re: Questions for the band geeks

Have her learn sax, but have her also learn to play mellophone (marching french horn) so she has more opportunities if she plans on playing in band past high school

Being good at any instrument makes you better at any other instrument.

If she's already impressing on piano, then she will be fine in whatever she does. If she wants to play sax, let her play sax.

I don't consider myself a band nerd, but I was in band from 5th grade through a year in college. I started with trumpet, made a switch to mellophone and french horn in high school and even played some baritone. I didn't really have plans on band in college but they offered me a damn good amount of money. I ended up being second chair french horn in the top concert band as a freshman. That wasn't really my thing, because the concert band in college was full of band majors, and they were just weird. Marching band was fun in college. There was the nerd members and there were the partiers.

Point being, let her start on whichever path she chooses and support her in exploring any other options she wants down the road. Never know where it's going to take her.

Not to mention, band kids tend to be smarter and be the more well behaved kids. Not saying there aren't other smart/well behaved kids, but a large percentage of them will be in band and that's who she will be around and probably end up with multiple friends there. So even if band takes her nowhere (which is likely wont) at least she should be hanging around a decent crowd.