Piano lesson for almost 5 year old

[Anonymous]

We are in Gaithersburg and DD has express interest in learning to play piano. Where can we go to take in person lessons? Would you recommend group or private lessons? She has never taken any music classes before.

[Anonymous]

That is very early to start. I would personally wait.

[Anonymous]

Jordan Kitt has virtual lessons.

[Anonymous]

Unless you child can easily reach a full octave with one hand (thumb on middle C and picking on high C) they are not ready.

[Anonymous]

Your, pinky. Sorry.

~ reputable piano teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That is very early to start. I would personally wait.

My DD started at 5 and for her it was the perfect age. She is 11 now and really glad we stuck with it.

[Anonymous]

It is not too early if she has a real interest. My DS started at 5.5 and progressed quickly because he loves to practice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unless you child can easily reach a full octave with one hand (thumb on middle C and picking on high C) they are not ready.

No they don’t start with a full octave. DC attended group classes (pre pandemic). They learn one note (solfage) at a time. They learn how each note sounds thru playing piano (or keyboard), singing and playing games.

[Anonymous]

Our teacher doesn’t start them until 8.

[Anonymous]

Our DD started at 6.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks to all who commented. Any suggestions on where we can go?

[Anonymous]

DS started at 5, he's not playing "correctly" but he can pick out easily recognizable tunes and play them, if he asked for lessons and enjoys them, why not? I'd only wait if it's lessons that the parents want their kids to take.

[Anonymous]

I would wait until at least 6, but ideally 7-8. Unless you have reason to believe you have a musical savant, an average 5 yr old won’t find a piano lesson enjoyable and they don’t have the attention span and focus to make formal lessons meaningful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would wait until at least 6, but ideally 7-8. Unless you have reason to believe you have a musical savant, an average 5 yr old won’t find a piano lesson enjoyable and they don’t have the attention span and focus to make formal lessons meaningful.

Our piano teacher gives out stars for each page of the music book learned. If you get a certain number of stars, you get to visit the treasure box. Can't tell you how many kids that are 5 and 6 she has coming out of the practice room all excited "I did all my practices and now I get to go to the treasure box". If a teacher can't make a piano lesson fun for a little kid, she's not a very good teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would wait until at least 6, but ideally 7-8. Unless you have reason to believe you have a musical savant, an average 5 yr old won’t find a piano lesson enjoyable and they don’t have the attention span and focus to make formal lessons meaningful.

OP here. It depends on the child. Mine was able to sit through an entire production of The Nutcracker at the National Theatre when she was almost 4 (two weeks shy) and it was a night production.

I’m surprised that my question went unanswered and it became a question of whether she’s too young. She’s interested and I’m motivated to start her. If it turns out she’s not ready, then we stop. No big deal.