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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

Piano lessons at 5

29 replies

Oakvales · 31/01/2026 23:12

I've booked for my 5 yo to start piano lessons (30 mins) with a teacher that comes to the house, I have bought him a decent digital piano /keyboard to learn on/play with.

The teacher is used to teaching young children and children with parents , but afrer reading a few old threads on here, I'm wondering if he's a bit young ?

I'm not bothered about exams etc , I just want him to enjoy it and learn some basics , the teacher can do other instruments as well. His Dad and I are not musicial in the slightest, so I want go give him the opportunity to be, but mainly i want him to enjoy it , the teacher knows this and maybe he'll take to it straight away or maybe they will start taking it more serious in a year or so both fine.

His school do music lessons after school but the groups are huge. Me and his Dad both work in quite high pressured jobs and have a one year old , so someone coming to us works well. In this case do you think its still to young? As I say I have no expectations other than him being with someone who can give him more than we can with instruments.

OP posts:
TappyGilmore · 31/01/2026 23:29

My DD started piano at 6 and was too young for it, but the teacher was not great with very small children and it might have worked out better with a different teacher. She ended up quitting after a year. Who knows, maybe starting older might have seen her stick at it.

SkaneTos · 31/01/2026 23:27

Some people say that the hands are too small to play the piano when the child is 7 years old or younger.
But if you have a piano teacher that is used to teaching young children, I am sure it will be fine.
Good luck, and I hope your child will enjoy playing the piano!

I started with piano lessons when I was 8 years old, and continued until I was 17. Very happy now as an adult to be able to play the piano. Such a great instrument, and a lot of fun!

Original poster
Oakvales · 31/01/2026 23:23

Periperi2025 · 31/01/2026 23:16

I started recorder lessons at 4, piano at 5. I loved playing the piano, however music exams and estidffods from 6 ish, has fucked me up for life. I fall apart in interviews even now in my 40s and have flash backs to being alone in old Georgian school rooms in Bath, and in churches being examined by a complete stranger.

Make sure you are firm with the no exam stance, some music teachers will push and push for them, don't back down.

Edited

Thank you, this is good to know. And I'm so sorry it affected you this way. That's another thing that put me off about the school they push for exams and have to do a show twice a year for the school and parents which I know at least right now he would hate., and would ruin it for him.

I spoke to the teacher and said I wouldn't want to put him to exam until 8, I purely want him to.enjoy an instrument. I will make sure I'm clear when I see him.

OP posts:
Periperi2025 · 31/01/2026 23:16

I started recorder lessons at 4, piano at 5. I loved playing the piano, however music exams and estidffods from 6 ish, has fucked me up for life. I fall apart in interviews even now in my 40s and have flash backs to being alone in old Georgian school rooms in Bath, and in churches being examined by a complete stranger.

Make sure you are firm with the no exam stance, some music teachers will push and push for them, don't back down.