Ballet or keyboard?

[earpods]

Hi All,

I have a dilemma for my 4 year old.

She starts reception in September and she currently goes swimming and drama.

Do you think she should start ballet or keyboard classes from September?

She hasn't tried any of them and I just have one evening free in the week to take her to an activity.

I know I can ask her what she prefers but how much value would that have? I mean she changes her mind every day about everything! Today she may X tomorrow she will say Y. And just one week's free trial may not be enough for her to choose.

I just don't know if ballet is somehow already covered in her drama class as they do singing/dancing/acting?

On the other hand although keyboard classes start at 4 years old where we live, will she be too young for it?

Any advice/experience is welcome.

AIBU - Ballet
AINBU - Keyboard

@earpods yes in my experience it's far more exhausting, everything they are learning is new, they are surrounded by new people so are ill all the time 'Reception Flu' much like 'Freshers Flu', expectations on them are higher.

I wouldn't underestimate how important factoring R&R is now. If you do fill her time (as I did as she seemed fine) when you get to a school holiday they just crash.

She's already doing two physical activities. I'd lean towards piano (unless she screams nooooooooooooooo) because it's about dexterity, rhythm, maths, reading, communication, etc, etc and is done sitting down. And it's music. Which is cool.

Don't start anything new in the first term at school - let her settle in and then see how it goes.

4 is young for keyboard - is the teacher experienced with this age-group? Mine started piano at 6, and her teacher suggested a taster lesson before committing, to see whether she was ready. Some are ready younger; for some it's later - I started at 6 and gave up, and started again at 8, when it went much better - it was also with a more experienced teacher. To get most out of learning an instrument, there needs to be regular practice between lessons, so you have to be sure you can fit that in too - which may be difficult if she's in after-school club on some days.

This.

Does she actually enjoy drama? I’d say both ballet and piano are more beneficial than that, and the dance side also promotes confidence and performance like drama does but has more emphasis on strength, skills, posture and the grades count towards uni points eventually.
Piano works the brain very differently and helps with maths, dexterity and is a nice skill to have if you can stick at it.
Four is young for both, but they are both long term commitments if they like it and stick with it, so not too young. My children both started dance at 3 and my youngest was 4 when she started piano. Bear in mind though that they both are a big time and money commitment too, especially when you add in extras such as show feed, exam fees etc.

Thank you all so much, it is really useful.

@Singleandproud what do you mean by R&R?

And many of you suggested to stop drama and do ballet instead. To be fair she likes drama and she may likes ballet even more, but the only reason we started her drama is to help with public speaking and confidence which is a big lifeskill.

The other interesting point you said is that ballet counts towards uni points. I guess this is only if you do it professionally or at an advanced level with certificates etc. up until A-levels right? I bet reception ballet classes doesn't count towards uni, right?

Would keyboard count towards uni? How can I find which sports are valued by unis?

I am only asking as we don't come from the UK and doesn't know how the system works.

Ballet counts when you start doing grades, so the higher grades really which is teens. I only mentioned it to show it’s value other than the skills, but I’ve no idea about drama equivalent.
My point really was that for now all hobbies are for fun, and children change and grow and sometimes like it and sometimes don’t. It’s great to have a variety of opportunities to develop a well rounded and happy child, but some hobbies can continue for years and so be prepared to put the effort and expense in if you find the right one.

Neither in the first term of Reception. It’s exhausting and often totally overwhelming for them. Leave it at least a term, there is no rush.

don't think about things like university entry when your child is only 4. Not many of these things officially count for university unless you are at a very high level or applying for music / dance at uni.

i'd do neither activity and give the child a chance to chill out at home with you and do drawing / craft / games / lego etc. school is very intense at that age and kids need time to chill out.

re-visit the issue in 2 or 3 years time and see if there is space for another activity when your child is a bit older. she has plenty of time to learn.

I agree with @parietal . I only mentioned it because that’s the stage one of mine is at now so it’s relevant 13 years on, but it absolutely wasn’t important when they’re 4. Just pick what they enjoy and let them have time to play.

She is 4? Just let her be at home and play with her toys and play games with you!
University is not something to worry about right now.

Seriously, it’s not worth thinking about ballet or piano grades for university. Only a few unis will accept them under a points system. My dd is a professional ballet dancer and didn’t start dance lessons until eight.

Don't think about uni at age 4.

Let her try different things and have different experiences and find out what she likes.

Maybe she'd rather play football than do ballet.

She is 4 and already has 2 'hobbies'. kids need downtime. Why do some parents feel the need to fill every bloody free minute with lessons? I would do neither!

to consider uni at this point is madness. She is a very young child and not a 'project'.

Not keyboard, if at all, piano but it' better to wait till she's 6/7 with any musical instrument unless you are a musical family and know what you're doing.

Ballet could be fun but I'd sign your dd up for rainbows so that she can make new friends. Some may go to her school and others could be out of school friends. If you sign up to help with the sessions, she'd get a place quickly.

If she starts an instrument later, remember piano makes a nice sound from the beginning but gets quite hard and a bit boring later on as it's a solitary activity. I'd suggest to try out lots of different orchestral instruments and chose the one she likes best.

Leave the slot free. Reception is more tiring than nursery, lots to get used to, and less opportunity for her just to play as it is all about getting her ready for formal learning. It will be nice to have that evening where you have no plans and can chill out or do whatever. She has plenty of time to learn keyboard or ballet when she is a little older.

It would also mean that you have capacity for playdates if she starts having any in reception.

@earpods R&R - rest and relaxation, she needs downtime it's important for her to process things.

Ballet and musical instrument grades count for uni when you hit the grades 6, 7 and 8. However she would have to love it to get to that stage and we are talking about a 4 year old pre ballet class. If she went on to anything at that level she would be having several classes multiple times a week or extensive homework practise.

The activities you / she chooses at 4 aren't her activities forever, most children will be able to progress at a recreational - county level of most things but the vast majority aren't going to set the world ablaze or become Olympians. Choose activities she enjoys with transferable skills.

My DD has done ballet, street, modern, acro, drama, singing, musical theatre, tennis, bushcraft, swimming lessons competitive swimming, diving, synchro, bushcraft, watersports, drum lessons and rugby but not all at the same time and each has leant skills to the next in its own way. Now in her teens we prioritise rugby and free time for homework and friends.

Keyboard!! Based on the size of the global music industry compared to the global ballet scene, you're more likely to be bringing up the next Dr Dre than the next Darcy Bussell :-)

Music! Ballet is pointless… in fact get her into a team sport - football, cricket, basketball, netball… anything but prancing around in a tutu

Yes it is! My daughter was absolutely drained in year R and also did nursery full time. plus they catch loads of illnesses. Don't add anymore activities!

Why does she have to do something?

I think there are benefits to both.

I don't think she is too young for music; I started piano at 4 y/o and went on to continue it through A'levels. I was no music prodigy or anything but I did well enough with it and enjoyed it. I understood it fine at 4 y/o, but to be fair I had been picking out tunes off TV etc on our piano on my own for a while at that point. Some people get it some don't - you won't know unless she tries.

I wouldn't write it off because of her age though. I would, however, go more for piano than keyboard unless the keyboard you have at home is full size and has proper weighted keys.

Obviously learning music is worthwhile and learning to read music even more so. Piano is good for hand coordination and is just a nice instrument to learn. Often makes learning other instruments easier as well.

Ballet - again, great for coordination as well as general strength, tone, posture etc... all of which she can carry into life. It has a lot of discipline too. It is not pointless at all.

You don't always have to do things with a view to becoming a ballet star or global pianist etc, the key is to enjoy it and see where it goes, if anywhere. So she might change her mind or not like it - but the point is, at 4, she CAN try different things and see what she takes to. Nearly every person who ever became a major success in a sport or music or dance etc... simply went along to a class - mostly as a young child - to have a go, and they just fell in love with it and/or discovered they had an aptitude for it.

I wouldn't necessarily give up drama - it is something that builds confidence in kids

She's 4 - when does she get to play?

Ballet has no resemblance to prancing around in a tutu.

I’m going to disagree with everyone else who has said that reception is more tiring than nursery - mine was at nursery 8.30-6 and coped absolutely fine with reception and had lots of energy left. She did swimming, ballet and rainbows at that age. Not a problem at all. I’d choose ballet over keyboard at 4. As others have said, hands will be too small, and you will need to practice. Mine started piano at 7 (and it was available at school, you might have similar). Mine still loves ballet (& it has indeed expanded to tap and street), great for discipline, fitness, performance and confidence. But lots who started at the same time no longer do it (do other things instead).