Piano Lessons for 4 year old?
Feb 2002
My daughter is 3 and 1/2 years old and I am considering starting her with
some kind of music lessons, but since I did not grow up in this country I
have very little idea of the right age to start children in music, or which
instrument is preferred by children (we cannot buy a piano). Someone
suggested violin lessons, Suzuki method to me. Any thoughts, experiences
or suggestions would be welcome. Thank you.
Richa
I'm not sure there is a ''right'' age to start children in music lessons
because each child is different. I do believe 3 1/2 is a bit early for
music lessons that will be tightly structured, but not too young for
experimentation with various intruments. Structured music lessons at such a
young age can sometimes make a child lose interest in playing his/her
instrument. I have known many 7-8 year olds who have been forced into
lessons, are good at their instruments, but don't really enjoy playing. As
a result, they give it up when they are old enough to have a say.
Musical Mom
There are wonderful music programs around for this age that are not too
structured and fun (Jingle Jamboree comes to mind). I started piano at age
four and it was AWFUL! Children this age do not progress very quickly, so
there was no reward for my work. It was years before there was any change
in my playing ability, and by that time I had had it. I hated it. My
husband started taking piano lessons at the age of 12 and by high school was
a solo pianist with a major music conservatory (he went on to study music in
college, and earned his degree in music). Starting early is not always
better. Teachers usually say that the best age to start music is during the
second semester of second grade. I think this relates somehow to reading
ability and the brain's development.
Rather than isolate your child with an instrument and a teacher, why not
enroll in a group music program? Both of my children (ages two and five)
are in them and love them. They wait all week for these classes! The older
child is learning to read music, and the younger one is simply having a
ball.
Here is my experience : I have 3 kids who started music lessons at a
different age. The older one started at 7 1/2, the middle one at 6 and the
youngest at 4. They all study the piano in a small group setting, the school
is called ''do re mi''. We do not have a piano, just a keyboard, which was
purchased for just a $100. Now the results : the older one took off very
fast, jumped a class and is learning very easily, the middle one is doing
good, and the little one is moving along with her class mates, who are all
the same age, but it will take her twice as long to reach her older brother
level. But I must admit that it is cute to see her play, and the teacher
uses a method that makes it very easy for young children to understand the
notes, their place and value. So my recommandation? I do not have any!
a mother of 3
I started my daughter in Suzuki piano at 3 years and she is really enjoying
it (she's 3.5 now). I was suprised at how quickly all the children learn to
recognize whole notes, quarter notes, half notes and so on and how quickly
they learn to find As,Bs,Cs and so on on the piano. Her teacher is
wonderful and really understands children. She rewards them amply with
stickers and small toys and her enthusiasm.
Here is her web page on preschool piano study.
http://www.pianoweb.net/pianostudy/preschool.htm
As for not being able to afford a piano, you'd be surprised how often pianos
are offered free on the UCB parents Marketplace. There was one offered
February 20th. We opted for a digital piano. Which is also much less
expensive than buying a real piano. These have improved dramatically, and
have weighted keys and ``touch sensitivity'' (louder when you play hard,
quieter when you play softly) like a real piano. They have other appealing
features: always in tune (this is important for ear training), you can
adjust the volume, change the voice (violin, choir), record yourself and
play it back (kids love this) and listen to prerecorded pieces. Best thing
in my opinion (since I like to play it, too) is that you can put on head
phones and have your turn when the kids are in bed. We bought a Yamaha
Clavinova CLP930. The four Yamaha dealers in the area are:
Pianos Plus
1558 A St
Castro Valley, CA 94546
510-581-1660
Music Exchange, Inc.
7704 Dublin Blvd
Dublin, CA 94568
510-828-3442
Piedmont Piano Company, Inc.
4382 Piedmont Ave
Oakland, CA 94611
510-547-8188
Yamaha Peninsula Music Center
861 S. Winchester Blvd
San Jose, CA 95128
408-241-9700
I was quoted $2700 for this piano originally, but got the price down to
$1850 by calling from place to place and saying what I'd been quoted.
One note: Suzuki demands a lot of the piano or violin parent, since you have
to learn everything they need to learn during lessons and teach them during
practice at home. You sit with them for the whole time they practice, and
reward and encourage and correct and assist them. I have found it to be a
wonderful time for my daughter and me, but it is a big commitment, too, to
practice almost every day.
susan
The right age to start music lessons is when the child is showing a more
than passing interest in it. Everyone is right. If you start too young, they
don't enjoy it. My son is 17 now, but he picked up his dad's old guitar two
years ago and taught himself to play. He's been playing fro two years now,
no classes, yet he's better than his friends who have beenin guitar classes
for four or more years. he has an ear for it. Same with the bagpipes. It
took him less than six months to progress from chanter to full pipes which
usuaally takes most people around three years or more.
So what I'm trying to say is, it all depends on the child. See if they
continue to play with the samne instruments and seem to enjoy it before
trying to get structured lessons. I'm still trying to convince my son that
he could go so much farther if he had an instructor, but he won't go for it
since he's doing so well on his own (with the guitar - he does have a
bagpipe teacher).
Marianne
For ear training (probably the most important ability of a musician), the
younger they start, the better. You can put your child in music sing-a-long
groups for very young children -- I think there are groups for children as
young as 18 months. Usually in those groups, the kids sing while playing
with toys and puppets. You don't want to start anything more structured
until they are about 4, and definitely not any formal, individual lesson
until they are at least 6 or 7.
My children started going to the Yahama general musicianship classes when
they were 4. Those were group lessons, and parents had to stay with the
students in the class and practise with them at home. I know my children are
not musicians, but what they learned in those classes will stay with them
for the rest of their lives: they will always want to play and appreciate
music.
A mom with a degree in music
There's a big difference between types of music lessons - learning an
instrument vs general music education. The best rule of thumb I've had on
instrument lessons is to wait for the child to persist in asking to learn a
particular instrument for at least six months before you agree. Learning an
instrument takes a certain level of commitment - but the age they want to
learn can vary enormously. On the other hand, general music education for
young children (which includes rhythm, pitch discrimination, singing) is
really age-dependent. Children need to learn these things the younger the
better - unlike with instruments, if they don't have much exposure before
the age of eight, they'll have much more trouble. And they'll have more
difficulty with learning an instrument. Many preschools have such programs,
which may be all you need, some kids get it from family, or you can go to a
group. Some groups, such as Yamaha, include an instrument with the general
music education. The main thing is that learning in a group is often more
satisfactory for younger children, because learning by themselves is too
boring and lonely. My son did two years of early childhood music, then a
Yamaha-style piano/general music for another two years, but his group
changed and he felt he didn't like it as much. Now, after a gap, at 9 he's
playing trumpet in the school program and is streaking ahead, with great
enjoyment because this is the instrument he's chosen. He also sings well in
tune and has an excellent sense of rhythm. I think this was all well worth
while.
fiona
I gave taught classical piano for almost 30 years, and now run a music
program for newborns through 7 year olds. I think it's important to
distinguish between music 'lessons' and musical exposure. In my piano
teaching experience, age 6 was just right (on AVERAGE) for many children. I
like to wait until their reading of English has begun to get a foothold. For
me, teaching music reading right from the beginning of lessons avoids later
struggles when children who have some competence on an instrument are asked
to go back to baby pieces, and learn to read all those little dots. The
pitfall with this approach is that the very young years are wonderful for
tonal and rhythmic development (learning to keep a beat and sing in tune).
Over the years I have experienced a huge range in children's abilities in
this area when they begin formal piano lessons. Some kids are left in a
position similar to being asked to read, write and understand the word 'dog'
without ever having seen a real dog. The answer? EARLY EXPOSURE in a
DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE setting. This means being given the
opportunity
to experiment and play with music. Very young children do not need to be
taught ABOUT music. They must speak the language first. This is achieved by
experience in a playful, rich musical environment. Children who come to
formal lesson with 'basic music competence' are in a position to experience
much more gratification from their efforts, as well as an easier learning
curve. IS IT EVER TOO EARLY? Certainly, it's NEVER too early to fall in love
with music, and to learn to enjoy sharing music with family and friends. The
wonderful thing is that this happens in the same way that we prepare very
young children for musical achievement. If children experience music in a
developmentally appropriate setting, it's never too early to begin this part
of the process, also. As they hear the music and feel the beat from their
moms and participate according to their developmental stage, their little
brains are firing away, setting down the pathways that will allow further
musical achievement. Music Together. did the pioneering research in the
field of early music development. You can visit the national web site at
www.musictogether.com. They have a lot of info about this subject, and an
extensive bibliography. You are also welcome to contact me for further info.
Happy reading!
Julie
March 2001
My 3 year old son seems very musically inclined, has even taught himself
some songs on the piano. I'm wondering if anyone has experience or
advice
about starting piano lessons so young. He'll be 4 soon, and I've heard
that the Suzuki method
can begin then. My concerns are: I don't want to start structuring his
musical time too soon, or
making something he enjoys into something he "has to" do. Then again,
lessons might help to
encourage any musical interest he has. Any thoughts??
S. M.
Four is very young to start lessons. If you find a teacher who is
playful and very gifted with working with young children, then lessons
might make sense. My observation of children who take Suzuki lessons
when they are young is that they play wonderfully as children; then, for
some reason, they give up playing music before they are grown. Another
thing to consider for now is taking classes in music activities or even
dance, to help develop a feel for rhythm. Beginning formal lessons at
age five or six gives your child a chance to mature before s/he tackles
the discipline of learning an instrument. Good luck!
Louise
My six year old daughter has a wonderful piano teacher whom I certain
would be more than willing to talk with you regarding the appropriate
age to begin lessons. Her teacher's name is Judith Meites; her phone
number in Berkeley is 843-4541.
Not only is Judith an inspired teacher of young children (and older
children and advanced adults!), she is gifted in her understanding of
the whole child. I have learned a great deal from Judith about my
daughter! Judith knows her students deeply; they in turn love her.
Judith would give you a very honest and insightful assessment of your
son's readiness for piano lessons.
Linda
When children are ready to start music lessons is a very individual
thing. What you need to remember is it's not just the instrument
they're learning - it's a whole culture of musical styles, rhythm,
pitch recognition, understanding of harmony and so forth. Two pieces
of advice I had that were useful were 1. to wait to learn ANY
particular instrument until the child had been consistently asking to
do it for at least six months (they need to have a sense of
persistence to keep it up, also if they drop it it's more discouraging
than if they'd never begun) 2. piano can be a lonely instrument -
played alone, with a private teacher, and many very small children are
not ready for that. I had the recommendation to send my kids to group
"early music" lessons, at age three, that included all sorts of music
skills, such as rhythm, pitch, listening, playing percussion against
one another and so forth that have stood them in very good stead in
the lo! ng! run. When my daughter was seven she wanted to do piano,
but I wasn't sure about the loneliness thing, so I enrolled her in a
Yamaha style group piano lesson, that continued to include a lot of
extra learning about harmony, theory, rhythm. The advantage of a
group was that it was much more fun, the children wanted to practice
because they didn't want to be embarassed in front of their friends,
and they learned so much more than just the one instrument. Groups
don't suit all kids, but you should consider it seriously for such a
young child. I have a niece who has been doing Suzuki since she was
about three, and she's doing well at it, with a LOT of family support,
but I still don't think she has as good a general grounding as my kids
in the Yamaha system.
Fiona
Crowden School has "Music together" for kids under 4, and
"pre-instrument training" for age 3-6 and the approach is Orff /
Kodaly approach. Crowden also gives referrals for teachers. Their
number is 559-6910.
I was a piano teacher for 15 years, and also have a musically talented
4 year old. I do believe the piano is not made for young fingers.
Have fun with songs, movements, improvisation, rhythm, group music
making, and learn to read music before their muscles are stronger.
Suzuki method is to teach young kids to learn instruments by ears.
You must find the well-trained Suzuki teachers, otherwise a lot of
Suzuki students will have difficulties to excel in sight-reading when
they are older, because they are trained to play music by ears. There
are so many people around us had piano lessons in their life, they
love music but they can't sight read well and play the instrument they
love. There is no excuses for this for anyone had a few years of good
lessons. The problem is too many piano teachers are not qualified.
Take your child to concerts and student recitals, and get a good
referral.
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should not be taken as a position of or endorsement by the
University of California, Berkeley.