Thinking Ahead: Music Lessons for April 2012 babies?

[mabillon]

We went to a fall festival with an "instrument petting zoo" a couple weeks ago.  DD LOVED the violin and piano that she got to play with.  I'd read about the Suzuki method awhile ago and they encourage exposing children early, around age 3, to music lessons.  

We'll probably move overseas this summer to a location that would offer lessons but much more expensive instruments so I was thinking we might get her started this spring, just to see if buying a tiny violin or piano (probably keyboard) is worthwhile.  Being able to read music and having familiarity with instruments is really important to me though I certainly don't expect or desire a tiny Mozart or anything.  I wish I'd started piano earlier myself - I was already 11 and it was tough for me to learn at that age.  We also moved a lot when I was a kid and with an upright piano, it was hard to keep practicing consistent so I'm leaning towards the smaller strings for DD.

Anyone else thinking about music or have opinions on early learning?

[Deleted]

If A asks to I will! I won't push it due to cost, but I think it'd be neat if she liked it. Just based on her current personality I don't see her being able to sit and learn an instrument for a long time.

I actually fired my piano teacher in 1st grade lol, and A is a lot like I was growing up.

[dixeedeluxe]

I really want the girls to maybe try guitar. But there's nothing for any instruments prior to age 5. And at 5, drums are recommended. I'd be into drums for sure. But I'd want her to pick because it's such an investment.

[muppetinma]

Andrew is getting a banjo for Christmas, so we're jumping right on in.

[honeybee503]

H plays the guitar so I know he would love for the kids to show an interest in that, too.

[melmon0417]

A is getting a guitar for Christmas. She loves real guitars and her toy ones, which is funny since my brother and Dad are both amazing musicians, and we come from a family of musicians and guitarists. My brother picked up my Dad's acoustic when he was 2, so I think this is a good age for A to get a "real" acoustic.

[bridgilly]

G started piano lessons when she was 5, but she didn't really get the hang of playing until she was 6. She was really frustrated with it the whole first year she took lessons and would cry about having to practice or go to lessons. She enjoys playing now and I'm glad I made her stick it out, but I think it was a mistake to start her at 5.

B has done Music Together classes and liked them and I will keep doing classes like that with her until she is older. She plays around on our piano now and I am sure G will be teaching her songs as soon as B can learn them. I will start her in piano lessons at some point because I want her to learn to read music, but it think I will wait until she is at least 6.

[rxbeth]

@starbound, I'm sure, would have some insight..

[jfh]

Oh yes! DH and I are both musicians and we've been sticking instruments in his hands basically since his fingers could close. I don't know when we'll start formal lessons. I don't really care what instrument he plays, I just want him to be able to read and understand music. I don't let him play with the violin, but he has free reign with the other stringed stuff and the keyboard. They also do music lessons at school, but I think it's mostly play-based. We're getting him a drum set for Christmas. I guess our overall strategy is to give him access to a range of instruments, get him reading music, and let him take it from there.

[melis74]

One of my good friends has played the piano for years and used to teach lessons. She is going to start working w/M sometime next year. I wish I had learned to play an instrument so I'm super excited for her.

[jg183]

We did music together and our teacher has an instrument activity each time
For now he just experiments but when or if he shows interest we will continue

[Deleted]

Thad has a play ukulele and free reign over the grandparents' pianos. He will do piano lessons regardless starting in kindergarten. Other lessons as seem warranted but not before formal school begins.

DH and I both had piano lessons. I had clarinet and voice lessons as well. We hope he is a musical kiddo.

[DaphneStrauss]

M really loves music so I definitely envision getting her involved in music lessons at an early age. She loves the violin and when she hears it on the radio she walks around the house playing the air violin.
We are getting her a ukelele for Christmas as a start.

The music school by us starts fiddle lessons at 3.5 but it is expensive so we will see.
@starbound do you know anything about the Old Town school of folk music fiddle program? It's on the northside of Chcago. I guess it teaches violin based on the folk tradition, learning by ear at an early age then introducing note reading.

I would love if she played a string instrument and the piano but really I would be happy if she enjoyed playing anything, so I want to expose her to many different instruments.

[jsillyfun]

I'm getting may a mini pink guitar for Christmas. I would love her to play a string instrument

[vthokie]

A loves music. H is a band director and I played forever, but I don't know when we'll start formal lessons. She's plays on the vibes and drumset at home. At school she loves the marimba and she makes an impressive sound out of a trumpet. I'll be interested to see what she wants to play.

[unclejesse]

We have talked about getting him a mini keyboard for Christmas. He sings all the time, and plays with the piano at school. If he really wants to, we will put him in classes. But I don't want to push him if he isn't interested.

[shevacc]

We have a piano at home and I played from age 4 through high school. I plan to start G in lessons close to 4, probably Suzuki at first.

[Deleted]

Oct 21, 2014 11:24:17 GMT -5 DaphneStrauss said:

M really loves music so I definitely envision getting her involved in music lessons at an early age. She loves the violin and when she hears it on the radio she walks around the house playing the air violin.
We are getting her a ukelele for Christmas as a start.

The music school by us starts fiddle lessons at 3.5 but it is expensive so we will see.
@starbound do you know anything about the Old Town school of folk music fiddle program? It's on the northside of Chcago. I guess it teaches violin based on the folk tradition, learning by ear at an early age then introducing note reading.

I would love if she played a string instrument and the piano but really I would be happy if she enjoyed playing anything, so I want to expose her to many different instruments.

Yes, actually!  I knew some teachers there, when we lived in Chicago.

In general I'm all for starting music early.  I wanted DS1 to start violin from age 2-3 and I bought him a violin but he just wasn't interested at all.  He's really taken to the trumpet (my H used to be a professional) and learning an instrument in our family is non-negotiable, so trumpet it is.  I'm sure DS2 will learn it too, he's already getting "involved" in DS1's nightly practise with H, LOL.

That said, 5 is pretty much the earliest you can start trumpet, and that's with professional "help" in the family.  Violin, guitar, and piano is all I'd start before age 5, due to size of the kid and logistics.

I always tell the parents of my students, no matter how much "they LOVE it!" there will always, ALWAYS come a point where the kid wants to quit.  You as the parent have to decide whether you are serious or not.  If you are, you have to push it.  People don't like to hear that, but it's a fact.  All kids complain about practice at some point.  If music is not for your family, then sure, let them quit.  

Parents can be really "soft" these days, IMO.  FWIW, I came from a Tiger Mother household so I have little patience for it

Of course, as a teacher with ever-lessening amounts of patience I will always tell the parent if the kid is flat-out untalented.  So they are not wasting the money.

[Beener]

Emmy will take piano lessons but I'm not sure when.

[DaphneStrauss]

Thanks @starbound , that was helpful! I don't think I'm a tiger mom by nature but I know I'll have to be tough on this front.
I do worry a bit I'm projecting my wishes onto her because I desperately wanted to play the violin and my mom said no. She grew up in a musical household but was an athlete so really pushed athletics on us, which I did not enjoy too much growing up.
I taught myself to play the organ when I was a kid, I used to put on concerts for my family! I was so nerdy but just wanted to play something!
I guess ultimately we all project on our kids to some degree. If M doesn't take to the violin that's okay, I just want her to play something.

I'm lucky we are close to old town. M has been going to music class there since she was a baby and the fiddle program seems great.