My daughter (4) is very interested in music. She likes to sing, dance, make up lyrics and play all different kinds of instruments. She’s enrolled in a ballet/tap class that she really enjoys (once a week - 45 minutes).
She is really keen on the piano. We have an old decrepit one that’s out of tune that she loves to “play”. I’d like enroll her in lessons so that she can explore making music with someone who could actually teach how to compose music. Nothing rigorous, maybe once every two weeks or something - just so she can have some fun with it and learn while she’s doing it.
My question to you all - is 4 too young to take lessons on any type of musical instrument?
I know about the computer programs that help you compose music but I’m hesitant about that. I’d rather for her to learn on the actual instrument - she already spends enough time on the pc playing her reading and math educational games.
If you think that she may be a budding performer on the classical vein 4 is about right for the piano. Many of the piano virtuosos that perform today start at 2 or 3. Although, if you just want her to do something she enjoys and will for a lifetime, then you can get her started. Four is definately not too early. Suzuki and Yamaha method teachers both focus on early development and will have your kid playing things that will be fun for her.
I would agree that 4 isn’t too early to begin lessons. I don’t have much else to add except that I have often wished that my parents had started me on violin when I was much younger. Best of luck to you (on finding a teacher) and your daughter (with her lessons)!
Just some food for thought. The average piano teacher is going to want to specifically focus on finger exercises, scales, the basics of reading music and probably some simple songs first leading toward some rudimentary classical pieces. While these are all imporatant skills to develop technique and ability, it is hard to find a teacher that will teach any aspect of composition or creativity. I’m not saying a 4 yr old couldn’t learn how to compose, but finding someone who has developed a way of teaching it to kids might be difficult. I have worked with kids in this area but I know a lot of teachers that don’t. So be a little picky and find someone who can teach a little more well-rounded approach. Especially take the time to find someone who will make it ** enjoyable ** for your child. That will make all the difference in the world. Take it from me, I have has numerous teachers (both good and bad) and many students. The good teachers are the ones that got me where I am.
Thanks a lot everyone. I wish my younger brother lived closer to us, he would be an excellent teacher for her. But he lives about 2 1/2 hrs away so that isn’t very practical.
She is an incredible “writer”. When she helps me wash the dishes or keeps me company while I’m doing some housework, if I ask her to sing for me (or she does so of her own volition) she creates the most coherent, rhythmic and melodic songs on the spur of the moment. I’d actually like to find someone to help her vocally as well, she has a good ear for learning new songs. But I think that’ll be covered when she joins our church choir in a few months - she has to be 5 to join. I’m trying very hard to let her explore these things without making it seem like work. I think the choir is the best way for her to learn to sing and she can have fun with the other kids too.
I’m not trying to push her to become a star or toward a career in this area, but music is something she has a great deal of fun with and she seems to have some talent.
I’m babbling. Anyway, thanks for the input. Here’s hoping we find someone suitable!
Since your daughter is so young, maybe the thing to do is teach her how to record her songs (on tape), if she inclined to do so as she invents them. As she gets older, lessons in music theory and notation might be helpful for transcribing tunes from tape to paper – again, if she is so inclined.
I learned to play musical instruments starting around 5 or 6 myself, then had singing/music theory lessons when I was around 10 or so. These were interesting and helpful, but I doubt I would have had the attention span at age 5 to really grasp the fundamentals needed to write music.
Mozart was surely playing by 4 but his first teacher was his father. I currently teach guitar to a 7 year old and I must admit it is frustrating for me, and frankly I’m not the best teacher for young kids. It is a shame that your brother is so far because at such a young age, I think it would be much better to have a close family member as a teacher. Does your brother come and visit often? Even if only once in a while it might be good to have him show her some things and show you how to guide her through learning it (you could probably pick up things on this level adequately enough to help her along, plus the fact that you aren’t an expert teacher might actually help her feel more comfortable and make her accomplishments seem big to her).
Also, I do think the recording idea would be a great one.
In general, at her age the less rules and restraints, the better IMHO. The best thing she could do is sit down at the piano and just make noise.
Again, Yamaha and Suzuki methods focus on preschool aged children to learn music. They have lessons that are age appropriate and will even get the parents involved. I have seen some young kids do some quite amazing things thanks to Suzuki and Yamaha. It feeds them the music in little bites and shortly they have complete compositions while making it fun for the kids and the parents. There are Suzuki and Yamaha centers available in most areas. They also, focus on playing by ear and/or rote and start teaching reading and notation later.
Going off at a slight tangent, you may know of Stephen Pinker’s excellent book The Language Instinct, in which he points out there are good reasons why it’s easier for an infant child to learn a language than it is for an adult. The kind of work to which the brain devotes most of its reosurces does change over time. During the first five years of life, the brain devotes a massive percentage of its work to acquiring linguistic information and synthesising the patterns we know as language. After that time, the brain begins to devote less time to that task and progressivly more to other tasks. There is good evidence that the acquisition of musical skills works in the same way. So… the earlier the better. But keep it fun!
I did Suzuki violin at about 4 and 2 years later, my sister did Suzuki piano (also at 4). A close friend of mine and her sister started piano and cello respectively at around 3. (It’s very geared toward small children - starting with simple steps and building as the kids grow.
SqrlCub, I’ll definitely look to see if there are Suzuki or Yamaha teachers in this area. Unfortunately we’re in a rather rural area so we might have to travel a little ways to find one. Thanks for the advice.
MJH2, that is a wonderful idea! She has her own cassette player/recorder - you know the kid proof kind with the attached microphone - so it’s just a matter of showing her how to record.
Moe, unfortunately my schedule and my brothers’ are almost completely opposite. He works most weekday nights and weekends, I work days and am off weekends. As it stands now we usually only see each other on the long holiday weekends -if I feel like driving that far because usually he’s still scheduled to work so we only spend a few hours together- and Christmas.
Recommnedation: spend the money and get the piano tuned. Much more fun working on an instrument that is in tune, and it will help rather than hinder her aural training.
You also might want to consider the idea of violin lessons rather than piano until her hands are larger - while small children do, of course, take piano lessons all the time, some violin work is excellent for ear-training, which if she continues in music she’ll thank you for. Also, violins come in itty bitty sizes. It’s what my mother did for me, and I’m pretty glad she did - it’s made me a much better pianist.
