Music instrument classes - how young etc?

[Anonymous]

For folks whose kids are taking music lessons, how did you go about it? Instructor at school? Afterschool or weekend music school? In home teacher? Youth orchestra? Do you drive them or carpool? Do you rent an instrument?
My kids are 7 and 9 and I feel like they may be ready for something more than a few weeks at summer music camp.
FWIW I like listening but am not musical and dropped out of viola lessons in 5th grade and guitar lessons in college.

[Anonymous]

Piano teacher visits our home once a week in the evening. Very convenient! We purchased an instrument prior to lessons.

[Anonymous]

Forgot to also mention, started lessons same time as kindergarten.

[Anonymous]

Third grade and my son just started violin. It is part of school which makes it easier.

[Anonymous]

I have a son in kindergarten. My hope is to start piano in first grade... but he definitely needs to mature and learn to focus more before he will be ready for that.

[Anonymous]

Started piano in 3rd grade. She's dyslexic and I wanted her to have a decent foundation for reading before introducing formal music lessons. We have instruments in the house and she played around with them by ear prior to that. She also didn't really have the attention span to devote to a formal lesson before then.

[Anonymous]

Started Suzuki violin at 4, and it has been invaluable for teaching perseverance and discipline. I really credit the violin lessons for imparting important lessons about how hard things get easier through practice, and how not practicing makes everything more difficult, even things you used to know.

[Anonymous]

Oh, and PP here - we have private lessons once a week, group lessons every other week, and practice every day for 20 minutes or so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Started Suzuki violin at 4, and it has been invaluable for teaching perseverance and discipline. I really credit the violin lessons for imparting important lessons about how hard things get easier through practice, and how not practicing makes everything more difficult, even things you used to know.

+1 We've had the same experience with our now-7 year old. Started violin at 4 because I play and wanted to be like mommy. She's really learned the value of practice, and that things aren't always supposed to come easily, even for people who are really good at something. I feel that other things she's had to work on, like learning to swim, riding a bike, math, etc have been easier because she understands about needing to practice every day in order to improve or even maintain what she's already learned. She does private lessons and on & off group lessons (sometimes she wants to register, sometimes not) and wants to do youth orchestra when she's older.

Playing with a group at any age is important though, sometimes it can be hard for kids to get that inner motivation without seeing their peers putting in the same work. Group lessons for string instruments and piano are usually available either through the private teacher, or at a conservatory like Levine. Without the private lessons, for a short period of time they can be a good way to judge whether a child likes the instrument, but after a few months, a private teacher is really needed to make any progress.

On the other hand, we have another DC who tried music lessons starting at age 7 and it was a waste of time and money. Never wanted to practice, couldn't remember the notes from one day to the next, just not into it. But it sounds like OP's child is already interested in music so that hopefully won't be an issue.

[Anonymous]

We started piano at 6 with private lessons, and then switched to violin in 4th grade. He had violin lessons through school orchestra and additional private lessons once a week.

[Anonymous]

Group piano lessons 3rd grade. Cheaper. Like a try out to make sure my son would maintain interest.

[Anonymous]

Suzuki violin at 3.5 after she begged us for months.

Private instruction. The group instruction provided in school is practically worthless, because there really should be one-on-one time with the teacher, and because most of the kids don't take it seriously and don't practice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Suzuki violin at 3.5 after she begged us for months.

Private instruction. The group instruction provided in school is practically worthless, because there really should be one-on-one time with the teacher, and because most of the kids don't take it seriously and don't practice.

And by private instruction I mean Levine. Private lessons once a week, group lesson every two weeks, opportunities for recitals and concerts, and exams twice a year. Damned expensive, but great environment.

[Anonymous]

DS plays the cello and started at 8 after asking for a long time. Private weekly lessons we drive to. It's expensive but he likes it. We will keep paying as long as he's interested. I don't force him to practice but he enjoys it and does a lot more around recital time. He really enjoys those.

[Anonymous]

In home piano teacher twice a week. Each started when they were 3. When they are at the point where their school offers band/music lessons they will do that too.