Bridging the gap from preschool music to instrument lessons

[randomsabreuse]

DD is nearly 3. We do a Kodaly/Dalcroze based music class which is a mixture of singing, movement and playing various percussion instruments plus starting to introduce reading rhythms and concepts like rests, dynamics etc on a basic level. We will continue this until she starts school next year but ideally I want to find general musicianship classes for a year or two before starting on an instrument properly.

Not found any signs of early years interested teachers advertising locally- realistically piano/strings better than woodwind/brass for a slight 4yo. Singing would do as well..

I could try to teach basic recorder or try to learn ukulele ahead of her ... If I get desperate...

Sorry, interrupted by said toddler..

Any ideas of franchises, resources if I dare try to self teach (Jolly Music?) or other options much appreciated.

I have G8 flute and G5 theory... no confidence singing as my ear is better than my ability to produce a sound... but can follow a competent lead and sing to said toddler in the absence of a discerning audience!

Thanks

R

Do you have a local music service? In Northants we have NMPAT who run music schools at the weekends for reception age upwards

No idea about franchises, but I would do lots and lots of singing, pick out tunes on the glockenspiel, and maybe recorder as well. You can put blue tack in the thumb hole to start with if necessary. I started my DDs at 3 and 4 on the descant, although sopranino would lead nicely on to treble.

Not having a sopranino in the house - think my husband and the dog would move out. Will see if I can acquire another descent -resists temptation to upgrade to a wooden one for me- and continue with access to glock.

No music service musicianship groups- all need instrumental lessons first but start from beginner level so hopeful when the time comes.

Just seems like a gap in the market given the proliferation of baby music classes and that primary school lessons seem to start at KS2 mostly!

I think that's probably because it's easier to teach the children to read music when they are a bit older . Maybe Suzuki violin method ? Lots of younger school aged children at our local music centre ( not the county music service one) seem to start piano at reception/ year 1 age . If you are in London then some of the junior departments run Saturday courses for little ones . Also I seem to remember that the Centre for Young Muscicians in Safron Waldon had some young - but school age - children taking part in dalcroze classes etc. I think it's worth googling the big music centres in your area to see what they offer. These are just things I've come across whilst looking for stuff for Ds ( who's a teenager !!) I only ever managed to dabble in teaching my 2 - they never did any practise for me!! So both started in Key Stage 2 ( Ds wasn't interested before this and dd did lots of musical theatre anyway )

Ideally I'd find a Dalcroze/Kodaly based music class, continuing on from what we do at the moment. Sadly they are a bit niche... and we're too far from London/Birmingham. Was just hoping that with the proliferation of baby music classes there might be something without resorting to ballet or trying to guess what instrument will appeal.

Ideally I would find a teacher with an interest in Kodaly who would do a musicianship lesson with a bit of instrument tacked on rather than the reverse - reading music can follow actual reading.

tries not to be a tiger mum

Random I think you are on the right track it's just a case of finding it - if you are in the north maybe look at what happens in Leeds or Manchester or at the sage in Gateshead ( I know they do stuff my parents live nearby and they do holiday music classes for younger children )

Sadly am rural West Midlands and Birmingham is a nasty commute (trains miles away too). Would drive 40 minutes - already do 20 each way for music class - but Birmingham is just too far (and too crap for parking, park and rides etc.)

The only teacher on the uk Kodaly website is Piano which will require major negotiation with DH to get into the house!

I agree that you sound like you're on the right track.

I have recently started doing piano lessons with 4-6 year olds after many years of teaching older pupils. As you say, at least half the time is spent doing general musical activities as their little hands and concentration is limited.

I don't use it myself, but there's an american piano scheme for pre- schoolers which uses finger puppets, stickers etc called Wunderkeys. You could probably use it yourself if you can't find a teacher.

Other things I do with my littlies are

moving to a metronome beat/app,
making rhythms with one syllable sounds, clapping, tapping etc. They love my congo drums
Drumming while I play
Qs and As on the piano can be very funny and entertaining
Pupil improvising over an ostinato played by me z - requires no technical skill - this is very popular
Narrating an improvised piece of music
Singing our own words to melodies
Playing a story eg story involving a storm. Use of pedal, lowest notes for thunder, repeated notes for rain etc
Jumping on rubber floor discs according to pitch
Listening to chords held with the sustaining pedal. Very popular activity. Noticing when the high note finishes (ie before the bass note)
Playing tunes they know with 2 or 3 fingers either by rote, by ear or using the note names written down.
Playing the notes an octave apart using pattern of black keys to find the same note.

My advice is to negotiate with your DH to get a piano. It's surprisingly good for little ones. A keyboard would do at this stage if space is an issue. If cost is an issue you can often rent pianos from instrument shops.

Some schools in scotland do a block of ukelele lessons. You could teach yourself and do that with your DC.

As other pps have said, your nearest Junior conservatoire dept might do pre juniors from age 8 or offer summer holiday classes for littlies.

Final thought - how about dance classes. Great for co-ordination.

Tap dancing. Not joking.

Other types of dance, fine, but IMO tap's in other league in terms of getting them to count and feel the beat. My son started in YR which is too young to even do a shuffle, but they did a lot with rhythms, clapping, toe and heel taps. 3's a bit young even for that though, I'd have thought. And when you can hear and feel the beat, then an instrument will come more easily.

Have a look at Colour Strings. Sounds like it might be ideal for your toddler.

www.colourstrings.co.uk

We successfully bridged that gap with youngest DS by doing individual singing lessons from 4. We don’t have a music centre locally. At that stage he was obviously interested in music but his hands were too small to start piano (he is very small for his age). He did ABRSM singing prep test, and later on singing grade 1 before deciding to start piano aged 6 and violin aged 7. His previous singing has helped with both instruments and he continues to sing for fun although we now only have instrumental lessons.

Music for little People? If you're anywhere near Stratford it's inventor it's now living nearby & runs local classes. She also teaches piano from age 3+

My early music experience included a Kodaly class, the teacher continued it into junior school and started us on recorder which worked really well, so I'd be positive about that as an option. As a Suzuki violinist myself I'd also encourage you to look into that :)

Your instincts sound absolutely right to me, hope you can find a good route onwards!

My sons school said not to bother with lessons until they turn five (obviously some children are ready earlier and some later). We just have a piano at home and let ours develop at their own pace. 2vyear olds plays gibberish but can hit single notes. Eldest who is four is only starting to learn really simple songs playing with one hand.

Ours had instrumental (violin) from 4years and moved to other instruments later.