Music/Singing lessons for a 6 year old?

DS is 6 (y2) and has started piano lessons this year and is doing well. He also has singing lessons - but theat is a short-term exercise in building confidence rather than because of any aptitude. He has a very low-pitched voice and struggles to sing in the same register as his classmates, so we decided some individual lessons would help him find his own pitch - in which it is succeeding. Both are through the school, and the school was not keen on them doing anything before Y2.

That said, my DB started learning violin at 3

that's it littlefish

I presumed we must have done, unless you are some random freakoid person just waving at any old fish!

Any clues? Or have you name changed for a reason, and intend to keep your old incarnation under wraps? If so, CAT me so I can wave back with confidence

Are you currently teaching? Have we exchanged e-mails recently?

yes Littlefish - in another name

My ds has been keen to learn the piano from when he was 3. He is now 4 and has piano lessons at school which I have only allowed him to do because he has been persistent in his pleading for lessons for at least a year.

I am amazed at how well he concentrates, how good he is at practising and how well he is learning to read music. He has already done is first 'performance' at a school assembly.

Oh well done smartiejake. I wish I could hear it!

My 6y has recently started piano lessons which she is loving. We got her a digital piano for Christmas.

She also loves singing and her music teacher at school things she has some talent there, but 6y is so young so you never know. Through the group her piano teacher works for she can have singing lessons later on.

Also waves to littlefish!

I have just finished my arrangement of "Love is all around" thanks once again for the idea- it sounds great!

(sorry for the thread hi-jack Belo!)

• where have we met before????????

Interesting thread. DS1 is only 3, but he loves music (has a particular fondness for bluegrass!), and can hold a tune really well for his age I think. We really want to encourage him in this and were wondering the sam ething as you (though aren't thinking of starting him on anything until he older).

I asked him which instrument he would like to play the other day and he insists that he wants to learn the trombone

waves at Littlefish

I started very gentle singing lessons at 10 which was absolutely the earliest you should really consider it.

Until then, I sang in church choirs, county junior choirs, school choirs etc.

I had piano lessons from 6 yrs old.

I went on to attend one of the London Music Colleges.

The emphasis should definitely be on fun and collaborative music making at your dd's age.

what about the local church choir?
free and great training

My husband is a private singing teacher and we both also work for STagecoach.

I agree with smartiejake that individual lessons is too much too soon for a 6 year old. A good quality group activity such as a choir or theatre school where they learn technique in a fun age appropriate way alongside singing age appropriate songs would be better.

In an idividual lesson where it is just you and the teacher you are quite isolated. Even the most confident of children that age tend to clam up a little and they don;t really ahve the understanding to do a huge amount of technical work. Singing games can get the same effect in a fun, group environment.

As I said dh does both but he thinks it unethical to take on a child under 10 for individual lessons and even then prefers them to be about 11 or 12.

In lots of areas there are group singing or instrumental classes - that can be a good way of starting out. DS went to one at that age which did singing and other stuff, and let them hear lots of different instruments. The following year they could start group instrument lessons - and they were better able to choose because they knew what the instruments sounded like.

Hmmmm Might be better to find her a choir or group singing lessons like they do at places like Theatre Train or Stage Coach rather than individual singing lessons.

It can be quite damaging to overtrain a young voice. If you do decide to find a teacher make sure they are very well qualified.

6 is not to early to learn an instrument and if she can sing well and has a good sense of rhythm she might well be musical and take to an instrument well.

Piano, violin or recorder are a good place to start as they don't rely on stature as other orchehestral instruments like the flute or clarinet do.

Being good at music might help getting accepted into a good secondary school if it has status as an arts/ music specialist. Some of these schools have places set aside for children with an apptitude for music.

SOme independent schools also have music scholarships.

If your DD is interested then I would go for it.

And no it doesn't make you a bad mother at all!