Anonymous wrote:

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.

OP from your list of alternative activities, what do you think he needs the most? I'm guessing play dates but you know your kid. Tell us more.

I think he needs down time, play with other kids (he’s an only) and math/literacy support (he’s at a so-so public).

So send him to RSM or AOPS for math and let him do his instrument. He will still have down time/play dates. Follow his lead on this. He may eventually develop other interests, but for now he is telling you that this is where his pasison lies. -NP

OP, here's another way to look at things. If your kid were really into drawing, writing stories, reading, or things like that, would you try to limit him, or would you let him draw/read/whatever as much as he wants? Why would you treat music any differently?

I agree with some PPs, though, that the answer is increasing the lesson time to 45 minutes for awhile, and then increasing to 60 minutes.

One hour lessons would be perfect for him. Music lessons, read music, performing music are all brain enhancers.

I loved playing trumpet. My husband played sax and woodwinds. I was in a marching band, he was in Youth Symphony Orchestra. We both travelled to perform, him outside the US. It was one of the highlights of my teenage years.

Forget having an 8 year old sitting in front of a math program in his free time. Music lessons are much better activity for your son. Do as much as you can to foster this interest.