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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

Please help me with music lessons for my DS.

14 replies

lunar1 · 21/08/2012 19:17

I would love for my DS to have the chance to play a musical instrument, but I am so illiterate on the subject that I just dont know where to start.

My extended family are all very musical but unfortunately my parents could never be bothered with any extra curricular activities for me and my brother. We are both quite resentful of this and feel out on a limb at family gatherings when music is discussed. I would ask them but they all live so far away that they would not be able to help find a teacher anyway.

I would like him to try the piano, he is 4 and loves to sit at my aunts when we go over to wales. She seems to think he has good enough concentration and dexterity to start learning now. Is she right? is 4 old enough and is the piano a good instrument to start with?

Also what do I look for in a teacher? unfortunately the primary factor will have to be distance, we dont have a car and ideally will need to walk there. I have found one teacher a mile away on musicteacher.co.uk but all the information on him is his name and phone number and about 3 lines about his background. I feel a bit odd just ringing with such little information but I just haven't lived in the area long enough to have local connections. Is there a better way to find a local teacher? I am in Salford.

Sorry for going on so much and thank you if you have read this far! Any advice gratefully received, now i'm going to sit here and hope a piano teacher living round the corner from me happens to be reading...What is that too much to hope for!

OP posts:
flussymummy · 22/08/2012 01:21

Hello! A few suggestions for you- if you don't mind which instrument your DS plays, I'd suggest that you try phoning the RNCM and finding out about their Junior Strings project. It's a fantastic introduction to playing an instrument-they do a year of pre-instrumental music lessons from age 5. If it's definitely piano you'd like him to play, then any teacher would require you to have a piano at home first (or clavinova-style keyboard). Again, enquiring at the RNCM re recommended piano teachers might be the best idea, or try Forsyths, the music shop on Deansgate, as they have lots of ads on the wall and probably keep a list of teachers too.

1805 · 22/08/2012 01:41

I was going to suggest RNCM too.

Colleger · 22/08/2012 09:36

At his age I would just give him access to instruments. Have a piano or keyboard in a social area in the house and a recorder that he can fiddle on. If he really loves it then get lessons.

ByTheWay1 · 22/08/2012 09:46

For piano you need a piano/electric piano(Yamaha/clavonia whatever) at home for practise- it is a big expense (and takes up a lot of space) if they don't like/take to it....

We found our piano teacher through our local parish magazine (not churchgoer myself, but they put it through the door). Our local music shop also has a noticeboard.

My youngest started at 4 and to be honest it was 2 years too early for her..... she could not stretch to the keys needed and spent a long time on simple things because of her development stage and size of hands (she wanted to do it because her sister did it - sis was 6). Both are taking their grade 3 now aged 10 and 11 and enjoy playing since we are taking things steady and don't push them to practise.....

Original poster
lunar1 · 22/08/2012 10:46

Thank you for the replies. I like the sound of the RNCM, I have had a quick look at the website but i think i need to look properly when the boys are in bed tonight as it seems like there is a lot to navigate. He would be a year away from that anyway if he needs to be 5 so i have time to figure out the website.

By the way, how much is a big expense? and do they resell if my boys don't take to it? I might go into Manchester at the weekend and take him into Forsyths, would they be able to tell me if his hands were big enough? I might just end up looking through the window as i find these shops quite intimidating.

If a piano for home practice is essential he might be 5 by the time i ebay enough items to afford one!

The reason I thought piano is because i have been told that it is the easiest instrument to start with, no idea if this is true or not.

OP posts:
ByTheWay1 · 22/08/2012 12:42

lol - nooooooooo not the easiest....

We bought a new electric/electronic piano - don't know how to describe.... it is a Yamaha, but not just a keyboard - it has weighted keys and pedals. Cost us about £600 with an adjustable height stool.

We bought it from a piano shop - was their beginner's best seller and will do us until grade 5 where they will really need a proper piano - lots of these in the local paper for free up to £250 - if buyer collects. The piano shop would allow us to advertise on their board for free if the girls hadn't taken to it, but once it was out of the shop they would not buy back as they sell new only.....

Colleger · 22/08/2012 14:29

The hardest - not the easiest! Well, maybe a tuba at 5 is impossible...

BackforGood · 22/08/2012 15:19

Certainly not the easiest, and the general thought is that a child needs to be ab out 7 before they can really start to learn the piano. Partly because they need to be tall enough and have a long enough reach in their hands, but partly because they need to be fluent readers to begin to be able to read 2 lines of music at the same time whilst playing different things with each of their hands.
Why not start with a recorder ? Loads of books do 'teach yourself' to begin with, and it is easy to get a regognisable tune within a few goes.

pigsinmud · 22/08/2012 17:49

Dh likes to say a cat can play a piano, but never seen one play a trumpet.

Obviously in jest!

1805 · 22/08/2012 20:46

Schilke - maybe never a cat but I've met many buffoons that manage to play the trumpet!!!!!!!!! xxx

pigsinmud · 22/08/2012 20:48

1805 - he likes that one. Hopefully not too close to home Wink

pianomama · 22/08/2012 23:34

I think piano is a good choice. DC will find it a doddle to sight read other instruments if they started with piano.
It gives DC a quicker enjoyment as you are alway in tune unlike strings for example.

Dont agree about piano being the easiest - easy to bang on the keys, yes. To play well takes years of hard work , good teaching and talent.

And you can hire one to begin with from piano shop.

suedpantsoffem · 22/08/2012 23:40

I think 4 is a bit young to be starting formal lessons. They need to be able to read and also their hands are not big enough for most instruments, though you can get small versions of some, such as violins.
I'd get a recorder, or maybe a second hand keyboard if you can't afford a piano, and see what he makes of it.

wildpoppy · 23/08/2012 19:26

We're nor in Salford but a piano comes up on our local Freecycle about once a month.

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