What instrument do you recommend a 13 year old girl should learn?

Question:The first best answer: whichever one she loves the most!

Now--some details--

If there's no serious thought of her becoming a professional musician, then any instrument will be fine. If she's potentially going to become a symphonic musician, then violin and viola are out--they require a rather extreme left-wrist twist, and her wrist bones are probably developed to the point where she won't develop enough flexibility. Violinists really need to start prior to age 10 (younger is better) in order to become virtuosos.

Other considerations:

Does it matter if the instrument is in demand? Piano (leading to electronic keyboards) and guitar are most widely used.

Is portability an issue? I was a flute major, and I enjoyed being able to slip my instrument into a big coat pocket while my cellist and tenor sax friends had to carry big luggage (then again my time as a French Horn minor tempered my enjoyment).

Is initial cost an issue? Good beginner flutes can be found (if you have someone knowledgeable to shop for you) for under $100; a decent string bass will run near $1000; a proper piano, even more.

Some instruments have a higher chance of physical ailments. At 13, there's no chance that any wind instrument will cause teeth problems (unlike kids who start trumpet or clarinet too early). Oboe requires an enormous amount of breath pressure, and oboists generally wind up with sinus and salivary gland irritation (and oboists are often nervous types who worry to death about their reeds and can't play fast due to the instrument's ill-designed key system). Trumpet is generally safe but some of those who specialize in the upper registers can develop abdomenal strain or back problems.

Whatever she takes up, make certain she has a competent teacher who can pay close attention to her techniques at first. A player who doesn't get mistakes corrected early on will turn those mistakes into bad habits--which can not only stall later progress, but in the worst case scenario can cause repetitive motion injuries.

Also: beginners make the most progress by practicing frequently for shorter times. Those little four-year-old violinists who learn by the Suzuki method are told to play the instrument for a few minutes every time they eat :-) Eventually the musician must build stamina by putting in a couple of hours straight, but the beginner makes more progress from four 10-minute practices than from one 1-hour session.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: The first best answer: whichever one she loves the most!

Now--some details--

If there's no serious thought of her becoming a professional musician, then any instrument will be fine. If she's potentially going to become a symphonic musician, then violin and viola are out--they require a rather extreme left-wrist twist, and her wrist bones are probably developed to the point where she won't develop enough flexibility. Violinists really need to start prior to age 10 (younger is better) in order to become virtuosos.

Other considerations:

Does it matter if the instrument is in demand? Piano (leading to electronic keyboards) and guitar are most widely used.

Is portability an issue? I was a flute major, and I enjoyed being able to slip my instrument into a big coat pocket while my cellist and tenor sax friends had to carry big luggage (then again my time as a French Horn minor tempered my enjoyment).

Is initial cost an issue? Good beginner flutes can be found (if you have someone knowledgeable to shop for you) for under $100; a decent string bass will run near $1000; a proper piano, even more.

Some instruments have a higher chance of physical ailments. At 13, there's no chance that any wind instrument will cause teeth problems (unlike kids who start trumpet or clarinet too early). Oboe requires an enormous amount of breath pressure, and oboists generally wind up with sinus and salivary gland irritation (and oboists are often nervous types who worry to death about their reeds and can't play fast due to the instrument's ill-designed key system). Trumpet is generally safe but some of those who specialize in the upper registers can develop abdomenal strain or back problems.

Whatever she takes up, make certain she has a competent teacher who can pay close attention to her techniques at first. A player who doesn't get mistakes corrected early on will turn those mistakes into bad habits--which can not only stall later progress, but in the worst case scenario can cause repetitive motion injuries.

Also: beginners make the most progress by practicing frequently for shorter times. Those little four-year-old violinists who learn by the Suzuki method are told to play the instrument for a few minutes every time they eat :-) Eventually the musician must build stamina by putting in a couple of hours straight, but the beginner makes more progress from four 10-minute practices than from one 1-hour session.

i would recommend the piano

SAXOPHONE!!!

Violin! That's what I did starting in the 4th grade. Didn't stop till second year in college, although I will get back to it when I have time. Its fun because you can play with others in an orchestra, fairly versatile, and not cumbersome like other instruments. There's also a nice refinement about it that band instruments don't offer, although they can be fun too. Overall I always noticed girls tended to like orchestra over band alot. Also, if your really good, the first chair violinist automatically is the concertmaster!

Somehow I see this young teen tickling the ivories. The piano is the perfect choice, beautiful sound and relatively easy to learn. And I think it would make her happy.

there are a lot of factors. What do you teeth look like? If you'll need braces, I wouldn't go with Saxophone or Clarinet, but still maybe a brass instrument like Trumpet, or Trombone. How dexterous are you? You may be good at piano or percussion, if you are pretty well coordinated.

Whatever instrument she likes (you like?). There should be no limiting factors that dictate that a 13 yr old girl should learn any one instrument over any other. Pick an instrument whose sound you enjoy and go for it. If you don't like it, pick another. At 13, she's (you're?) young enough to learn several instruments before deciding which one to concentrate on.

I recommend the guitar or piano.

my answer would be the violin! i play the violin, the piano and the guitar! but the violin is my first or main instrument and i started playing about 3 years ago. its great! and playing in the orchestra is good for one's team work skills and self-esteem.

i would recommend the piano
It will teach you both scales and the basics of music.
If you start on piano you can branch off to other things.
once you know the scale.
She might also enjoy learning to play and sing at the same time.

It depends on what youre interested in....when i was 13 (not too long ago like 2 years ago) i already taught myself how to play piano and i wanted to play guitar and drums. i am kinda good at drums but im not to great with guitar.....i love piano though.