Im grade 8 singing and grade 4 piano - I have a violin and a clarinet and I wanna start 1 but which?
I have quite small hands so will that be difficult to play the violin? Plus - I have little fingers which dont straighten properly so will that hinder too?

Which do you think Id progress more quickly on?

Any ideas?

I'm a clarinettist myself - which I'd recommend! your singing will mean that you've already got a lot of the breath control techniques. Having large hands isn't really an advantage as long as your fingers cover the holes properly. But - if you wanted to play violin - your singing probably means you ahve a good ear for pitch - which is useful there. Hope that helps!

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I have little fingers which dont straighten properly

Well, my violin teacher is always telling me to BEND my little fingers so that shouldn't be a problem!
I think that progress on the clarinet tends to be quicker than on the violin initially but it evens out in the end- I think, I THINK. Don't quote me on that!
What you might want to do is have a trial lesson or lessons on both and see what you think then.

I don't think your small hands or 'bendy' little fingers would matter, whichever one you chose.

Progress would be faster on the clarinet initially, but it evens out later, like cecilia said.

Which one appeals to you most? Which one do you prefer the sound of? Maybe you should have a lesson on each (since you've already got the instruments) and see how you get on. Good luck!

I'd say violin, but then I am a bit biased!

Small hands don't matter in the slightest - I've been playing the violin since the age of 4, and if I could play it then with such small hands then I'm sure you'll have no problem (unless your hands are smaller than a 4-year-olds). You can always downsize on the violin, so long as the arm length isn't a problem...

I can only just span an octave on the piano now and I play the violin...

why don't you try out for both.... you can then decide which one you are going to do later...once you get into the flavour of what it's like..

i think everyone knows what i would say! clarinet of course!

Violin of course, I can just about reach an octave on the piano and I play the flipping viola, so you probably wouldn't have much trouble with the violin, I've been playing it since I was 7.