... what sounds better for a tall-ish boy (who wants to be a man's man eventually).
...
any thoughts on this one?
As someone raising an 11 year old boy whose chosen instrument is a flute, I hope I'm reading your first post wrong. GS11 fell in love with the flute when an older cousin(in-law) played her flute at church. He started private lessons a year ago and joined the band at school this year, band starts in 6th grade. He's constantly getting razzed about playing a 'girl' instrument, and I'm constantly countering with getting him CD's of famous male flautists.
A larger instrument may fit your son's fingers more easily, but there are lots of "mans men" who play violin.
It's sad this problem has to exist. There are only 3 male flutes (out of 50/60) in my daughter's band. 1 of them (gifted) is perceived as "gay" because of this and gets made fun of a lot. DD doesn't really know any of the other ones, but they likely have a similar problem.
Unfortunately, it can also go the other way. At DD's "instrument try out day", she was told she wouldn't be able to play trumpet because of her braces, so she tried other ones. I think the conversation went about like this... (DD)" I like this euphonium, it seems like my mouth fits it good, and I like the sound. " (Director) "Okay, do you want to do that?" (DD, thinks, and then asks) "Would I be the only girl?" (Director) "yes, you would be the only girl, but we have had plenty of girls in the past." (DD) "I guess I'll try something else". There went tuba, euphonium, and trombone. Saxophone ended up being a good fit for her, but still, I don't like the fact that she felt constricted to choosing a woodwind/high brass instrument for sake of not being one of the few girls.
