Anonymous
Post 09/01/2020 16:10     Subject: Piano lesson for almost 5 year old
Pre-Covid, our daycare had Music For Life come in for music lessons and they offered private piano lessons after class. My son started at 4.5 on a keyboard. I know they are offering virtual classes now but we haven't taken them up on it.
Anonymous
Post 09/01/2020 15:56     Subject: Piano lesson for almost 5 year old
My kids both started at 4 and love it. They’re doing it remotely now with just a random teacher we found on our list serv. It’s fun for them and I’m not worried about wasting money.
Anonymous
Post 08/30/2020 14:42     Subject: Piano lesson for almost 5 year old
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
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.


Your question went unanswered because most traditional instructors won't take children under 6. I have three children who play piano and they have different instructors and none would start before 6. One instructor told me even if the child has good focus, typically what a child learns in piano starting at 5-7, they can learn in a couple months if started at 7. So it is essentially wasting a lot of money to start very young. There are other ways to expose and introduce music without paying for weekly private lessons.

If you are very inclined to push this, go the suzuki route. Suzuki is different because it heavily involves the parent in the lessons and is a completely different approach that is more suitable to very young children.


I noticed the same thing - within one semester the older beginners were caught up to the ones who started younger.
Anonymous
Post 08/30/2020 14:38     Subject: Piano lesson for almost 5 year old
At that age I would let your child experiment with different instruments. Encourage them to become familiar with a piano or keyboard, glockenspiel, percussion, recorder, etc. Sing with your kids and enjoy music. Let them hear you play your instrument if you do. Encourage them to develop their ear and pick out tunes. But as others have said, I would discourage more formal instruction at 4.
Anonymous
Post 08/30/2020 14:28     Subject: Piano lesson for almost 5 year old
Suzuki is controversial. My dh is the musician in our house and he vetoed it.

You should read up on it before choosing it, op.
Anonymous
Post 08/30/2020 14:26     Subject: Piano lesson for almost 5 year old
Anonymous wrote:
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.


Really? Mozart composed symphonies at age 3! You do not have to reach an octive to start music lessons because initially children should be taught the basics. I had my first music lessons at age 4 with a five note, one-hand song.

OP group lessons are useless. However, make sure she understands that she had to practice every day. At her age, I practiced ten minutes twice a day but my mother sat night with me while I practiced. If you can't do this, or have someone who can do so, don't waste your money.


Group lessons are not useless. But you should look for a studio where the kids each have their own keyboard and headphones.
Anonymous
Post 08/30/2020 14:25     Subject: Piano lesson for almost 5 year old
At 4 I would do a high quality music class geared for that age. They progress so slowly when they start instrument specific classes that young. My kids started piano at 6. Even waiting 6 months would have a positive impact for your child.

My kids did group piano lessons (not Suzuki).for several years. One switched to a brass instrument and the other kept piano but moved to private lessons and added string instruments.
Anonymous
Post 08/30/2020 14:13     Subject: Piano lesson for almost 5 year old
5 is not early to start either with Suzuki or traditional method depending on the child’s maturity and ability to focus.
Please do not start virtually and find a teacher who is an actual pianist or has studied piano in a music school as main instrument. All conservatories around the world and most music schools in US colleges require any instrumentalist to learn piano in order to understand upper level theory/ harmony/ polyphony and so on.

Anonymous
Post 08/30/2020 14:02     Subject: Piano lesson for almost 5 year old
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.


Really? Mozart composed symphonies at age 3! You do not have to reach an octive to start music lessons because initially children should be taught the basics. I had my first music lessons at age 4 with a five note, one-hand song.

OP group lessons are useless. However, make sure she understands that she had to practice every day. At her age, I practiced ten minutes twice a day but my mother sat night with me while I practiced. If you can't do this, or have someone who can do so, don't waste your money.
Anonymous
Post 08/30/2020 09:25     Subject: Piano lesson for almost 5 year old
Anonymous wrote:
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.


Your question went unanswered because most traditional instructors won't take children under 6. I have three children who play piano and they have different instructors and none would start before 6. One instructor told me even if the child has good focus, typically what a child learns in piano starting at 5-7, they can learn in a couple months if started at 7. So it is essentially wasting a lot of money to start very young. There are other ways to expose and introduce music without paying for weekly private lessons.

If you are very inclined to push this, go the suzuki route. Suzuki is different because it heavily involves the parent in the lessons and is a completely different approach that is more suitable to very young children.
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2020 22:23     Subject: Re:Piano lesson for almost 5 year old
Definitely private lessons for that age. Ask around and find a good recommendation/ a lot of the teachers are teaching classes virtually right now.
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2020 22:03     Subject: Re:Piano lesson for almost 5 year old
My son took his first piano lessons at that age at Montgomery county rec center- it was like a group music and piano classe- I’m not sure if they are open during Covid but it was a great introduction to p.m. and because he liked it he kept it up and then moved to private lessons
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2020 21:54     Subject: Piano lesson for almost 5 year old
I started Suzuki piano lessons at 5 and have continued to play instruments my whole life (including piano).

So don’t let people tell you she’s too young.