Instrument - grades

[dlondoner]

Hi everyone,
My daughter started to take piano lessons in her school this year. She is 6 years old. l and currently she takes 30 mins lessons in a week. I would like to know how long lessons/years does she needs to play piona to achieve grade 5-6. Do you think she will to have chance to get music scholarship in 11+?. Currently she loves her piano lessons and practising at home.
Many thanks for all responses x

I think you’re focusing on the wrong thing. If they’re talented enough it’ll come and if not, you’re giving your child the chance to learn a skill regardless of the end outcome of grades. A family member started piano at 8 and was grade 6 by the time he was 10 and got a music scholarship. His first few terms, he was in group lessons for 20 mins at a time and not even private but had a natural talent and is a wonderful player. Music scholarships can be uber competitive and not always that lucrative- you’d could spend more in music lessons trying to chase one than the fees you’d save.

I have a 6yo learning piano. I want her to enjoy the progress but am not thinking about her standard at 10/11. I have had a lot of pleasure from the piano being a really rather crap player (never got more than g1 although much higher for my primary instrument tbf).

I have a 9yo (y4) who started piano in y1 aged almost 6. She loved it, was apparently very able. 3 full years later, she has still not sat an exam, because it turned out she hates practising (and abhorred remote lessons during lockdown), blows hot and cold, and it was in no one's interest to push her into exams sooner. However she is now on the approach to G1, and started on a second instrument that she loves. So there is value for her - but in the process not the exam results!

My child has a music scholarship. In my experience they are looking for a child who loves music (note child and not parent). It is not about pushing through grades (this leads to a very narrow musician). I agree a second instrument is good - particularly if piano is your main instrument. I don't think it is wise to focus on scholarships at 6.

Piano teacher here. Hard to predict, but the best thing you can do to maximise her chances is set up a daily practise routine. Cannot overstate how important this is and how much difference it will make. I'm constantly baffled by parents who expect exams to be passed with far too little practice.

@SunflowerDuck 2 years to grade 1 is much more common at that age.

@dlondoner her loving it is really important. You can't really learn an instrument at that age without loving it given how much practice is required to progress. Daily practice is key - better frequent short practices rather than less frequent longer ones.

If she's good enough for a scholarship is impossible for anyone to say. Grade 5 is possible starting at 6. However, on the piano, some schools will require grade 8. Others will be looking more at musicianship. For now, just encourage and support her progress by setting up a good routine and ensure she's enjoying herself.

OP, it also depends on the calibre of the piano teacher. My son did 30 min lessons with another student from about age 7. His teacher was from the local music trust. She was fun, and he enjoyed the lessons, but he learned by copying her, rather than by reading music. I think he reached grade 2 by the end of primary school. Then I found him a private teacher, who also happened to teach at a top boys' school, and he progressed more quickly, reaching grade 5 in year 10, but he had to learn to read music from scratch.