we're hopin to get thegirl into fiddle lessons sometime this year...
we gotta friend in the choir that gives piano and violin lessons... she played her violin in accompaniment for me a few weeks back, and gave the girl a few quick lessons on the basics... you shoulda seen thegirls eyes as she drew the bow and made her first notes...
Starting an instrument is REALLY exciting, and you go a long way in a short time. Then progress slows down a bit as you really get comfortable with the instrument. That's why I've started to learn about four and can't play any of them worth a darn...
But fiddle is an AWESOME instrument to start with, IMO. Hard, but very good for developing a musical ear since you have to find the notes by ear rather than depending on frets or anything like that. Not to mention it's perhaps the most versatile instrument out there, along with guitar and piano - fits any genre.