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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To really want ds age 4 to start learning to play an instrument?

38 replies

GoingLoopyLou · 18/05/2011 22:08

When is a good age to start?

I'd like him to learn piano, he says he wants to, but I think he'd say that if I suggested he learnt to play a corn on the cob, don't want to be too pushy and am guessing his fingers wouldn't be able to cope with piano yet.

When did your dc start to learn to play an instrument and what was it?

Thanks

OP posts:
GingerWrath · 18/05/2011 22:11

Started dd on violin aged 4...she was on of 2 4 yo in lessons..teacher has suggested both stop because concentration spans are so short they can't even be bothered to learn a proper bow hold.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 18/05/2011 22:11

I started piano at 4

elphabadefiesgravity · 18/05/2011 22:13

YABU - unlessyou learn via a system espcially geared to ounger children such as Suzuli it is too young.

Better to perhaps join a singing/movement/music based group where they can have fun and start to develop musicality.

Age 6 or 7 is a good age to start, when they can read confidently. Starting earlier gives no real advantage.

cluttered · 18/05/2011 22:14

DS started violin at 6, I think that is a good age. Recorder or guitar could be a bit earlier I think.

JemimaMop · 18/05/2011 22:14

DS1 started piano at 7, DS2 has just turned 7 and I think is going to start in September.

DS1 had wanted to play piano since he was around 4 and would mess about on it, but we waited until he was older for proper lessons.

He practices for 20 minutes a day, and I don't think at 4 he would have had the concentration span. In fact I'm not even convinced that DS2 will have aged 7!

GingerWrath · 18/05/2011 22:15

Further to mine, DD does dance classes and she loves them...violin was making her not want to go to school!

ShellingPeas · 18/05/2011 22:16

Do you want him to learn or does he want to learn? Makes a big difference, especially at 4.

Original poster
GoingLoopyLou · 18/05/2011 22:17

He does a dance class now and loves it and has always been very musical, I can see him being far more arty than academic to be honest.

Thanks for the info, I don't want to push him too soon but also want to encourage it if there is potential there. (But not the violin! My ears! Eeeeek)

OP posts:
Original poster
GoingLoopyLou · 18/05/2011 22:19

Shelling - It is something I suggested, not sure it's something he would think of, but he is very pro it, but like I said above, he is 4 so anything I suggest that sounds remotely fun is something he wants to do.

OP posts:
GingerWrath · 18/05/2011 22:19

Tiny violins aren't that loud..try it and just trust your instincts over whether he is enjoying it or not!

elphabadefiesgravity · 18/05/2011 22:21

Pity me goingloopy dd is in her 2nd yearof whole class violin (just one more term yipee)

I did start to teach dd a little piano and recorder myself when she was 5 but it was the odd 10 mins here and there. A half hour proper lesson with a teacher would have been way too much for her concentration span. She started proper lessons when she was 9 and is doing well.

cowparsely · 18/05/2011 22:26

i started violin round 3 or 4 as my father played and everyone in our house was musical. my ds both started piano at 4

squeakytoy · 18/05/2011 22:27

I started piano at 4. I would say piano is excellent as the theory is very maths based and really does help children to learn.

catwalker · 18/05/2011 23:01

My son's piano teacher doesn't think children should start piano before the age of 7.

worraliberty · 18/05/2011 23:03

DS started violin aged 9.

manicinsomniac · 18/05/2011 23:06

I agree with him catwalker.

My parents started me on the piano at 4. They stopped my lessons at 6 because I was bored, frustrated, not practising and still hadn't learned to read music. I had barely reached grade 1 level. Now I would love to be able to play properly. Maybe if I'd started at 8 like my younger sister did I'd have stuck with it and be able to play like she can. I started the violin at 7, played for 10 years, got grade 7 and still enjoy playing for fun.

My eldest started playing piano and singing at the start of this academic year at 7, almost 8. If she turns out musical I'd like her to try cello or sax but not till she's around 10.

Dance however, I started both mine at 3. i think that's far easier and less pressurising to start at a younger age.

SmethwickBelle · 18/05/2011 23:08

It utterly depends on their personality. I started piano around 5 or 6 but was curious and wanted to play it. DS1 is 4 and certainly musical, he does Rhythm Time and a local "street dance" class, but a formal music class would be in my opinion, beyond his concentration level for the forseeable.

MotherOfSuburbia · 18/05/2011 23:56

My first 2 DC both started at 5 - one cello and one viola - in a programme specifically geared for little ones though. It's been great so far. LOTS of parental involvement though!
I started violin at 6 and flute at 7.

MoldovanHardHatporn · 19/05/2011 00:00

Depending on the concentration levels of the child it's best to start between 4 and 7. Bow holding shouldn't even come into it at that age (for string instruments :) ) and it should all be about getting a love of music, learning to read the music, learn and understand rhythm and counting. Treat it like another language and then you'll get why it's better to start young :)

TechnoKitten · 19/05/2011 00:23

I started recorder (not plastic screechiness!) at 4 - breathing exercises etc really helped with asthma - went on to clarinet later and still love it.

We did violin at school from around 5 which I hated - swapped to cello around 6-7 which was fine. Piano I think was from 6, but can't really remember - we used to pick out tunes fairly early on without formal lessons.

I don't think 4 is too young to be teaching the basics of rhythm, times, holding a tune / note recognition but I'd do it in 10 min bursts here and there rather than expect compliance throughout a whole half hour lesson.

FurKnickersAndNoCoat · 19/05/2011 00:39

Don't go with drums. We were "gifted" drums. I am now selling drums and child on ebay Grin

mycatoscar · 19/05/2011 05:54

all the private music teachers i know take children once they are 7/8, I think thats the right age. My dd will be 6 in sept and I have trouble getting her to practise her reading book every night , let alone Piano!

WobblyWidgetOnTheScooper · 19/05/2011 06:34

FKANC - ooh, I'd love to buy the drums you can keep the child though :o

OP do you have a piano? If not, I'd get him a decent sized keyboard to mess about on.

Avantia · 19/05/2011 06:52

We have drums and electric guitar !

Drums - you need to buy practice pads to put on them - they come off when he has his lesson . Neighbours were warned ! Grin

WidowWadman · 19/05/2011 07:16

Do you have any musical instruments kicking about at home he can pick up and play around with a little, just for fun without formal training?

My daughter (2.5) has declared one of her dad's ukes to be "her guitar" and she enjoys messing around with it. I guess she won't have the coordination to learn properly until she's at least 4 or 5, but she always has access and sees her dad playing etc, which makes her interested.