What's a good age for a child to start piano lessons?

[Ellen Forradalom]

I was listening to my four-year-old bang on the piano at my mother's house today. There was a rudimentary musicality to it and he was enjoying himself. I've also noticed he can carry a tune fairly well for a child his age and can memorize songs quickly. Today in the car he was singing a Harry Belafonte song, "How I Do Adore Her," which is on a tape I often play while driving.

What is a good, not too pressured but effective and enjoyable way to introduce him to formal music instruction?

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. You've asked two questions, so I'll answer the first one

The age to start is the age he shows interest, and it seems that he has.

Hie him into lessons now!

As to your second question, I don't have an answer. The music teacher could help you out with that.

[Ellen Forradalom]

2. Hi Rabrrr

I saw you were around so I figured you'd check in. Thanks!

He has a box full of music toys (including various toy instruments collected by my late father) and he loves to strum on my ukulele and make up songs.

Hmmm, I'll make some calls on his behalf on Monday.


On edit: I spent my entire childhood hearing my father working on his compositions at the piano, banging out fragments in his head and kind of mumbling along. Listening to my son play and sing, I turned to my mother and said, "Oh my God, he's channelling Dad!" and she broke up laughing.

[Rabrrrrrr]

5. HA HA! he could be channeling your dad!

I still haven't contacted your mother, but it's on my list of things to do once the holiday stuff winds down.

He sounds like he enjoys and has a passion for music and sound, and should be in lessons and having some definite directed learning experience.

[Ellen Forradalom]

6. Yes, he's made up some hilarious songs on the ukulele

about coffee and donuts and poopy butt underwear and other stuff.

on edit: It's also pretty funny to hear a kid singing in the back seat, "I'd reveal how I do adore her/Hang my heart on my sleeve just for her/All my love throughout life assure her/If this moment I could amore her."

[Rabrrrrrr]

8. poopy butt underwear?

Could be the next Peter Schickele!

Or John Cage.


or, God forbid, Marilyn Manson...

[Ellen Forradalom]

9. The last I doubt.

He will have good taste by the time he grows up. I will personally see to that.

[Rabrrrrrr]

10. So long as he stays away from tonality and harmony

It's so 19th century. :evilgrin:

[Ellen Forradalom]

11. Ah, but haven't you heard? Everything old is new again

We're suffering from avante-garde fatigue. Modernism is just so five minutes ago.

[Rabrrrrrr]

12. Polyphony and clarity of line is all the rage again,

just like it was before the 1600s!

It's quite exciting, really.

[Ellen Forradalom]

13. Yep, unconventional art only works

when there's convention. It's good to retain your ability to be shocked; it gives shocking people work.

[Rabrrrrrr]

17. Hee hee. Very true!!

Once tonality and rhythm and harmony had been destroyed, the only radical thing left to do was go back to C major and start over as a radical break from the heterodoxy. :-)

[George_Bonanza]

3. I started at around 7

This is the first time I have truly grown a passion for the piano, as opposed to merely enjoying. As soon as I ended lessons, I began to freely enjoy the piano.

[populistmom]

4. My mom plays classical piano

She's an amateur, but very good and did a bit of teaching and she always said that it works better if the child can at least read at a basic level because it helps them understand the concept of reading music more easily. Generally, that would be kindergarten age, usually towards the end of Kindergarten, at about 5 or 6.

[tjdee]

7. Mine started piano lessons the week before she turned 4.

My daughter loves music, sounds a lot like your son... I happened to mention it to someone who recommended a teacher.

Her teacher does the Yamaha method (there are so many methods, LOL)...the Yamaha method has a lot to do with listening to songs, then reading and playing them. In one week she was playing Hot Cross Buns--it was great and she was so proud of herself.

About 6 months later, she's reading all the musical notes and is playing some two hand pieces. She is also counting quarter notes/half notes/whole notes. I say that to say this: kids learn quicker than sometimes we think, especially if they're interested.

The most important thing is to pick the right teacher. You don't want someone who's going to stress your kid out, but on the flip side you don't want someone who's going to actually TEACH piano. Good luck!

[koopie57]

14. where I live, there is a thing called

Kindermusic. At his age I would think this would be a great place to start. Both my kids participated in this program. It teaches them a great deal about beat, etc. But, actually, it depends on the teacher and the environment - at least IMHO.

If her were my son, I would find a program like Kindermusic or anything similar. Well, I say this cuz my kids had a very good experience with it. If I were you, I would definitely find something to encourage this, to stimulate it. I think music saved my daughters life.

[Nikia]

15. The music school I took lessons had a minimum age of 4

I've heard that some talented musicians have started at 3. If he shows interest, you could try signing him up for lessons with a teacher that has had experience with young children. Just be attentive to how he is doing with it and how much he likes it.

[amazona]

16. um...never ?

If it comes from the parent, it will be pressure. My parents forced me to take piano for 7 years from the time I was 6 years old. I've always been bitter about the waste of time and money, especially since we really didn't have any money. But maybe it wasn't a waste...since it taught me to hate music, which has probably saved me a fortune in therapy bills? Hmmm...must think about that. The kids I knew who grew up with a love of performing certainly didn't turn out very well, when all is said and done.

In all seriousness, I would never consider piano lessons for a child unless that child asked for the lessons -- multiple times, at that. It is a significant investment in money for a decent piano, and every time you move, you have another significant expense. Yet, for most kids, after the new and shiny has worn off the lessons, they're so over it. And the daily practice required just becomes something else to fight about.

All four year olds like music but I think you can destroy that pretty quick with lessons. Just my jaundiced opinion based on some rather embittering experiences...Your Mileage May Vary and I hope it does!

[Enraged_Ape]

18. Mrs. Enraged_Ape started piano lessons at 4

She took lessons for ten years and still plays beautifully. I am quite jealous of her that her parents got her into lessons as soon as she showed an aptitude.

[Cheswick2.0]

19. he's old enough

if the lessons are planned for someone who can't read english let alone music. But some kind of matching notes and rythm games wouldn't be a bad idea. I would start with singing first. Kindermusic is a good idea.

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

20. Encourage his perfect pitch

by letting him imitate any sound he hears . It worked for me . I don't know how else to explain it . I started with the Viola when I was 8 .

[ProfessorGAC]

21. I Started at Four

But, we had an organ upstairs (my dad played that) and this beat up old upright in the basement that had been his parents' piano. I started playing organ at 4 to be like daddy, but by the time i was six, i liked the feeling of the piano. Ya know, the harder you hit it the louder it goes!

I got serious around 8 or 9.

So, it depends on the interest. I would avoid having a really young child going through any highly disciplined approach. (Excercises ad nauseum, for instance.)

There are methods out now that focus on things that kids know and hear, like Disney movie songs and the like. Some teachers will swear by them, since they feel the child learns more adaptively if they're playing things they already know and like.

When i was being coached in jazz piano (ages 11 to 18) the "teacher" made me pick my own material. Then, he would work with me to make the tune more complicated and bigger than the sheet music would indicate. That way, i was playing a song i already liked, already could hear in my head, and then learn jazz by dressing up that basic structure. So, that approach sure worked for me.

We might be able to discuss this soon. I assume you're coming next Saturday. Vero?
The Professor