rest, haha!

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I'd concur with Dr. Venkman's diagnosis.



She'll find her own way and in her own time.

Arjay

My (not so) humble opinion...

Let her find her own way. Be happy she's interested in picking up an instrument. Support her in whatever direction she wants to go. If she has an interest in guitar it will show itself in time. (I started out as a Sax player before I came over to the dark side...)

Good luck!

RickyD

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I agree with all of the above. I have kids too and i PRAY that one of them will get interested in Guitar but i'd be happy as a clam if they at least find an interest in music on their own. I'd much prefer that to an un dying passion for ... i don't know ... something else. I also would love for them to discover and love Tolkien books as much as i do but won't hold my breath on that. Who knows, maybe an interest in clarinet will lead to guitar. I used to play trumpet for many years and then pursued my childhood dream of playing guitar, and honestly wish I kept at it just to have another skill.

Not sure what kind of music you play but maybe it would be a nice thing to play songs with a clarinet accompaniment.

That response was way longer than intended. Sorry

Two words, my friend: Benny Goodman. He knew how to honk that clarinet along with anybody.

Music is a gift, regardless of how one produces it. Attempting to coerce kids into any particular trajectory when an alternate seems (at least ephemerally) more appealing can lead only to disaster. I started my own musical career playing woodwinds -- clarinets and every variety of saxophone -- and only later did I discover the guitar. Life is a ride of sorts: trying to change it won't help.

She plays clarinet and eventually also guitar and maybe picks up basic keyboards and ... hey ... someday we're all buying her albums! But even if she "only" ever plays clarinet, she's playing, appreciating and enjoying music and that's great.

Like any language, once you've mastered music and one instrument, the rest come easier. I think you'll find that a lot of top guitarists (especially those who can read music, etc.) started on some other instrument in high school.

You can`t force your interests on anyone else. Years ago I taught Karate, I play the guitar, and I`m an artist. Neither one of my kids took an interest in any of my activites other than my daughter learning classical piano. Your daughter may turn out to be very good on the clarinet. Let her learn it and she`ll run with it. Try to force the guitar on her and she`ll back away.

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I wanted to play violin when I was seven. I played for a year and quit. My parents wanted me to play something, so I took up flute when I was nine. I played flute for three years and hated most of it. I picked up guitar totally on my own and started teaching myself. My parents really didn't think I was going to since they bought it two years before I actually tried to learn it and because I had hated everything else. Guitar ended up being something I enjoyed rather than hated, but no one pushed it on me. Now I play drums and bass too, and I just began tenor sax. And I enjoy played those instruments too. But to be honest I don't think I'll ever go back to playing flute or violin because I still have a bad taste in my mouth from it. Let your daughter play what she wants to play. Maybe she'll eventually pick up guitar on her own or maybe not. But be sure to support her in whatever she does and remember that what's enjoyable to one person may not be to another.

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I've been playing the Piano, Electric Organ and Keyboards for 27 years, started when I was 9. Guitar, only for the past 4 years - I'm not very good on the guitar, but hey I enjoy it....I think its great when I see my daughters on my Keyboards, or pick up their own guitars.

Wouldn't bother me what instrument they pick (if any). I would like them to learn an instrument, my eldest wants violin lessons though, but I just dont think I can go through that pain if you get my drift.

Hey Ho - Each to their own!

I totally agree with the advice given. Anytime you force someone or maybe I should say try to get them to do something they do not want to especially at that age they will learn to resent it. I am going through a similar situation with my 12 year old son who has stopped playing the guitar though he is very talented. My Mother of all people calls and tells me to force him to play an hour a day which I will not do, when something sparks him he will start up again. Then I remind my Mother how the site or smell of Beets make me sick till this day as I can still remember not being able to leave the table till they were eaten and that is 40 odd years ago.

I started out as a tween playing the viola. Played it for 6 years.
My daughter started out playing the flute a few years back.

Can't pull the guitar out of either of our hands these days. My daughter is 11 now.

If she wants to play the guitar later on, she will. If you play, she might see you enjoying it and want to do it herself someday. The Clarinet is cool, my son played it, from that instrument, he could play the Trumpet and the Sax with no problem. It is good that she will learn to read music.

It is all good.

When i was young, my parents forced me to play an instrument i had no interest in. i put in the time, but not the effort. Even though I try not to, I still resent the fact i didn't get to start guitar when I wanted to. Music is a joyful activity, don't suck the joy out of it by forcing what you want on your kids. It'll bite you in the A.

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