Anyone with any experience of Colourstrings

[TooTiredtoGoogle]

We've been taking DD to the usual free baby and toddler music sessions in libraries and children centres since she was a few months old.
Have been toying with the idea of getting her some music lessons (potentially violin) but am worried that she's too young and will be put off.
Came across the Colourstrings website and it does sound good ... but how is it different to the usual music sessions where pre-schoolers sing nursery rhymes and play percussion instruments?

It's not that different per se (though poss more expensive) but it feeds into Colourstrings instrumental program for 5/6yrs+. They are very big on not starting an instrument too early (think 6 is the usual age) and will only let you join the instrumental program if the child has done at least a year in their nursery course. They carry on having a slightly more grown-up version pf the sessions (called musicianship) alongside their instrumental lessons, and there's lots of ensemble playing and concerts etc.

FWIW we are very happy with the instrumental lessons, their system is very child-friendly and the teacher is wonderful. It was recommended to me by several professional musicians as being a really good system for instrumental learning, and we're v. pleased with it. They can occasionally be a little bit precious about some aspects of the systme, but you can just nod your head and smile.

Thanks PollyMorfic.
Do you mind me asking how expensive it was?

I can't remember how much it was just for the Kindergarten. It wasn't an extortionate amount. It gets more expensive once they start the instrumental lessons, as you're paying for a 30-min individual lesson, plus musicianship, and then there are various ensembles.

But I think there's an element of paying for what you get with music lessons -- group violin lessons in schools are very cheap, but not an efficient or effective way of learning. By comparison, a half-hour individual lesson for a child with a private teacher is about £20 (London) though it may be less outside the SE.

The thing with colourstrings is that you do need to get them to do at least one year of kindergarten lessons before they'll let you start an instrument. They also insist that the child chooses the instrument, not hte parent, so you might not end up with violin!

Thanks PollyMorfic