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Extra-curricular activities

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

Musical 5 year old

16 replies

GreatBigPolarBear · 01/07/2017 18:02

My ds is 5 and has always liked music. He has taught himself to play several tunes on the keyboard by ear (only using one or two fingers) and makes up different tunes and songs which actually sound pretty good. He also has a very nice singing voice.

What's the best route to develop these things? Piano lessons at school aren't offered until age 7. I'm the least musical person ever so new territory for me!

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GreatBigPolarBear · 01/07/2017 18:03

Btw-I'm not hailing him as a musical genius-it's just something he really enjoys and seems to have a bit of talent for

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catkind · 01/07/2017 18:12

I'd research what there is in your area for his age group. For example where I live there are fantastic recorder groups and choirs that take them from that age, and there's suzuki strings that are also very strong.

DS started piano at 5, just gently at home - he's made slow but steady progress and enjoys it. If you wait a couple of years they'll learn faster, but that doesn't mean you can't do it now if you think they'll enjoy it now.

SafeToCross · 01/07/2017 18:21

There were some extra-curricular keyboard clubs where I live, and also our council has a music hub with lots of info and some opportunities if you are lucky to live near enough. Choirs, including church ones, can give a good start to reading music and understanding musical notation. Lots of free kids guitar and keyboard lessons on you tube too, but I couldn't tell you which ones to look for. Good luck with it.

JeffreySadsacIsUnwell · 01/07/2017 18:59

DC2 is YR, also 5, and started piano lessons at 4; the teacher works at the school, also teaches DD (7) and said she'd take him despite all the school music teachers also having a general rule not to take below 7, so it is definitely worth asking re individual circs. Her explanation was that 7 is usually the age around which children can read sufficiently and pay attention for long enough to get anything out of it, but she knew DS could read/concentrate as she'd seen him read chapter books in single sittings.

However, what neither of us had considered was that as he progressed, his size would be a problem! He was going through her usual teaching books quite quickly, but he's hit a stumbling block with more and more black keys - he has to lift his entire arm up and over the whites to get to the blacks and he can't move his whole arm fast enough to get the fluency. The teacher has now found books from decades ago when they started teaching at a younger age and there are only occasional black keys, but clearly size is a barrier to progress and he would learn faster when older/bigger (he's small for age though).

The violin teacher at school has also agreed to take him on. Here size is less of an issue, as he needs a 1/10 instrument and they can be sourced relatively easily from instrument hire companies (so we don't have to keep buying new ones as he grows).

Soooo... my advice is to assess your DS and his reading ability and concentration (reading is apparently because if they're still learning to read, it can be quite difficult to also learn to read music at the same time, concentration is obvious for 20 or 30 min one-to-one lessons!), then also consider his size and what instrument might suit. And speak to the music teachers personally, listen to what they say. In the meantime, just let him play and listen to the sounds he's making himself - assuming he's also YR, next year is going to get a lot more demanding and he may just be too tired for music lessons on top of school.

GreatBigPolarBear · 01/07/2017 19:12

Thanks-all sounds good advice.
Yes he's in reception. Reading books with a few sentences per page. Concentration wise he's probably similar to most children that age in that he'll concentrate well on things he wants to do and less well on those he doesn't!
I'll see what I can find in the area (i think the answer will be not much!)

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Ferguson2 · 01/07/2017 21:30

I'll try and come back with advice in day or two, but meanwhile can you tell me what sort of Keyboard he has - full size keys, or more of a 'toy' one??

Our DS started music aged 2, and was playing simple tunes by 5.

GreatBigPolarBear · 01/07/2017 21:54

It has full sized keys and I think they are weighted to be like normal piano keys.

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Fleurdelise · 01/07/2017 23:12

I think in your shoes I would contact a local piano teacher and have him assessed if he is ready to have piano lessons. An experienced teacher will know.

Dd started at 6 but she is a tiny one, she'd still fit into size 5 clothes when she was 6. So in terms of size there are method books to get around it. All he needs is the ability to concentrate for 30 min and practice 10 min a day at home initially.

I wouldn't wait for school lessons, it depends what your expectations are but dd's piano teacher said she's not teaching in schools as it is an impossible task and she gets no sense of achievement, the lessons are short, there's no communication with parents, no practice at home. Progress is very slow.

Minimusiciansmama · 02/07/2017 02:56

My DD started spring of FY. Her teacher said exactly the same about usually not taking til 7 but saw her reading and concentration abilities. She had a special step for her feet but otherwise managed well despite being quite petite, apart from the pedals. Two years on she's got her grade 2 and can just about reach them! Her teacher also started her on recorder and then a year ago an Eb (small) clarinet until she moved onto a full size one in October- she's 7 and got her G3 in may. There are options and it's opened up so many opportunities to her. I had very little musical experience but am loving the adventure too, I'm learning piano alongside her too now. Hope you can some options xx

Mistigri · 02/07/2017 16:12

If his interest is mainly in playing by ear and singing along, then at this stage I'd look for an accompanying instrument rather than an orchestral one - obvious ones are guitar and piano and he is probably a bit young for guitar.

Have a look around to see if you can find a teacher who takes younger children - while starting young isn't necessary, a keen 5 year old who can already read should benefit from lessons with a teacher who is used to working with young kids.

GreatBigPolarBear · 02/07/2017 19:45

He'd love to play the guitar. He thinks he's going to be a rockstar! Drums would be good too actually.

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Ferguson2 · 02/07/2017 21:25

Guitar is more difficult than people often realise; Keyboard can encourage quicker progress, and can be played in different ways - using single finger chords and automatic 'backings'; or playing several notes of a chord to generate the backing.

Does the Keyboard have any recording facilities, and do keys also have drum sounds on them? If so, then he can possibly create his own rhythms and record tunes and backings.

(Sometime, if you can, let me know the model number of the keyboard.)

Crumbs1 · 02/07/2017 22:16

Have you thought about violin? You can get tiny instruments and it teaches a good ear.

nonicknameseemsavailable · 03/07/2017 06:48

I started learning at 4 and took grade 1 when I was 6 so I don't see any harm in starting lessons sooner rather than later. I had a teacher who came to the house and then when I was about 10 she moved away and I started having private lessons at school then gave up not long after as I hated that teacher! So I would ask in a local music shop for recommendations and among other parents and see if you can find someone you think your child will get on with then start for fun at home.

GreatBigPolarBear · 03/07/2017 21:39

Ferguson- it's a Roland fp 4. Yes plenty of sounds and drums on the keys which he loves experimenting with.

I've not considered the violin as have heard so many parents complaining about the noise! But maybe. Or maybe recorder to start with?

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troutsprout · 04/07/2017 10:12

Do you have a local weekend music centre? Dd started at 5 at our music centre.
She began with a general musicianship class ( rhythms/ percussion/ singing/ note lengths etc) and a recorder group and a choir. I think this was an excellent introduction.
She's now 14 and plays piano, clarinet, guitar, ukulele

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