Music - starting out....

[lazyleo]

My daughter is 5 and a half and just had her first school report which was fab but picked up something I didnt know "she had made a commendable effort to catch up with her class in music and has been very successful. She shows a positive determined approach to her work and has good musical potential." This refers to the fact that we moved area at new year and in her previous school they didnt have music hence the reference to 'catching up'. Now my question is what do I do with this new found insight into my daughter! How do I go about furthering this muscial capability? We don't have instruments, and while her dad can play basic piano I can't sing in tune to anything lol! Is it too soon to think music lessons? What instrument? Should I get something for the house instead? What do you think?

[DIYandEatCake]

I think wait until your daughter wants to play something. It takes a lot of effort and motivation to learn an instrument and can quickly become a chore rather than a joy if it's not something they have a burning desire to do. If you're in the UK, most schools offer some instrumental lessons, usually from year 3 onwards - you could ask the school what's offered there.
Meanwhile, if you want to encourage her musical abilities, just have different types of music on at home (try different radio stations). The programme 'melody' on CBeebies is lovely too.

[Ferguson]

You are fortunate that I have happened to see your question!

If you do a MN 'search' on my name, music, keyboard etc you will find I have replied several times to similar questions.

As a Teaching Assistant I taught recorder groups for ten years, had a Keyboard club for Yr6 children, for a while had a percussion club, and with Yr2 coached children to accompany the Christmas production each year.

Do you happen to know what sort of music activities the class has been doing?

Recorder is normally for Yr2 onwards, once fingers are wide enough to cover the holes accurately. Recorder is certainly the cheapest instrument, and an Aulos or Yamaha recorder is probably under £10.

Many schools have ukulele groups. Some schools do percussion - tuned percussion being xylophones, glockenspiel, etc; - untuned percussion is drums, tom toms, cymbals, etc.

But personally, if parents can afford it, I think an electronic Keyboard makes the best introduction to music for a young child. Ideally it needs to be 61 full-size keys, with a wide range of sounds, and plenty of rhythms and accompaniments. If it has MIDI (Musical instrument Digital Interface) it can be connected to a computer for recording or multi-tracking, but this is not essential. Some Keyboards will have their own built-in recording systems. Some also have, what they claim is an 'easy learning tuition system', but I am not keen on these, as learning 'properly' is not difficult.

There are numerous teach-yourself tutor books, often with a demonstration CD. Lessons are certainly not essential at first, as the tutor books have explanatory diagrams.

I would be very interested to hear what exactly DD has been doing in music, as that could obviously influence what you do next.

[atonofwashing]

Oh this is a great topic! That's such great news your dd loves music.

Can I recommend a junior choir? Does her school have one?
My ds sings in a local junior choir, and we are just back from his Wednesday evening practise. They sang in an old folks home last week. It was so sweet.

This term they've been learning White cliffs of Dover, pack up your troubles, moon river, food glorious food, and others. They are also starting to learn a few classical choral pieces.

His school does not have a piano or choir ( grrrr), so I searched online for a local one. It was the best thing I have done for him in ages.

Whilst I know that learning an instrument is fabulous, joining a choir has many other benefits. They make friends, the learn discipline, their vocab is stretched, listening skills and concentration skills improve....the list is endless!

Ds is 8, but there are younger kids there. He loves it. His confidence has definitely improved and he projects his voice much better.
Singing in a choir can give life long pleasure. I met my Dh singing in a choir!

I have sung abroad and in the uk including at the royal Albert hall as part of a massive choir gathering. I cannot recommend it enough, as if you can't tell!

Good luck!

[cheapandcheerful]

'in her previous school they didn't have music'

WHAT???? How can a school not 'have' music?