When to start music tuition

[Snuppeline]

Hello all, I've got a 16 month old daughter who like most children her age loves music/dancing etc. My DH and I are both music lovers but neither of us play an instrument. I really wanted to learn to play the piano, flute and violin when I was young but my parents couldn't afford to let me learn either instrument. I have therefore no idea of what age my daughter might be able to start learning them. What ages are feasible for each instrument?

Promise to all of you who might cringe of the pushy implications of my question, I will let her decide if she wants to carry on playing - and also what instrument she might want to play!

Thanks for any advise.

Gah....can't talk today.

I pretty much agree with whippet.

dd started violin at 7 and a half. Friend, who's a music teacher, started her daughter off at about 5 and a half. After eighteen months playing, my dd was same standard. So would definitely hold back on formal lessons.

It often does work out that way caffeineaddict but not always. Just occasionally you will get a 3 or 4 year old who picks it up as fast or faster than a much older child. A lot of the children who end up really very good indeed did start very young, but I don't think that starting young works out best for most children. It's an interesting dilema knowing what age is best for your child to start an instrument and part of the trouble is you can never know how your child would have faired if you had done things differently.

ds' school says year 2 for violin or piano lessons and recorder in class then if they show any proficiency other instruments after that.

They dont encourage it before year 2 though as they miss a lesson to go to their music lesson and have to be old enough to practise and be motivated.

They do colourstrings in the early years.

While we're at it, any suggestions on a good age to start the guitar? DD is keen, but I'm worried that it is painful to the fingers when you start, & it would be a shame if she gets put off. She's 8 now (but smallish for her age) - I suggested waiting a year or so - is that fair enough?

Takver, my DS started guitar lessons in yr3, aged 7. He's now 13 and still loves it, I don't remember any painful finger problems. He gets so much pleasure from playing, and it's such a lovely sociable instrument. His twin sister sings, so I have visions of them busking together .

That sounds lovely, soda - I guess then next time she asks I should be less discouraging Just didn't want her to start too soon & then give up.

Are her hands big enough?

The pain comes from developing the callouses IME! For that reason with string instruments it's important to stop if a child complains that their right hand fingers are hurting or their hand is crampling.