Different take: my kid is currently a conservatory student (and loving it!) and was like this at 8. He has complained that we didn’t push him enough as a kid, waited too long to move him to a better teacher/longer lessons/more required practice. So, I would follow your kid’s lead and not worry about whether it’s too much or too little.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:8 OP. Your child is 8. You sound like a lunatic.

I am a lunatic. But I also wonder if it is lunacy to allow an 8 year old to spend 7-8 hours a week on music. It doesn’t leave much time or flexibility for other things.

Sure, that’s what Mozart’s Dad thought supporting his musicianship at a young age 🙄

It's an hour a day - which leaves PLENTY of time to do tons of other things.

Anonymous wrote:OP, I would not do twice a week. It's too much focus that this is their only thing. Just for background ~ DD started piano in K and took piano lessons for 9 years. Came to the end of the instructional book series. She added a new instrument in 7th and was placed in Symphonic Band class (skipping several class levels) What I saw is she used that discipline in other ways, to later succeed at other things, non music related.

The bolded is key. My kid puts a lot of effort into a specialized sports position she will never use past high school. It's worth it because progressing has shown her the value of hard work, given her more grit, and made her more confident. She could literally stop tomorrow and it would all be worth it because of all that. Plus she loves it and is the one driving the effort. All we have to do is support it.

My son is like yours except he is 10. He joined a youth orchestra recently and started taking longer lessons at age 8. He's learned how to perform under pressure (from recitals and auditions), stamina and focus, and music challenges him in a way that school does not. Yes we still do plenty of playdates and sports! The difference is we prioritize our music time slots over the other activities and to me it's not different than other families prioritizing a sports game over a playdate.

OP, I would not do twice a week. It's too much focus that this is their only thing. Just for background ~ DD started piano in K and took piano lessons for 9 years. Came to the end of the instructional book series. She added a new instrument in 7th and was placed in Symphonic Band class (skipping several class levels) What I saw is she used that discipline in other ways, to later succeed at other things, non music related.

There is a real value to doing something you enjoy, OP. He's doing something relaxing, healthy and good for his brain. Not everything has to lead to something you can use to impress people or make money from. There is a value to having hobbies. He has one. He and his teacher both want him to do more. So why not?

OP - are you actually serious with this question?

I teach piano and I can tell you that playing music is NOT ONLY about becoming a professional musician or even a teacher! It's about life long enjoyment of making music. A distant second, OMG how can you be 1000% he won't want to get involved with music at some point in his life? Just because he doesn't like classical does not mean he doesn't gravitate to another genre and study that.

Your kid is 8. I would re-prioritize your considerations for what he needs most. Hint: it's not about career or college right now!!!!!!

Most of us had to beg, bribe and plead with our kids to practice their instrument. Your child WANTS and CHOOSES to.

OP - please do this for your child. He loves it obviously, so support him. I think this is great.

I would have loved to see my child want to do something so badly.

You don't have to be a prodigy to be a music major and you don't have to be a prodigy to be a professional musician.

And, you don't need to make 6 figures and live in a NW DC SFH with kids in privates to be successful.

Your kid is 8, they like and are good at a hobby, cut the stuff they don't like and/or aren't good at and focus on this -- it's completely fine. And if they change their mind later, it's not a loss -- musical literacy is a gift you give your children and, like riding a bicycle, once learned it is something that is relatively easy to re-learn even if you lapse.

Longer music lesson first, then more lessons weekly if your child wants and has time to do it, but you may want to drop 1 or more activities ( since you mentioned sport, language, and math classes), and there may be more homework later.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:8 OP. Your child is 8. You sound like a lunatic.

I am a lunatic. But I also wonder if it is lunacy to allow an 8 year old to spend 7-8 hours a week on music. It doesn’t leave much time or flexibility for other things.

Sure, that’s what Mozart’s Dad thought supporting his musicianship at a young age 🙄

Mozart came from a family of musicians and was a prodigy.

OP, you clearly don’t value music or even your child’s interests. If you can only support your child for extrinsic reasons then spend 10 minutes reviewing the brain research about how learning an instrument is like fireworks for your entire brain and primes your brain for learning anything.

Here are a few places to start:

https://youtu.be/R0JKCYZ8hng?si=QkldW00MopIu7yWI

https://www.biggerbetterbrains.com.au/research-updates/music-learning-improves-grades-in-maths-english-and-science-but-why

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:8 OP. Your child is 8. You sound like a lunatic.

I am a lunatic. But I also wonder if it is lunacy to allow an 8 year old to spend 7-8 hours a week on music. It doesn’t leave much time or flexibility for other things.

Sure, that’s what Mozart’s Dad thought supporting his musicianship at a young age 🙄

Anonymous wrote:It's impossible for someone to burn out whole only doing as much as they want. They might get bored and move on (quite likely for an 8 yo) but not burn out.

This. Kids who are 100% self directed are not the ones who burn out. The thing he'd likely burn out of is whatever it is YOU are wishing he did instead of his instrument. I see it in my kid's sport ALL THE TIME. So many of those kids are practicing constantly because mommy or daddy tells them they have to.

If kid enjoys it and family can afford it, then family ought to do it.