Have you taught your child to read music/ play an instrument?

[Gameboy]

If so, how?

I know there are books/ games etc all available, but I just wondered whether you did it in a formal way, and suddenly said, "OK, every Tues & Thurs between 4 - 4.30 we're going to do recorder" or what?

I played a lot of instruments as a child, thoroughly enjoyed it, and am thinking about beginning to teach DS1 (6) to read music and play the recorder. Thing is, I can't help feeling he'll be less responsive to me than he would a 'proper' teacher?

can he do it at school?

DS plays trumpet at school and has lessomns from peripetitic teacher

My dd is only 3 so don't know what the future holds, but we have a piano, and whenever she shows interest in it, i sit with her and talk about the keys, notes and show her little scales to play etc I just try and use some of the correct terms for things, pointing out things on the music sheet and explaining what they mean.

I hope that this will help her learn some of the basics in the early years, and then give her the choice to have lessons or continue learning with me.

I don't think your son would be less responsive to you, and i am not sure that needing to do it formally at home, just being surrounded by music and 'playing' with you when you are both in the mood is more appropriate. But who knows i'll wait and see when my dd turns 6

All four of mine play and read music, at differant levels.

Eldest son (13) started out on the recorder aged about 7 or 8, can still play it but doesn'y any more. Moved on to the cornet at school and now the euphonium. He also plays the snare drum and bugle.

Eldest daughter (11), very good ear for music, started the cornet 3 years ago, also plays bugle, bell lyre, recorder, snare drum and is teaching her self the keyboard. Reads music very well.

Youngest daughter (8), startedlearning the french horn last term at school and is doing really well. She can also play the fife and recorder, self taught. Reads music a little.

Youngest son (5), has had no training at all, plays bugle and cornet, and can read music, we have no idea how, but then he has aspergers and hyperlexia and taught himself to read, so it is very likely he has also taught himself to read music.

I taught DD the recorder pre school. Did it randomly, showed basic notes & did it karaoke style. Got a book that looked fun from music shop. She started violin at 6 (I play but got her a proper teacher). At 15 she now plays flute & keyboard.

DS learns guitar. Started at school but now has private lessons. His music reading came on very quickly.

DH helps DD1 (5) with her piano practice and is teaching her a bit.

I don't think they pay as much attention to their parents as they do a 'teacher' though. We had discussed DH being the teacher and after a chat with MIL (all DH's siblings are v. musical too) decided it would be best to get a teacher in and just have him help with practice.

Good luck.

I'm currently teaching DS3 (6) and DS2(8) to play the recorder and read music, using 'The Usborne First Book of the Recorder'. I'm insufficiently organized to have set times each week, but I try to get a little done every few days. Don't worry about doing it yourself. I've found the main problem is keeping the children from racing through the book finding the fingerings for the notes and skipping the basics (rhythm, squeak avoidance, the finer details of notation).

Do see what your son's school does, but have a close look at the standards reached and the criteria used to determine who gets instrumental lessons.

RTKangaMummy, how old was your son when he started learning the trumpet? My DS2 is showing an interest and I was wondering whether 8 was old enough. (He's doing the recorder atm in order to learn musical notation and convince me of his commitment)

I take ds to music classes and participate and he sees me teach other people's children when he is not at nursery.

Sometimes he will go to the piano and show me what he can do - and I will expand on that, other times he will not take the expansion of play and just wants to do his own thing. He will choose when to put his music CDs on and knows where I store my hundreds of preschool music instruments and will get the right ones out and show me what to do.

When/if he wants more formal teaching I will send him to another teacher. I'd rather teach someone elses kid to earn the money to pay another teacher to teach mine, and be more of a music partner to play along with a discuss things with.

I'll still let him play in my concerts though.

If he's got his front teeth I think he can play the trumpet - depending on region, starting with a cornet may be easier.

Not an expert - my bro played.

DD is learning recorder and violin at school. I remember my mum trying to teach me when I was little and we ended up arguing all the time.
I have let dd make her own decisions about instruments etc and take it as a compliment that she likes me to help with her practice or play accompaniments when she practices. I only 'comment' if she is doinig something terribly wrong, and then i try very hard not to criticise, but take the angle of look at the way mummy holds her violin and try and get her to spot the mistakes etc. i would hate for her to feel pressurised altough the agreement was that if she doesn't do her practice then mummy is allowed to remind her!!!!

I am very glad however that music is a very important part of my life as it has brought about so many life opportunities such as travelling, sharing with others, working in a team etc. Sorry to sound so gushy first thing, but it does mean alot to me!!