Calling parents of musical children or those who are musical themselves!

[BarbaraVineFan]

This post is probably going to make me sound like a bit of a twat, but I should genuinely like opinions and advice please! So I discovered yesterday that my DD, who was 3 in October, can clap back rhythms I clap to her, and also that she can clap the rhythm of songs that she knows like baa baa black sheep. I would like to know if this is unusual for her age? And if she does have musical talent, what is the best way to nurture it at 3? I am quite musical myself and have always sung to and with her, but don't have any instruments in the house- should I be getting a keyboard or something? Any thoughts gratefully appreciated, thanks!

Forgot to add - she can also sing back short phrases I sing to her, although these are only completely accurate about 75% of the time.

I think that shows potential yes. I would get a ukelele or a glockenspiel or drums. Look at Gear 4 music. My son showed similar potential at that age. He started lessons at 4. He's 18 now and is hoping to be the next Ed Sheeran or Chris Martin😁

My 3 yo (autumn birthday too) is similar so don't think it's unusual. He likes to belt out Queen songs on the way home from nursery and plays clapping rhythm games with his older sister.

Thanks @jellymaker . When you say your son started lessons, do you mean instrument lessons and if so, what instrument please?

@Sleepwalkingintothewall your son sounds awesome!

I can't say it is unusual, DS was the same. As to whether it means they want to pursue music is a different matter. DS joined things like a school choir at 5 and started learning the guitar at 6. He's now doing music GCSE and is in a band playing lead guitar. He's done singing lessons and piano lessons as well but those things didn't really interest him, although he does still sing in a choir. We are a very musical household but that doesn't mean anything. My parents were music teachers, but out of the four siblings, two played an instrument (me and my older brother), only one is still involved on music (me) and my older sister and younger brother had no interest. You can't force it.

My parents are both musicians. I was going to concerts throughout my mum’s pregnancy and dad used to tap out rhythms on her belly which I recognised from tiny.

Both my sister and I are talented musicians. I had a grade 8 under my belt by 16.

I played lots of music to DD whilst in the womb. One particular chart track that was always played on my morning commute became her first lullaby within a week or 2 of birth. She’s 12 and just got a distinction for a grade 5 drum exam. She’s been drumming since she could sit (I have a video of her with a load of pans and a wooden spoon at about 18 months having a whale of a time and there are definitely recognisable rhythms in there. :))

I would try to find some early music type fun classes near to you and let your daughter join in some general musical activities, rather than looking for a specific instrument or individual lessons for quite a while yet. She has all the time in the world ahead of her, and may or may not take to music as a long term interest.
My son suddenly started singing and joined in with the Amen at the end of a psalm at church aged about 18 months, perfectly in tune. Heads turned, but I didn't think anything of it. He turned into a child who sang to himself a lot of the time and ended up as a chorister later on.
We are a musical family - three out of five play multiple instruments and sing and the other two (Dad and one DC) tried it but didn't take it beyond a few early lessons. I do think that children can show very early signs of musical awareness and aptitude, but the worst thing you can do is push too soon - they need to mature physically and it helps if they can read fluently before you start them on anything more than fun activities. Good luck!

Thanks for the responses so far! @DelilahBucket I am.not planning to 'force it', just want to know how to support DD if she is musically inclined. My parents started me on piano lessons at 7 and I ended up with grade 8 in piano, flute and voice, but I am not sure the piano was the best instrument to start with , and have no experience or expertise with small children in relation to music, so I wanted to get some opinions.

www.amazon.co.uk/Alnicov-Drumsticks-Percussion-Instrument-Accessories/dp/B08G7XP2CP/ref=asc_df_B08G7XP2CP/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=570330133672&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16595149430030288810&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045641&hvtargid=pla-1481184114475&psc=1

I would get two pairs of tap sticks, you can tap together/call and response/freestyle. All types and genres of music. Not just nursery rhymes.

'it helps if they can read fluently before you start them on anything more than fun activities'- @Couchpotato3 this is the kind of advice I was hoping for - practical and sensible. Thank you

@TightFistedWozerk those look good, thank you! I'll order them

That's really lovely. At this age I would buy a small keyboard, maybe some maracas and other drums that aren't too loud, continue to sing and lots of toys that make music. All this until about 5.
I was consistently told 5 was too young for any kind of structured lesson but I think that's poppycock as I was very musical very young and so started piano at 6 for a few years. 8-10 you can add additional instruments if they are interested.
One of the greatest shame's for me was that I hadn't been started on piano young as by the time I had an interest I was unable to put both hands together.

@OverTheHillAndDownTotherSide i love your stories of music in the womb! I have a particular song I always used to sing to DD as a lullaby and when I sing it now she always becomes very quiet and still and watches my face intently, it's lovely!

He started with the ukelele. I have a good friend who teaches music and she spotted his potential when we were round at her house and offered to teach him from age 4. He had grade 1 by age 6. He's just loved it all the way through. It's true, you can't force it. I have another child who started with violin at 8 but lost interest at about 12. She's not got the passion for it. Just roll with whatever your child shows an interest it.

Some people struggle to put hands together on the piano, whatever their age. It isn't necessarily a question of doing it aged 5 and you'll do better than at age 8 or whatever. As a teacher, I found that somewhat older children (eg 8-9) tended to get on better, as they had the physical maturity and co-ordination to cope. Very little children can struggle and become disheartened. One of my best pupils only started in year 7 and breezed through Grade 8 in Sixth form (she did well because she was very motivated, decided for herself that she wanted to do it and applied herself to practising regularly, not because of anything magical that I did or any particular innate ability!)

Really interesting, I always assumed it was because I wasn't young enough starting. I started age 6 singing and on single note instruments (tin whistle and brass).
Either way, I started my own younger than advised and all flying on multi instruments now. I find I did have to push a bit through the 'not interested ' phase but now they're older and peers have instruments they are happy to be part of that group.