Is my daughter old enough to learn an instrument ?

[mummyloveslucy]

Hi, my daughter is 5 years and 3 months old but has a developmental delay of approx 18 months, with quite a severe speech disorder.
I read that learning an instrument can really help children with speech problems and it's especially good for children with developmental delays.
I was really plesed as my daughter loves music. She's won 2 awards from school for her musicality. She has great rythem and beat and just loves anything musical.
I wonder wether she's old enough to learn eithr the piano or violin ? I know they do start at about 4 or 5, but I've heard that they have to know their ABC. I'm not sure if she's mature enough mentally at the moment, although she does concentrate well.
If she's too young, are there any other ways to encourage her love of music until she's old enough ?

Do you have a music college near you? Sometimes they do toddler classes. There's a very good one near us, and they do a Junior Saturday for 3 onwards. I think it's great as they just learn music appreciation in general first, try different sorts of instruments before deciding on one, which is great rather than making them just learn one. Good luck!

DS1 is nearly 6 but started weekly piano lessons at school when he was just 5.

It was slow going at first but he's getting better/enjoying it more now.

He does know his abc and I think they need to in order to read the notes but they do take it slowly and there's lots of repetition. Also helpful if they know their left and right.

Does the school offer music lessons at all? My DS's general music teacher suggested he started piano lessons so could be worth having a chat.

DD1 started the recorder at 5. she was desperate for a flute but too small. she still plays now age 14.

I'd sat not the piano - my MiL was a primary school music teacher and pianist and she recommends age 7+ for the piano, due to hand size and the time/mental energy to learn to read music (I'm guessing your dd is busy learning to read English at the moment).

Thanks everyone. They do lessons at her school from year 1. She's in reception at the mo, and might be repeating reception for another year.
She has music lessons at school at the moment, but I think it's mainly singing and using procussion instruments.
The main reason for learning an instrument was to help her speech, so I'd like her to do something soon. If she's too young for the piano, are there any other instruments that are easier?

Violin, they do child-size violins and I remember my brother starting it quite young...

I've looked up recommended first instruments and it seems to be either the drums or the recorder. I think she'd prefere the drums.

I started the violin at 5 - group music lessons at school.

Have to agree with wb though - 7+ is usually a better age for formal lessons. My Mum and sister are both instrumental teachers and have struggled with concentration in children younger than this.

Good luck though - is a fantastic skill to have!

Thank you. We've been looking at drum kits on e-bay. (I might live to regret it) I think we will buy her one. It'll be good to learn ruthem and beat etc that she'll need for later on when she learns a more advanced instrument.

I'd say drums or maybe a ukeleleo or a xylophone. Something which makes a reasonable noise straight away and is therefore rewarding to play.

USB drum kits are great because if they use earphones you don't have to hear it too. Just be careful because we bought one for DD2's birthday which she loves but would never be good for learning properly on because there is a delay between hitting and hearing the sound - useless!

You can get tiny violins but they are difficult to play, make a horrible noise and it takes a high level of coordination and perseverance to improve at all.

i would second the NO to violin - takes ages to make them sound decent and lots of coordination required. Also a hard playing position to get right. I play, so I know!

Drums good because the music is not based on ABC but on symbols, so better if your DD not sure of letters. Also, sounds good straight away - very important with LOs!

Only down side of drums is that both hands and both feet end up doing something different, but could build up to all the different bits!

How about a children's choir as a first try? That would show if she has the concentration span to stick with something? Would help with language and speech too.

Brilliant idea - definitely go for it for your DD!

they don't need to know their ABC to learn piano. They need it to decipher the music in england and US which is completely different. you need to learn the notes in other countries.
She can start piano around 4 (it is your call to say if she is ready now or not), she might be late talking but may be she is ready to memorise the keys. you can learn to play instruments by mimicking and listening. a lot of people around the world do play an instrument without being able to read. If a teacher tell you it is needed, they are probably not very good at passing their skill, or are not willing to make an effort for your daugther.
I lived a year next to a violin teacher, I wouldn't recommand it either for your sanity, the beginner lessons are a challenge for your ear.

Thanks everyone. She is in the choir at school and she loves it. The teacher has said that although she has a speech problem, she has amazing pitch and rythem. She loves her music lessons at school.
We are looking for drums at the moment, i might speek to some piano teachers and maybe she could have a triel lesson so the teacher could let me know if she's ready or not. She is very good at remembering words from songs, books etc so she might be o.k.
If not, I know she'll love the drums.

hi mummyloveslucy,

I've followed your posts for 18 months or so now, and I think drums are a great idea.

Above all, you need to nourish this area of confidence. Let Lucy lead the way and whatever you do don't let it become something that makes her anxious.

Reading music can come later, much much later - remember that some of the world's greatest musicians never do it. If you do go and see a piano teacher now, i would explain Lucy's additional needs -if they see it as a challenge, great, if they look frightened, you can move on. I suspect the sort of teacher you'd need would be one who could just work on helping Lucy pick out tunes on the piano and show her how she can use all the fingers on her hand.

It's never too soon to have a piano or keyboard in the house. Fooling around with you at home, trying to find the notes for "twinkle twinkle" on the keyboard is probably the way to go right now.

Good luck!