Two of my kids started band with no prior experience on the instrument they chose, and we found it to be a great way to try out an instrument to see if they liked it enough to purchase an instrument and pay for private lessons.
All of our family plays multiple instruments, and we've found keeping it for pleasure has taken the anxiety and stress out of the process. My daughter still goes to the student union on her college campus to play piano when she gets stressed, and bot of my sons (18 & 11) have asked for a drum set to share. After being selected to play percussion in beginning band back in September, my youngest is now asking for private lessons for drum so he can audition for jazz band next year.
One of the best ways to inhibit curiousity in my opinion is to force a child to either be 100% into something or not at all. My thought would be to allow your child to try it out and see how they take to it - and whether they ask for private lessons after trying it out in orchestra.
Last edited by ABQMom; 12/15/11 08:10 AM. Reason: Posted before I finished typing...
