Here, orchestra starts in school in 4th grade while band starts in 5th grade. There are small group lessons once a week during the school day and once a week they meet as a group to practice playing together. Most students do not take private lessons, although a few do, perhaps because we live in a lower-income area.
My DS13 did what a lot of kids here do, which is to start in orchestra in 4th grade and then, because he didn't choose an instrument that he loved, switched to band. He's now been in band for 4 years and he definitely benefited from the year in orchestra because it gave him a chance to learn to read music and to explore his options. There was never any intent, on his or the school's part, to nurture a serious, competitive, musician. He really likes playing, but he equally likes the social opportunities being a part of the band brings.
My DD10 currently plays both guitar, which she started when she was 7, and clarinet, which she started at 9. She only practices each for 15 minutes a day. Her guitar teacher recommended shorter practice sessions specifically because he wanted it to be fun for her and a lot of kids get turned off by the "chore" of having to practice for longer periods. Her band director would like students to practice 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. However, what we have found is that DD has a real aptitude for music and can practice for less time than the other students with even better results. Since she doesn't want to become a serious musician at this point, and we just really want her to enjoy music, we're good with the situation. She definitely benefitted from already playing one instrument when she decided to pick up another. She caught up in just 2 months with where the other kids were after an entire year of playing. Yet, it still presents her with a
little challenge each week as she sees that practice, short thought it may be, does make her get better. (Which she doesn't get from school, really, but does get from sports).
If anything, I would just encourage your DD to just take up a new instrument one at a time. So now she plays guitar and is taking up violin. Perhaps wait a year or two before she picks up another instrument so that she doesn't get overwhelmed and you're not out a lot of money at one time. And, too, that gives her a chance to really persevere with the two she's currently playing before moving on. But, it's always easier to learn one instrument when you know how to play another, so I'd say encourage her exploration if she's interested.
Of course, I almost always say encourage a child's exploration if he or she is interested.
