Piano Lessons for Preschoolers
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Looking for affordable piano teacher for 4-year-old
Feb 2011
I am looking for affordable piano teacher for my 4 yr old
daughter around UV Albany area ?She is new to music lessons
and prefer Saturday or Sunday
thanks
cheers
My son is almost five and has been taking lessons with Ernie
Mansfield for a little over a year. His price is reasonable
and he is located near North Berkeley BART on Sacramento.
He's great with a young child - very relaxed, low stress,
age-appropriate. My son has a wonderful time learning
piano. Ernie also teaches guitar, sax, and clarinet (perhaps
others) to all ages. http://mansfieldmusic.com/academy-of-music/
Annie
Nov 2010
I am interested in starting my daughter on violin or piano
lessons & would love recommendations on teachers for private
lessons and/or schools for group lessons. We live in
Kensington so someone in the Berkeley/Kensington/Albany area
would be good. It could be at our house or somewhere else.
Our preference is for private lessons. Also, any input on
starting lessons at that age? Is it too early? Are your kids
into it? Other thoughts? Thanks! Miki
I know other people have also recommended Jon's Music
classes in Berkeley (http://www.jsom.com/), so I wanted to
share our positive experience as well.
Our now 4y-old daughter has taken 2 semesters with him
already and loves his style of teaching, the playful class
interaction, as well as the variety of instruments (good
quality instruments from violin to keyboards, guitars and
drums.) While she is naturally drawn more to some
instruments, I also see her attention span is not that great
at this age yet and she learns different things by playing a
variety of instruments and singing into a microphone. Jon
teaches them music theory and rythm in a fun way with his
original music (you also get a cd that not only my daughter
likes to listen to) and I think this will really benefit her
when I do start her on individual music lessons. Plus, our
Monday afternoon class size is small so she gets a lot of
personal attention.
Good luck.
tanja
Dec 2009
Hi everyone,
My son is 4.5 year old and I am looking for piano classes
for him. I went to the open house of Preschool Piano Kids
at Dublin and feel pretty good. But their teaching methods
are different from traditional method and they are using
electronic piano and digital recording to teach kids. I am
wondering whether it will make kids' ears less sensitive
later on. Anyone has experience with them and do you
recommend them or not?
Thank you very much!
Alicia
My kids went there for 8 and 3 years. Digital pianos are great for ear training
as they are never out of tune. The kids get to burn CDs of their music and play
for each other in monthly group classes. They understand kids there and have a
very well thought out program that trains the whole
musician: theory, technique, performance, ear training.
Feel free to contact me.
susan
April 2009
Hi Everyone,
I'm looking for a Suzuki piano teacher for my 4 year old. We live in
Montclair, but would be willing to travel a little bit for the right person.
Thanks!
Piano mom
For a Suzuki piano teacher, call Holy Names Preparatory Music at
436-1224. Our teacher is Gail Marie - she is great with kids.
She teaches on campus, near Redwood Road off Hwy 13.
Piano mom of 3 kids
March 2009
I am looking for a music class for my almost 4 year old. He can
play a few tunes on the piano that I have taught him using the
one finger method. I would like to get him into a class that is
a little more than the usual mommy and me/kindermusik type class.
Maybe a group piano class or music class that is a bit more
advanced. He loves music and can carry a tune and keep a beat
etc.
Looking for something in the West Contra Costa area or maybe
Berkeley area.
jo
Holy Names College (near Mills) has a great Suzuki piano program.
They have group classes for all ages. I'm a violin teacher that
learned Suzuki and teaches it now and, for a family that wants to
start young and parents that want to be involved, it's a great way to
go.
Sarah
Do check out
Jon's School of Music if you haven't already. It could
be just what you are looking for. He offers a free trial class, too.
Our son started when he was 3 1/2 and has learned tons about music,
beginning theory, basic piano instruction, and has had a blast the
whole time. They get to try out all kinds of different instruments,
too.
A JSOM fan
Oct 2008
I'm looking for a piano teacher for my 4 years old daughter. Would
anyone have recommendations?
Thank you for your help in advance.
-Annukka
I would highly recommend the Musically Minded piano studio
(www.musicallyminded.com) Our 3 kids have studied there and the teachers are
fabulous and very good with little ones. I think for the littler ones they do
shorter lesson times instead of the usual 1-hr lessons.
piano fan
Nov 2007
I'd like to know if anyone has recommendations for piano lessons or
classes for a 3.5 year old.
I'd also love to hear comments people have on starting children with piano
lessons this early. My daughter is talks about learning piano several
times a day but I have some reservations on starting her this young.
Anne
Hi. My daughter was also very interested in the piano at around that age
(she is turning four next week). You didn't mention whether or not you
know how to play. If you do, I would recommend getting the book Music
Moves for Piano by Marilyn Lowe. www.musicmovesforpiano.com. It has
duets that you can do with very young children that focus not on learning
notes or reading music, but feeling the rhythm and making music together.
Sitting at the piano with her has also been a great way to teach her
right/left, loud/soft, high/low, etc.
Children at that age don't usually have the capability (coordination nor
muscle strength) to do fingering, so this book promotes using only a
single finger they feel most comfortable with (usually 2nd or 3rd). Many
of the songs use clusters, which is using your fist to play two or three
notes together. She plays in rhythm to accompany the melody that I play.
I have been doing these duets with my daughter and she loves it (so do
I!). I am super low-key, and always wait for her to ask for a ''lesson''
with me, as I don't want to make a big deal of it and turn her off to
making music. When we do sit together to have a lesson, they can last 2
minutes or 20 minutes, depending on her mood. She gets a great deal of
pleasure out of performing the songs for her grandma and grandpa.
I think I will start real lessons (with a teacher other than myselft) with
her when she turns 5.
Amy
I studied classical piano for 15+ years (started when I was 5). My older
daughter expressed interest when she was 4 and I thought it would be a
good idea to give it a try. She had demonstrated ability to focus and
concentrate for long periods of time so I thought it was worth a shot. I
did not do a good job of screening her teacher though--I ended up hiring
someone who was a good performance musician, but was not that great
working with her. I observed all her lessons and it became clear that
they weren't on the same page. I didn't want to continue down the path
because I worried it would permanently affect her musical interests, so I
stopped the lessons. She is now 5 1/2 and I am thinking about starting to
look for another, more classically trained teacher who has proven
experience working with young children. Personally, I am extremely
thankful to my parents for the opportunity to study music. It is a
wonderful skill to have--especially to share with my children.
I think 3.5 years may be too young to have formal lessons. Have you
considered group lessons or another type of music class--Music Together,
Kindergym?
Still Tickling Ivories
If you can find a teacher then by all means start her if she wants to
learn now.
My younger sister started at 3.5 when she saw all her older siblings
taking lessons. She just loved it.. (turns out she has perfect pitch and
was a bit of a prodigy) she loved to practice too, my mom never had to
force her.. and in no time she was playing super well. When she started
she had to sit on a big phone book to reach the keys. She's now in her
30's, playing in a band and writing her own music.
I suggest though to make sure it's fun for her. You don't want it to be a
fight because then she'll just back off. If she has talent and passion for
it that will carry her. Make the practice times short.. maybe 15 minutes a
day.. and then increase the time as her attention span increases. You may
find that she loves it so much that she won't want to stop.
Good luck!
music lover
Anne, I am a piano teacher and work with young children.For children under
5 year old you can start with group classes.
In our piano school we have preparatory piano classes specially designed
for 3 to 5-year -old children. It is a nine months program.Each lesson is
30 minutes long and classes are once a week. Students learn the name of
the keys on the piano, musical alphabet(rhythm values, rests, grand staff,
and notes)they will develop their musical memory and get plenty of ear
training as well.
Class activities are listeing and repeating a tune or a rhythm, singing
along, learning a musical symbol using colors, stories and games. Students
also listen to the teacher play a story(song)on the piano and they
participate in making story for the music they hear.
For more information you can see: www.goldenkeypianoschool.com
Katrin
April 2007
Hello, we are looking into pre-piano class for our 4 yrs old
son. We hope the class is more fun and playful so that he will
be inspired to love music than just learns how to play piano. We
recently heard that Musical Sprouts offers this type of classes
(www.musicalsprouts.net). Could you please share your experience
with this class? Or if you know there's any fun piano classes.
Thank you.
May
I can highly recommend Musical Sprouts piano classes. My son has been taking classes since he was 4 years old.
He's been enjoying the classes a lot. The classes are very informal, parents can stay or leave; the kids move,
dance, sing, clap, jump - very much like in MucicTogether classes. The kids also learn to play the piano in a
very playful, fun way. The only downside is that the classes are a bit more expensive than other
group-classes.
April 2007
Any recommendation for a good paino or singing lesson program in
the East Bay, preferrably in Oakland, Berkeley, Lamorinda, for
my pre-school aged daughter? I heard about Suzuki method, any
recent advise/comments?
Much appreciated!
yvonne
I would highly recommend the teachers of the Berkeley Academy
of Music in Berkeley on Carleton (at the Berkeley United
Methodist Church). My 4 year old daughter and I have been
taking piano lessons from Stephen Varney for the past 1.5 years
and we love it. He is great with the really young kids -
engaging them in playful fun exercises in the beginning. He
can teach the Suzuki method very well but is also open to a
more traditional method (for me especially). His duo partner,
Naomi Sanchez is also a wonderful piano and voice teacher.
They are exceptionally accomplished pianists in their own right
with major conservatory training as well as an award winning
duo piano group and give wonderful concerts as well. They have
frequent play days where all the kids get together to do
musical activities and play for each other as well as more
traditional and formal recitals twice yearly. The musical
training of the kids speaks for itself - it's incredible what
the kids as young as 5 can play, and very well with excellent
technique from memory. You can check them out at
www.pasdeduo.com. Good luck!
Happy BAM student /mother
Hi,
Len Sherman has been an excellent all around music teacher for my
five year old godson. He not only teaches both piano and voice in
a gentle personalized way, he has found a way to inspire Josh so
he has the tools to improvise and play like a musician. This has
been a priceless gift. You can reach him at the following number:
Len Sherman at 510-684-6382.
Gail
Jan 2007
Charlotte,
September '06, I started my son's 4 and 6 year olds on piano
lessons taught by a Suzuki piano teacher who also teaches
Suzuki Piano lessons at Dominican University. They are doing
really great. She is the most gentle, kind, yet firm piano
teacher. I don't know if you are aware of the Suzuki method of
teaching piano. Since your child is so young I think it's the
best way to go. The Suzuki method is a method that is geared to
teaching toddlers piano. First he'll get ear training through
listening to the music pieces and as he demonstrate readiness
she teach according to his level of readiness. My kids love
her. Her name is Diana Damitz. Her studio is on Marin Ave or
Street in Albany. Her number is (510)525-3258
I really like her. Hope you find a teacher who would be a good
fit for your child.
Mey
March 2006
I am trying to find a piano teacher for our 4yrs old daughter who
took lessons for about 6 months. Unfortunately her teacher had to
return to China so we like to find her an another teacher
somewhere between Emeryville and Benicia. Please let me know if
you know of a good teacher.
aware1967
I would like to started my 4 yr old twins on piano lessons.
Could anyone recommend teachers/schools in teh Danville-San
Ramon-Pleasanton area who are experienced and patient with
young children?
Thanks.
P. Jean
Ernie Mansfield has a great reputation among my friends. He
teaches in his studio near N. Berkeley BART. 510-524-2055,
ernie AT mansfieldmusic.com.
ann
I love my piano teacher. I have recently gotten back into playing piano as an adult
and
wish he'd been my teacher when I was a kid - he teaches both kids and adults. He
genuinely loves teaching piano and makes it fun to learn. I can't recommend him
highly enough. You can reach Eric Glickrieman at 510 225-5269.
Betsy
Oct 2003
Are there any piano teachers out there who are willing to take a child at
3&1/2 years old? Obviously teaching piano to such a young child would
require a very special approach. Please let me know if you know of
someone who can do this! Thanks!
Colene
The suzuki method of teaching starts kids at 3yrs. My sisters
children both started at 3yrs and I am quite impressed by their
ability to play. She lives in Inidiana so I don't have a local
recommendation but the Suzuki website lists a couple of teachers
in Berkeley and Alameda, hopefully there will be more specific
recommendations!
gael
Marcie Zinn in Pleasanton is absolutely amazing with
preschoolers! My daughter started piano lessons with her in
September, just after her 3rd birthday, and we couldn't be more
pleased. Marcie is a talented piano teacher, and also has a
Ph.D in psychology. She fully understands preschoolers and how
they learn. She uses a combination of Suzuki and traditional
methods and has been very successful with all of the children
we have seen. The kids adore her and love learning with her.
I recommend her HIGHLY - she is well worth the drive from
anywhere in the bay area! You can read more about her method
online at www.pianoweb.net or call her at 925-461-7442. Or
feel free to email me if you would like to know more about our
experience.
Jaime
I would like to recommend Judith Meites as a wonderful piano
teacher for young children. She is masterful at creating an
environment geared toward the specific ages of her students.
Once a month, she brings her students together in age-specific
group classes--where the children get to interact and play
together in what is usually a very ''solo'' environment. Judith
creates community with her students. She also is very skilled
at understanding the psychology involved in motivation,
practice, performance, etc. I have learned much about my
child's personality from Judith.
Judith would be able to counsel you on the appropriate age to
begin the piano, and when your child in particular would be able
to most effectively--and happily--begin.
You can reach Judith in Berkeley at: (510) 843-4541. You can
also visit her website: Berkeleypiano.com
Good luck!
Linda
I would like to recommand Betty Wu as a piano teacher to you.
She is experienced, patient, nice and fun to children. Children
get along with her and love to play music with her. She teaches
in Piedmont at her own studio. If you don't have a piano, she
doesn't mind to start children on keyboard at all. Here is her
phone number 510-386-4463 Good luck !!
Lynn
Dec 2002
Can anyone recommend a piano instructor, preferably in
Oakland/San Leandro, who teaches piano to 4 years olds (and
possibly his mom!)
Kim
Dear Mother of the 4 year-old looking for a piano teacher,
I just posted a recommendation that came out today (Dec. 18) for Zoryia
Persidsky, who teaches piano at her home in Berkeley near College
and Ashby. I started with her myself when I was 5 years old , and she
has the patience of a saint with young students, but how much a child
that age can learn often depends on the temperament of the individual
child. Lessons for little kids are only a half hour long. I know she also
has adult students, both beginners and advanced ones. I highly
recommend giving her a call. She gives weekend lessons too.
Zoryia Persidsky 's Phone: 548-1870.
Christine
There is a great studio for 4yr olds and up called DO RE MI.
After the winter break she is moving from Hayward to Castro
Valley. My daughter has been taking group lessons since
September and is doing very well. The children seem to like
the class and all of them are advancing very nicely. They just
had their Winter concert and all of the children (believe it or
not) got up and performed for a rather large audience. The new
number will be 886-8449 or maybe you can try her at 888-458-
2208. The web site is at www.doremiforkids.com. Gordona (the
teacher) might let you sit in on a class and see how it works,
but better yet would be if you could attend one of the
performances. Good luck!
Julie
Kim,
I recommend a play based group music program for 4 year old
children. Music should be fun, playful and enjoyable. Piano
lessons should be taken at an older age. Practicing the piano
is work and there is plenty of time for that later in life.
Research done at the Kodaly Institute in Hungary shows that
children can learn music literacy through play which will
transfer to musical instruments at a later age. You'll also
enjoy the music classes too. Jeff
Our fabulous piano teacher, Michael Rubin, has openings for new
students. He's extremely versatile: teaches beginners and more
advanced, classical and jazz, kids and adults. At the moment my
son has a broken leg, and he's teaching him guitar because he
can't sit on the piano bench. This is a guy who loves teaching
and totally gives himself over to each lesson. We pay him for
45 minutes but the lessons go much longer because Michael is so
enthusiastic about the process of providing a musical education.
He is technically very proficient and he definitely challenges
kids to push their limits, but he manages not to discourage them
by being too exacting. He's become a friend to our entire
family (he comes to our house for lessons). You can reach him
at 482-5179.
Heidi
I recommend Linda Schneider of Albany highly. I have listened to
a number of her piano lessons with pupils from age 5 on up. The
children are serious about their work and practice and work hard
for her. They are also unfailing polite in meeting me as an
adult! I think alot of this is the way she works with them. She
is a Montessori teacher. I think she has a couple openings as a
pupil just moved away. I would move my son over to her, but I
think he is still too much of a ''dabbler'' in piano. When he
wants to get serious, Linda will be excellent for him. Her email
is lndSchneid (at) aol.com or phone 510-527-6202.
kathryn
Feb 2000
Looking for a piano teacher that would come to my house. My son will be 4
in July. Did not know how young I could start, he seems interested.
Dara
Nori
As a former music educator (Kindermusik), musician, and parent of a
musically-gifted child, I would like to share some ideas about developing your
son's interest in music.
1. Unless your child is a prodigy, it is really wise to wait on a specific
instrument until the child is older, like 7 (but before 9), when he has the
muscle coordination to realize what he wants to create.
2. Help him develop his natural senses of rhythm and pitch (per Orff and
Kodaly)and general musicality through basic music training such as those
offered by Kindermusik (call 1-800-615-5415- in NC- for classes and schedules
near you). This venue is not only a place to explore music with
age-appropriate instruments and songs but it offers a social experience and a
path for parents to continue this music education at home through play (tapes
and songbooks accompany each semester).
3. If your son continues to show promise, either Marcelle Dronkers
(Kensington) or Robin Goodfellow (Oakland) would be "next step" teachers. In a
one-on-one lesson each week, the child progressively learns, through
play-based activities, theory, notation, keyboard, rhythm patterns, chord
progressions, and so on.
My son has taken from Marcelle for a year and, at age 5-1/2, has better
developed his voice, memory, creativity, and musical self, not to mention
ability to sit down longer and concentrate (!). You can contact me if you
want to talk.
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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