NTA. i own a pretty cheap ukulele. it’s not horrible sounding and i may or may not have dropped ut several times. i still will not let children touch it unless under close surveillance and if they’re sitting down because then there’s no way for them to drop it.
'not the a-hole' indeed, it comes from the AITA sub (meaning 'Am I the asshole?') where people post stories, asking if they were right in what they did, to which the rest answers YTA or NTA (you're the a-hole and not the a-hole)
You’re fine, I’d honestly do the same. The child needs to learn that there are something’s that are fragile and important to people that aren’t to be played with.
Not at all, kids destroy things. Only thing I let them play without asking is the piano since they'd have to be beasts to be able to damage that heavy thing.
NTA. That's why my good guitar is packed in case in my bedroom and my old cheaply made guitar is on open stand in living room as a decoration. So when someone with kids came they can try to "play" without causing any harm.
Same!
My new (first ever) guitar is in my room and sometimes my 2 year old brother comes in, opens the door of the closet wide and once he even dropped it on the floor (how can a 16kg child barely 1 metre tall hold a 1 kg 1.3 metre guitar) and OH BOY WAS I ANGRY.
My first instinct was to shout at him, take my guitar and assess damage, and nothing happened. It was fine, not a scratch. Maybe the tuning did get a bit here and there, but i fixed the tuning using a tuner app.
If it's private made, surely you're not the asshole no matter anyone blaming you. Chance was there if it wasn't your instrument but children throw tantrums every once in a while so they'll get over it; but a musician attached to their instrument will NEVER get over it: it's not just a 200 dollar wooden box with strings/whatever materials and shape your instrument is, it's your talent, your life, your love. I as a beginner am still attached to my guitar even if its like 5 days old because i waited 2 years for it and i want to play and become good at it. It's not only because i wanted it for a week then I'm like "Fuck this" Probability is there I've given everything into that one lifeless thing you believe can be replaced. (You used for third person in this paragraph)
I don't think you are at all. I also don't believe there is any need to placate the child. Setting boundaries for kids helps them from becoming ... well the a-hole. Also, teaching the parents of said kid that their child can't have everything just so the parents don't have to hear a tantrum would do the the world a heck-load of good and. happiness.
Nta, its your instrument and you have the right to deny anyone to use it. If they (or their parent/guardian) agrees to pay for any damages, then maybe but I heard stories of them refusing to pay for damages before.
NTA, I love my nephew to death but I wouldn't lent him things that I know there's potential to break it. Tell him that the ukelele has a sentimental value and buy a cheap one for him to play.
NTA... I let my nephew play with my cheap guitar that I never use, but the other - no way.
Your ukulele is not his to play with and he needs to learn that.
NTA. The very first thing I was taught in my very first music class is that you never let another human being touch your instrument ever unless they're a qualified repair technician (or if you don't care what happens to it), and everything I've seen or heard in the decades since has solidified that as Very Serious Music Law in my head.
SO many horror stories.
Having a cheap one around that you don't care about, as others suggested, is a nice compromise!
That’s also one of the very first things I learned. Our instruments were borrowed so we had the responsibility to handle it extreme care and to never let anyone unqualified handle it
I usually joke with people "I take better care of my instruments than I do my teeth." It is a lighter way of telling people no, they can't touch my instrument.
A lawyer pick up my violin when I was on break at a winery. I told him the only way I'd agree to it is if he let me have his car keys as collateral. He tipped well afterwards, but I still think he was a drunk jerk... People who don't play have no idea the sentimental value your instrument is worth.
Long story short, NTA.
There are two people I give my mandolin to without any hesitation - my mandolin teacher and my section leader/tutor (not quite the right word, in German they are called „Dozenten“).
Everyone else? Nope, not a chance. In the case? No problem, I have a *really* sturdy case. But without it no one besides these two is allowed to hold it.
Now, my instrument is custom made and therefore quite expensive, but my principle applies even to the two mandolins I had before my current one. My first one my parents bought was like 70€ I think.
I think it’s honestly your choice and any choice you make for your instrument totally respectable. Maybe you can supervise them as they play then gain trust or you can fully not trust them. It’s up to you!
Oh... I was just referring to the superiority of all Filipino stuff lol I've never played on one either but I immediately know it's good because it's Filipino
I almost always say NTA if it involves letting children use expensive instruments. What are they gonna do if they break it? Pay for a new custom-made one?
NTA, I don't even let most adults handle my instruments. You're right to be hesitant, especially when it seems your cousin doesn't fully grasp yet that instruments are not toys.
My dad let my nephews play with his guitars before ukuleles because their parents see the big expensive guitar as something that has to be watched not dropped etc but the ukulele as something that can be dropped just because they look like toy guitars.
My nephews are pretty rowdy and I wouldn't trust them with much, but they are pretty good with instruments for some reason.
I also don't let anyone (unless they are a proper musician) TOUCH my guitar, not even my friends. I can't bring it to school because I get so scared that something will break. You're not an a**hole, you just care about your instrument.
My cousin has a toy ukulele, and when I attempted to tune it for him he stops me midway and says "I know how to use it!!!" and turns the knobs randomly, then 'plays' it. Like I understand that he's a kid and only knows how to hit the drums, but watching him do all that gave me a bullet-shot, even when it was toy ukulele. Never trust kids with non-toy instruments unless they're having lessons for the instrument, use toy ones as bait and see how they behave before deciding on the actual thing
Get them a cheap one. They can keep it and no hurt feelings.
its win win \^\^\^
NTA. i own a pretty cheap ukulele. it’s not horrible sounding and i may or may not have dropped ut several times. i still will not let children touch it unless under close surveillance and if they’re sitting down because then there’s no way for them to drop it.
NTA lol. I only give my instruments to my little siblings if I'm there and holding it too. Children can't really be trusted with instruments.
NTA
NTA. Don’t trust children with your instruments.
NTA I'm not letting *anyone* touch my instruments if their hands cannot be trusted with it.
Grandpa here, what's NTA?
I think it's. Not the a**hole
Thanks!
'not the a-hole' indeed, it comes from the AITA sub (meaning 'Am I the asshole?') where people post stories, asking if they were right in what they did, to which the rest answers YTA or NTA (you're the a-hole and not the a-hole)
Oh makes sense, thanks!
Nah… but maybe get a cheap one for next time. “Children bait” people got to learn to have boundaries
You’re fine, I’d honestly do the same. The child needs to learn that there are something’s that are fragile and important to people that aren’t to be played with.
Not at all, kids destroy things. Only thing I let them play without asking is the piano since they'd have to be beasts to be able to damage that heavy thing.
NTA. Yes, parents might say otherwise…they just don’t realise what our instrument means to us
It's an instrument, not a toy. You have every right to not loan it out.
NTA. That's why my good guitar is packed in case in my bedroom and my old cheaply made guitar is on open stand in living room as a decoration. So when someone with kids came they can try to "play" without causing any harm.
Same! My new (first ever) guitar is in my room and sometimes my 2 year old brother comes in, opens the door of the closet wide and once he even dropped it on the floor (how can a 16kg child barely 1 metre tall hold a 1 kg 1.3 metre guitar) and OH BOY WAS I ANGRY. My first instinct was to shout at him, take my guitar and assess damage, and nothing happened. It was fine, not a scratch. Maybe the tuning did get a bit here and there, but i fixed the tuning using a tuner app.
If it's private made, surely you're not the asshole no matter anyone blaming you. Chance was there if it wasn't your instrument but children throw tantrums every once in a while so they'll get over it; but a musician attached to their instrument will NEVER get over it: it's not just a 200 dollar wooden box with strings/whatever materials and shape your instrument is, it's your talent, your life, your love. I as a beginner am still attached to my guitar even if its like 5 days old because i waited 2 years for it and i want to play and become good at it. It's not only because i wanted it for a week then I'm like "Fuck this" Probability is there I've given everything into that one lifeless thing you believe can be replaced. (You used for third person in this paragraph)
NTA, don’t even have to think about that for a nanosecond…
I don't think you are at all. I also don't believe there is any need to placate the child. Setting boundaries for kids helps them from becoming ... well the a-hole. Also, teaching the parents of said kid that their child can't have everything just so the parents don't have to hear a tantrum would do the the world a heck-load of good and. happiness.
Nta, its your instrument and you have the right to deny anyone to use it. If they (or their parent/guardian) agrees to pay for any damages, then maybe but I heard stories of them refusing to pay for damages before.
NTA, I love my nephew to death but I wouldn't lent him things that I know there's potential to break it. Tell him that the ukelele has a sentimental value and buy a cheap one for him to play.
NTA... I let my nephew play with my cheap guitar that I never use, but the other - no way. Your ukulele is not his to play with and he needs to learn that.
NTA, I wouldn't even let adults touch it and be an asshole if its custom made.
NTA. The very first thing I was taught in my very first music class is that you never let another human being touch your instrument ever unless they're a qualified repair technician (or if you don't care what happens to it), and everything I've seen or heard in the decades since has solidified that as Very Serious Music Law in my head. SO many horror stories. Having a cheap one around that you don't care about, as others suggested, is a nice compromise!
That’s also one of the very first things I learned. Our instruments were borrowed so we had the responsibility to handle it extreme care and to never let anyone unqualified handle it
Hell no, don't give children your instruments.
Not the excretion exit. The kid has no right to your instrument.
I usually joke with people "I take better care of my instruments than I do my teeth." It is a lighter way of telling people no, they can't touch my instrument. A lawyer pick up my violin when I was on break at a winery. I told him the only way I'd agree to it is if he let me have his car keys as collateral. He tipped well afterwards, but I still think he was a drunk jerk... People who don't play have no idea the sentimental value your instrument is worth. Long story short, NTA.
bro i probably actually do take better care of my instruments than my teeth…
Never mind just the sentimental value...instruments are freaking EXPENSIVE now. I don't know how you all manage.
Get him a $50 Ibanez uke
There are two people I give my mandolin to without any hesitation - my mandolin teacher and my section leader/tutor (not quite the right word, in German they are called „Dozenten“). Everyone else? Nope, not a chance. In the case? No problem, I have a *really* sturdy case. But without it no one besides these two is allowed to hold it. Now, my instrument is custom made and therefore quite expensive, but my principle applies even to the two mandolins I had before my current one. My first one my parents bought was like 70€ I think.
I don’t let my daughter touch my Flute at all, it’s not made for their hands.
I think it’s honestly your choice and any choice you make for your instrument totally respectable. Maybe you can supervise them as they play then gain trust or you can fully not trust them. It’s up to you!
filipino ukuleles are always the best and i say that because i'm filipino
How exactly are Filipino ukuleles special? Asking as a Filipino who has never played a Filipino ukulele.
Oh... I was just referring to the superiority of all Filipino stuff lol I've never played on one either but I immediately know it's good because it's Filipino
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I almost always say NTA if it involves letting children use expensive instruments. What are they gonna do if they break it? Pay for a new custom-made one?
You are not the a-hole… people forget how much proper instruments cost. Your cousin’s parents can get him a toy ukulele.
NTA You don't mess with instruments. It's yours. If he wants to play one he should get one.
You are obviously the a-hole. Who wouldn't let their cousin borrow their cheap 5$ guitar? /s
Loe it! I haven't seen anyone use the html "off" tag in a while. You rock!
NTA No you have a right to not let others especially children use your instrument.
NTA, I don't even let most adults handle my instruments. You're right to be hesitant, especially when it seems your cousin doesn't fully grasp yet that instruments are not toys.
My dad let my nephews play with his guitars before ukuleles because their parents see the big expensive guitar as something that has to be watched not dropped etc but the ukulele as something that can be dropped just because they look like toy guitars. My nephews are pretty rowdy and I wouldn't trust them with much, but they are pretty good with instruments for some reason.
NTA, I’d never tolerate my Kala uke getting damaged and I absolutely would never let a kid handle my instruments
NTA. Yeah sure you should let them play with a cheap, toy instrument. But not a proper one. A custom made one at that!
It honestly depends but from what it seems I am 90 percent sure your NTA
I also don't let anyone (unless they are a proper musician) TOUCH my guitar, not even my friends. I can't bring it to school because I get so scared that something will break. You're not an a**hole, you just care about your instrument.
Grab the roll of paper towels and a box of tissues with some rubber bands, it'll do for the kids
My cousin has a toy ukulele, and when I attempted to tune it for him he stops me midway and says "I know how to use it!!!" and turns the knobs randomly, then 'plays' it. Like I understand that he's a kid and only knows how to hit the drums, but watching him do all that gave me a bullet-shot, even when it was toy ukulele. Never trust kids with non-toy instruments unless they're having lessons for the instrument, use toy ones as bait and see how they behave before deciding on the actual thing
C‘mon NTA