How and when to get 5yo DD into music lessons

[toomuchtooold]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone could advise me about when and how to get my DD doing formal music lessons. She's nearly 6, she's really into music - she's been able to sing in tune since she was about 3, good ear and memory for melody, loves cutting about the house strumming a toy guitar. She's been asking about getting a proper guitar and so I started looking into it but I'm worried that 5/6 is a bit early to be getting into formal tuition on a musical instrument - I worry that at this age the steepness of the learning curve will put her off. If I was in the UK I would probably ask about this at school but we live abroad and I don't think they are as strong on music teaching as they are in the UK (or were when I was a kid).

I think formal lessons starts when she is able to read. I even hear some as early as three y/o are already taught the basics. If your dd is really into music I don't think she'll ever feel that it's too much specially when you know it appears to be her God given talent.

With this particular child, I probably would have started quite a while ago, but it's still early. Go for it! (My two started at 3.5 and 4.5, but woodwind, not guitar)

Thanks for your replies! I'll maybe ask at Kindergarten about lessons, as they have a music teacher who does a sort of early development through music thing and I know she is attached to a music school - I've heard piano is a good place to start, easier than guitar? In my day they just gave you a 2 quid descant recorder and let that sort the sheep from the goats

I guess I am a bit cautious about it because I got pretty thoroughly put off music by my school experience, although that was more when I was older.

5 is the perfect age. My DN started piano at 4 but spent most of the first year just doing theory (seemed a little boring but her teacher got her excited) and when we got to 5 she was able to storm ahead at piano. She had a week long music camp this summer where she picked up guitar and Ukelele where she's now learning both from youtube (but she can already read sheet music). DN at 6 is still a little young as she doesn't have the concentration to sit at the piano for more than 5 minutes but she is struggling with school in general.

Take the lead from your daughter, she seems to want to learn so get her some lessons. I would suggest piano first as it's easier to grasp music theory and a little easier on little hands than guitar.

Where are you?

You may find that there is a local music class where she can try different instruments.

My opinion (as a guitarist and parent of two guitarists) is that guitar is not a good choice of instrument for a child this age. Progress will be limited by hand size, and classical guitar provides only limited opportunities for group playing later on.

Piano, recorder or violin would be good choices, though ultimately it depends on what your child is interested in.

FWIW my DD started recorder at 4/5 then started guitar, sax and piano much later - having played one instrument allowed for a very quick progression on the new ones.

5 nearly 6 is fine providing that the child wants to learn. My DDs both started aged 4 (cello and violin) and both still play now they are 18 & 16. However, because DH and I are both string players, we were able to support both DDs. They both had tiny instruments so that they could play all the notes and as they grew, we traded up. I am not a guitar player so am not certain how small they go (I know there are some smaller ones but at 5/6, my kids were on 1/8 or 1/4 size bowed string instruments). Could you perhaps get a ukulele and start her on that? There are loads of resources online and when my 2nd DD learned it at school, they also sang. My 6th form students assure me that going from ukulele to guitar is easy, so it might be a good first step.

My DD started piano and recorder aged 5. Retrospectively, I would have started earlier but it didn't occur to me. She was reading well, had good concentration, vast enthusiasm for singing, could keep a pulse inately. With the right teacher, who understands teaching small children and who enthuses them and gives them a passion for what they're doing, the steep learning curve is very exciting. 6 months after starting, my little one got a clarinet and between piano and recorder she hasn't looked back since. In fact today she had a sulk because we didn't have time to do her usual morning practice! Good luck- go for it! Xx

Now is a good age, but be prepared to let her step back if it is too soon.

I have a DD who is 8.5 and has always seemed to be musical from when she was tiny.

Her primary school has excellent music teaching and so she started the recorder initially and then the ukulele in Y1. I then signed her up for piano lessons when she was 5.5 years. It was a complete disaster and we stopped after a term.

Her main thing is singing, and after taking a lot of advice, she now has a fantastic teacher and loves her lessons and there's rarely a whinge about practice. In September she added the acoustic guitar via school and is really enjoying this and according to the teacher is progressing very fast compared with his expectations for her year group.

She's always been a little on the immature side and I think waiting for her to be ready to learn hasn't done her any harm. Stepping back for nearly 18 months and just letting her do the music she had at school and play around with singing means she genuinely enjoys what she does now and puts the effort it.