Age for piano lessons

[KateandtheGirls]

What is the best age to start lessons?

drums, various woodwind and brass instruments, guitar both acoustic and electric, keybords, violin, and more.

The classes will be held on three different school sites. I imagine the organisers will be inundated with application forms. I am really hoping there is no catch to it. Anyone else's child taken part in such a scheme?

No!

You lucky things!

Wow tigermoth, that's brilliant.

I'll let you know how it goes. It just sounds too good to be true!

Unfortunately not, tigermoth. We still have to pay for shared lessons Organised by the school, last 20 minutes and can be up to 4 children although its not unusual to get drop-outs and have 2/3 in a class. They group by ability in popular classes like violin/ keyboard.

That is fantastic news Tigermoth, I am very impressed. Could it be linked to the recent arrival of a conservatoire in our neck of the woods I wonder?
Howard Goodall did an excelent South Bank Show just before Christmas ladies, the situation on school music in the UK is patchy but not as dire as one might think. Some superb projects around the UK were showcased, sounding very like Tigermoth's will be. Gateshead and Nottinghamshire were two examples.

well done your ds2. his fingers must have been very steady.

Well I phoned up the organisers and it really is as it says on the box. The catch is that some instruments are very popular so your child has to join a waiting list till one becomes free. t if ds is not fussy about the instrument he starts off with, he should get a place.

Marina, I assume you mean the one near the river?If so, I wondered about the link as well. Lots of potential for student music teachers to get involved.

Well done ds2 Beety, that can't have been easy.
Tigermoth, I think there has to be a connection. It must have transformed the musician demography locally!

I have been teaching piano for many years and have had pupils as young as three. However, it completely depends on the child - some three year olds can sit at a piano and listen; some seven year olds can't. I always adapt the lesson to suit the child - that's the beauty of private lessons. When a child starts lessons with me I state that the first six weeks are a trial period after which either the parent or I can decide to discontinue lessons.

I have only had to discontinue lessons twice in over twenty years and in those cases the children clearly had no interest in the piano - the desire was their parent's and not their own. They did, however, go on to learn other instruments. Parents appreciate the teacher's honesty - no point in paying out money that is wasted.

You definitely need an instrument to practise on. Pianos are very cheap to get hold of these days. Many are 'going for a song' (pardon the pun) on ebay. Digital pianos are increasingly popular, in fact I use one myself. It is vital that you get an instrument with weighted keys otherwise your child will not learn the 'touch' of the piano.

This thread is nearly 5 years old - it could start piano lessons itself!