To think my DD is very talented at piano.

[MyNavyLurker]

My DD is 8 and is on a waiting list for piano lessons, but I’m wondering if anyone can tell me if this is a sign she has a natural talent or gift for the piano.

I bought her a beginners piano book and each day, she’ll spend about 20 minutes reading the lessons and working through the exercises and pieces. We have a book of Christmas carols. She is playing pieces with sharps, flats, hand movements etc and she is playing them really well.

If I am honest, I am not musical myself, so I’m totally blown away. She is learning a piece that’s two pages with two hands, sharps, movement of hands etc in only a couple of days of sitting for max 20 mins.

Maybe it’s just that thing of being amazed at what your own kids are capable of, but Im wondering if this is unusual to have this ability after only a couple of months since starting, and completely self taught using beginner books.

Please be kind, I’m aware it might be that thing where I’m just a proud mum. 😂

Not sure I explained that well. She is learning a new piece in about 2 days. Just to give a time reference for how quickly she is picking up new music and being able to play it.

Yes this sounds like she has a natural gift for it. How lovely!

She sounds like she might be a star! Get her on BGT next year!

Piano is hard to play, it sounds like she is a natural. 😄

She's obviously very keen which is great. If she keeps up the practice I'm sure she'll be good but I think you'll only know whether she is talented if she has lessons. The piano teacher will let you know.

It sounds like you’ve every reason to be a proud mum. Some kids are just gifted, and talented, and pick things up very quickly. I hope she sticks with it. Being able to play the piano is dreamy.

I think any eight year old who teaches themselves from a book and plays fluently is inevitably talented. It will undoubtedly give her much pleasure .

Sounds lovely, you're right to be proud of her! She must have a natural talent for it and she is enjoying it and wanting to learn so that's a great thing. I'm sure she'll do really well with her lessons when she starts 😊

My DD plays the piano well for her own (and my) pleasure. She had a few lessons years ago and basically taught herself and learns new pieces using an iPad. She easily uses two hands, black and white notes, pedals. She is much better than I was when I was younger but she is NOT performance level. A good thing you can do is get your DD to learn to read music. Enjoy it, encourage her but I would advise letting her find her own level and not necessarily going through the conformity of doing grades, unless she wants to of course

I just can’t believe she has taught herself. She has the most determined personality of anyone I know. A blessing and a curse when trying to parent her. But it’s like she has found her passion! ❤️

Yes, she definitely sounds gifted!

You're quite right to be proud of her.

Thanks everyone. There is a long waiting list for the teacher. I don’t know if I should just keep buying her increasingly complex books? Any suggestions?

Very, very cool, OP! My two’s piano lessons (which as a good mum I got them both to do a stint of) were like pure purgatory for them, the teacher and me equally, and approx 7 minutes practice was done across both sets of lessons with much howling and wailing etc. So yes, exciting that your dd has found something she loves!

My darling dc do have other talents I hasten to add.

There are online music lessons!

Are there any other piano teachers? Can school help? Best to get her lessons as soon as possible just in case she’s doing something wrong. I’m talking from experience as I played incorrectly i had a problem with hand posture and it was hard to get corrected!!!!

Is there only one teacher in your area?
I would start her in lessons. It's possible to build bad posture and movement habits that are hard to break. Encourage her for sure but I suspect that many teachers would be fine to start. If she's a star and still super keen you can get a competitive teacher later, or stay on the wait list for this one , even.

Is it a teacher at school you are waiting for? I would suggest trying to find someone quickly to help
her with correct fingering, etc. it sounds as though she has a natural talent!

We have completed all grading here with our children, it took 10 years and cost a fortune, tens of thosands.
They all play well but rarely🙄.

Your daughter sounds like a natural and could well be one of those rare kids that skips grading.
Definitely to be encouraged.
Online lessons could be perfect and great value when she is so quick.
She sounds amazing.

We enjoyed the clank clang of those early years with fond mixed emotions🙉😁.

Ask around for other piano teachers. It can be hard to find but usually word of mouth is a good bet.

There must be other teachers out there? Ask around. It doesn't have to be done through school. It would be best to have a teacher to avoid gaining habits that are hard to break later.

Most teachers would be so delighted to have such a motivated student!

She sounds wonderful and a very determined little girl!

DS12 did guitar lessons for a few years and I was amazed at how quickly he learnt to read music. Sadly he gave up the lessons when he went to secondary school! DS8 is now doing piano lessons and again shows quite a natural ability, he’d already taught himself some pieces before he had the lessons (by looking at YouTube!) I’ve no idea where they both get it from 🤷🏻‍♀️

This is lovely, you are right to be proud. Youtube tends to be great for self learning.

Piano teacher here.

With the amount of study she is putting in she is bound to be having such positive outcomes. This is why I spend my days saying "10 mins 3 x a week at least and you will see results" until I am blue in the face. If she's doing 20 minutes every day she will be learning lots and making good progress as you describe.

Ask around for local piano teachers they will be happy to have a student who already knows the value of good regular practise.

Don't do online lessons whatever you do. They are not effective, and some can be dishonest. I did online during lockdown out of necessity but it is not a good way to learn or teach. Instrumental learning needs face to face.

Hope this helps, good luck to you both!

If she’s enjoying it let her crack on in her own way. Enjoyment is the key.

My mother decided I had a piano playing talent 🙄 when I was a bit younger than your dd. I had to practice for a full hour daily, in a freezing cold room alone. I desperately wanted to give up but was guilt tripped by the “how much we’ve paid out for your lessons , that’ll all be wasted” moan each time. Years of misery until one day I didn’t want to walk to my lesson and she said right I’ll send your brother instead, thinking I’d jump to it. I just thought great let him suffer instead. 😁

I hope your dd does have a flair for music and has fun and enjoys it.

Definitely sounds like she has a talent but agree with others - any way she can get a different teacher sooner? Don't want to start with bad habits that may be harder to correct the more she plays!