4.5YO piano/music lessons

[Cheeseandcrackers86]

My 4YO (just started reception and doing very well so far) is starting to show quite an interest in our piano at home and I've taught her a couple of basic tunes. She's also become interested in musical notes and randomly started doodling musical notes whenever she sits down to draw which is super cute. She has (I think) a pretty good musical ear. What would people say at this age is the best thing (if anything) to nurture this interest right now? She already does dancing and a musical theatres lesson so I'm not overly keen for her to start formal lessons just yet although would consider it. If anyone has had success with piano/other lessons early on I'd love to hear about it. Also I'd be interested in any 'home learning' type courses that she and I could work through together at more her own pace. Do people think piano is best to stick with at this age? I've heard that violin is also good to start with but I honestly don't know enough about kids and learning music at this age to know. Any input would be appreciated. I play the piano a bit and woodwind instruments myself.Thanks xx

I’ve just started doing little bits with my four year old every day. It’s with me though, as I play, and I don’t think she’d take to an external teacher as she’s really shy. So far it’s working well- some days are great and others no chance lol! Can you get an early piano book and start it with her to see how she gets on? My four year old gets discouraged easily but it hasn’t stopped her making reasonable progress with the right encouragement. Then if it goes well you could look into lessons?

Violin early is good because you have to really listen hard to pitch correctly whereas piano you just get the note you press so it develops the ear nicely. You can get fractional sized instruments with violin rather than having to make a child size hand fit a full size keyboard.

My kids started violin from around 3 then did piano from 7, you need a teacher who likes working with little ones though!

I'm informally teaching my ds who isn't quite 4 using the piano adventures books. We think he's too young for formal lessons, those will probably come around year 1. Also just letting him play around is good, let her make up her own stuff.

I would leave the violin to a teacher personally, unless you are experienced it's very easy to instil bad habits which are hard to un learn about how you hold the instrument and the bow. I play a little but wouldn't try to teach to my kids.

I’m a piano teacher and it’s really difficult to set a start age, I work roughly on age 5 as the hands need to be developed a bit, but the main issues are the maturity and enthusiasm of the child. If they can sit for 20 minutes and take instruction then play regularly, as in messing around doing their own thing, as well as practicing so working on what we’ve done in the lesson without it dampening their enthusiasm then all good. Kids however hit this point at different ages so be aware that starting too early can be terminal.

if you’re looking for a piano book try the piano adventures series pianoadventures.com I tend to start with the basic primer but they do a series that precedes that which might work for you, it’s mainly off stage so learning tunes by finger number and shape so when stage notes are introduced they’re familiar with pitch goes up and down.

Stave not stage sorry 🙄

I've heard recommendations of the Dogs and Birds piano method for very young children, but not used it myself. I think it's based on Kodaly, which is very respected for developing good ear and rhythm that contributes to later musical ability.

dogsandbirds.co.uk/products/

Mine started in year 1 when she was 5. I wouldn’t have wanted any younger as they have to concentrate and be willing to practice. First term was pretty painful with pretty slow progress. Once we got into a rhythm of regular practice, she started really coming on. It does feel like a piano takes a lot longer to get started than some other instruments. I think the earliest she’d be ready for G1 would be year 3.

DD started violin at 3 and piano at 5. I kind of think the time to start is when they're interested (I also have a musical DS who didn't want to start till much older), but as PP said as long as you have a teacher who is good with that age group.

DD often says she's glad she started early. It meant she was ready to join ensembles as soon as she was old enough, which as far as she's concerned is the fun bit. So from that perspective I'd say a string instrument is a good starting place. But I'm reluctant to direct you to an instrument other than the one the child is currently interested in, their interest has got to be the main driver.

Second/third Piano Adventures, we did a bit of that at home to test whether DD was really going to practice two instruments before we let her start piano and thought it was lovely. Specially as you play a bit, there are nice duet parts to play together in the Primer book.

Like any other activity you do with young kids I think it has to be about what is fun now, not with any expectation it gets them to x grade sooner. The kids who really get it and love it will zoom ahead whatever age they start.

PS re her note doodling, you can get music theory books with stickers - ideal for preschool or early school age. Might be fun regardless of formal lessons or not.

Dd started on the violin at 3, picked up piano at 10 and now plays 6 instruments and sings professionally

Thanks all! I think I'll just keep gently stearing her towards the piano for now and look at the recommended books as above. Then we will perhaps see about lessons in Y1 if she's keen. I might try and find a cheap half sized violin too and see if she takes an interest. I'm a bit of a music geek so will probably end up with a collection of instruments haha x

Both my sons started piano aged about 7. Doesn't seem to have held them back, DS1 graduated from his conservatoire in the summer and is now doing a year at NOS, the other has just started at Oxford with an organ scholarship. I'm really not convinced that an early start is particularly helpful. Obviously since your DD is interested let her explore that, but I certainly wouldn't be bothering with grades etc. at that age.

My DD starred violin at 4, she had an eighth size. A half size is likely to be too big for a 4yo!

She started piano at 6 after a year of me trying to teach her.

I would say do loads of singing, rhythm clapping and listening to music. Pick out instruments and go for things like Peter and the Wolf where the instruments feature really prominently.

Your DC is not too young for formal lessons if they can sit still for 20 mins and engage with the teacher.

A half size violin will definitely be too big for a 4 year old. My DDs had quarter size at 6 years old.

Do you have local music centre? Ours takes children from reception age, and they gradually work through the different groups, picking up instruments as they go.

DS started at 5 yo, by 14 was playing an instrument at County orchestra and has loved every second of it.