s/o when to start musical instrument?

[Anonymous]

The activity thread had me wondering... when did you start music lessons with a specific instrument for your child? Did they show interest first, or did you dictate?

[Anonymous]

One at 5 and the other at 6.

There was some interest but it was mostly parental dictate.

Then a new instrument for 4th grade. That was school dictate.

[Anonymous]

Their father dictated. He started all our kids at 4.

[Anonymous]

Mine started at 9 and I’m glad he didn’t start sooner because he’s self motivated now and completely independent about learning and practicing. I’m sure he could have started at 4 or 5, but, then I’d have to have done a lot of heavy lifting to support him. Also, he’s progressed quickly and is (after 1 year) at the same point as the kids who started much younger.

[Anonymous]

For those of you who started kids young, how did you start (group lessons, privates, what school, etc.). My 3 year old is obsessed with music and has already started playing scales on the piano and her xylophone. She's also show interest in our guitar and ukulele, plucking the strings individually and listening to the tones. But I have no idea how to encourage this at this age. We obviously have lots of instruments in the house and my husband is very musically gifted, so I originally figured we'd just let her play around at home for a while and worry about lessons in a few years.

But now I see people started their kids at 4 and I'm wondering what that experience is like? I don't want something really intense or that will take the joy out of it, but I also don't want to miss an opportunity to encourage an interest.

[Anonymous]

I started my son on piano when he was five. The first year or so he learned by colored dots on the page and on the keys, then once he was comfortable reading in English his piano teacher started teaching him to read music at around 7.

[Anonymous]

I started piano when I was 5. That's probably what we'll do with our daughter. Then she can pick whatever other instrument she might want to play, but I think piano is very important to learn because it's the best instrument to visualize music theory.

[Anonymous]

Second semester K. Our choice but he went along and likes it.

Given COVID we will probably wait to start the next kid until schools reopen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I started my son on piano when he was five. The first year or so he learned by colored dots on the page and on the keys, then once he was comfortable reading in English his piano teacher started teaching him to read music at around 7.

Weird! My kid started reading music at 5. Maybe because he could already read? (Old five and on second semester K)

[Anonymous]

Where does one go to start piano lesson? Do you start with group or individual?

[Anonymous]

It depends on the instrument, and the kid. A 5 year old might be fine playing piano or a fractional size violin, but he's sure going to struggle with a trombone or a sousaphone.

[Anonymous]

My kid asked for 6 months before I enrolled her. She was 3.5, and I would never have spent that kind of money without her constant requests.

Mid-elementary is a great age to start.

[Anonymous]

Five is the prime age. But you can start introducing music theory, scales, notes, terms anytime.

[Anonymous]

My oldest started piano at 5. Youngest is now starting at 4.5 but asked for them and he’s always being left out, so I signed him up. He loves running in there with his siblings and talking about what he learned, so even if he’s not playing very well, it’s worth it that he enjoys it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where does one go to start piano lesson? Do you start with group or individual?

We started with private lessons and then older went into group lessons as he got better. I wouldn’t do group lessons for a young beginner, they need individual attention.