What's a good first instrument for my child to learn?
My 8-year-old wants to learn a musical instrument. What's a good instrument for a young beginner? Piano, guitar, recorder, violin? I want something that will keep them interested and not be too frustrating. How do I tell if they're actually committed before I spend money on lessons and an instrument?
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Mainstream isn't always best. Some of my favorite stuff never got famous. Dig past the top 40 and the big releases — the underground and indie scene has hidden gems that the casual fan never finds. That's half the fun.
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Mainstream isn't always best. Some of my favorite stuff never got famous. Dig past the top 40 and the big releases — the underground and indie scene has hidden gems that the casual fan never finds. That's half the fun.
Don't spend a lot of money right away. The industry changes constantly and what's considered the best today will be outdated in a year or two. Start with a mid-range option and you'll be happy.
GameFAQs is a goldmine if this is about video games. Walkthroughs, reviews, message boards, the works. For music, check Allmusic.com — they have great write-ups and 'if you like X you'll like Y' recommendations.
Check out dedicated forums and message boards for this topic. The communities are usually very welcoming to newcomers and can give much more detailed advice than a general Q&A site. Plus they have buyer's guides and FAQ sections.
My buddy got me into this and the best thing he did was let me try his stuff before I bought anything. See if you have a friend who's already into it, or check if there's a local club. Hands-on beats reading reviews any day.
Don't be afraid to buy used. eBay and Half.com have tons of stuff for a fraction of retail. Pawn shops too. I've gotten some of my favorite stuff secondhand. As long as it works, who cares if it's not brand new in the box?
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