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Extra-curricular activities

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Original poster

Which instrument for a 6yo?

28 replies

Hulababy · 18/09/2008 21:45

DD is really keen to start some form of music lessons. She will have the chance for school based lessons from next academic year. However, many of her school friends are starting this year outside of school, and this is something DD has always been keen to do.

She would love to learn to play a piano - but they are so expensive, even second hand ones in shops seem to be. They are also big!
She has a big keyboard and will play about with thatm and we have recorders but she isn't as bothered about that at present.
So what else could we have a look at for her; something smaller maybe?
Any musicians out there who could recommend a good first instrument?
Also, where to go to look and buy?
And how to find a decent music teacher?

OP posts:
christywhisty · 18/09/2008 22:10

Mine learnt the piano from 6 and we only have a touch sensitive keyboard. They learnt at school, but gave up because their lovely teacher left and was replaced by an awful teacher.
I think a piano is a very good grounding for other instruments. I learnt both the descant and treble recorder in primary then went on to play the flute at secondary.

Original poster
Hulababy · 18/09/2008 22:17

Are the touch sensitive keyboards okay for learning onthen, rather than a traditional piano? I thinkt he touch sensitive keyboards are a fair bit cheaper aren't they?

OP posts:
janinlondon · 19/09/2008 13:11

Hula it will depend on the teacher. Some may be okay with touch sensitive keyboards (ours isn't). Check first.

3littlefrogs · 19/09/2008 13:19

Recorder. Sounds boring, but is cheap, portable, and quite versatile and is good preparation for other wind instruments later.

Dd plays recorder and piano and enjoys both equally. She plays her recorder in a folk band and really enjoys participating. (she is 10)

marialuisa · 19/09/2008 15:09

DD started harp and violin at 6 and loves both. The harp is like piano in that they can "play a tune" very quickly which is often more satisfying for younger children.

Original poster
Hulababy · 19/09/2008 16:15

We already have recorders galore but she is really keen on the piano. Have been told to consider a clavinova/electric piano so going to look into that more, especially to start with. Will need to look for a teacher who is ok witht hat.

OP posts:
Califrau · 19/09/2008 16:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Hulababy · 19/09/2008 16:51

That is what I am thinking. She has mentioned wanting to play a piano for over 2 years now, since starting school really. Only seems fair that if she is going to have elssons it should be in something she is actually interested in.

OP posts:
Nat1H · 22/09/2008 11:40

If you are going to buy an electric piano, get one with weighted keys rather than just touch sensitive. eg. clavinova.
If you get one with just touch sensitive she won't be able to get the range of dynamics (volume) that she needs to play properly.

igivein · 22/09/2008 12:23

Have you tried asking for a piano on your local Freecycle site? I've seen them offiered quite often. I learnt several instruments at school, I always wanted to learn piano but never got the opportunity, DH finally bought me one as a wedding present and I love it dearly. Califrau is right, she should learn the instrument she loves.

cornflakegirl · 22/09/2008 13:25

Agree with Nat1H, get an electric piano rather than a keyboard, as they feel very different. If you get a bottom of the range one (only one voice, no bells or whistles) they only cost a few hundred pounds, so comparable with a piano, but much smaller, no hassle of tuning, and practice can be done with headphones on or the volume turned down. I studied to grade 8, and currently have an electric piano because I don't have room for a proper one, and I don't feel that it's second best, although I know some people disagree.

Otherwise, maybe post a wanted ad on Freecycle / Gumtree / local free ads? My parents recently sold their piano for a pittance to a dealer, even though it was a lovely instrument. I bet there are loads of people who'd like their unused piano to go to a good home.

PoorOldEnid · 22/09/2008 13:28

recorder

then see how she gets on

I'd like a clavinova (headphones!!!) but they are £££££££

mckenzie · 22/09/2008 13:32

let her learn the piano and if the article I just listened too on Radio 4 is correct, she can later on train as a piano tuner and earn lots of money and they are very very scarce these days

rebelmum1 · 22/09/2008 13:45

you can easily pick up pianos free or cheap as they are such a bugger to move, they are very heavy and it's a specialist job.

rebelmum1 · 22/09/2008 13:46

have just got dd a ukelele .. she wanted to learn guitar, i think the key is the instrument that they like the sound of the most.

rebelmum1 · 22/09/2008 13:48

You could take her to a music shop and have a look and try on what's on offer, then get down to netto as they had some good deals on clarinets and flutes recently !

Nat1H · 22/09/2008 20:19

It is no good steering her toward another instrument if she really wants to learn piano! She will just give it up because ahe is not interested. I learned piano from the age of 4 and am now a music teacher. I have learned other instruments on the way (because I have had to), but I do not enjoy playing them anywhere near as much, and nvere play them for pleasure. Buying a different instrument would be a waste of money IMO.

Original poster
Hulababy · 22/09/2008 20:21

Yes, have been told to look at the proper electric pianos and not a keyboard. She already has the latter anyway.

Have been having a look, with thoughts of getting her one for Christmas, and then lessons in the new year. I think they look like the best options.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hulababy · 22/09/2008 20:22

Enid - recorder doesn't cut it really' It just isnt the instrument she wants and it think that is the key here.

Have spoken to someone aboutt he digital painos/clavinova and we can get a decent beginners on from around £350-£400.

OP posts:
twinsetandpearls · 22/09/2008 20:26

dd started the electric guitar today at school , for her birthday she also got a drum set and has been learning the keyboard with dp for a while.

Our house is rarely quiet.

I tried dd on the recorder and it just didn't cut it so I can sympathise. I woul also love a piano, and for the first time we have room but that may not be the case when we move again.

onwardandupward · 02/10/2008 09:31

I'd just say: make sure you find the right teacher, who will approach the whole thing through play to start with. If your child isn't yet reading completely fluently, then learning to read music will be very slow and frustrating for her, so lots of improvising and just being around the piano is good.

I've done piano teaching in the past, and regretted the couple of pupils who started earlier than age 8, though that may have been my shortcoming, not really knowing how to step away from the expectation of formal playing with such a young child. It is certainly my experience as a musician that starting formal piano and other lessons at 8, 9, and even 10 for my first instrument did not hold me back at all later. I started with group recorder lessons aged 6 too!

twentypence · 03/10/2008 05:18

I am a piano teacher and I will teach children who have keyboards to practise on, but only for 20 minute school based lessons. This is because I am more teaching them how to read music and how the scale works and about rhythms - when they get better most do get a piano or borrow one off a relative.

For a 30 minute lesson at my house I want at least a clavinova (or other equivalent). IME it is cheaper to get a proper piano than a clavinova, even the tuning of it evens out because if a clav goes wrong it is expensive and difficult to get someone to fix it (we are in NZ - it may be easy and cheap in the UK).

ABRSM have lists of teachers they can send you in NZ so I presume they can in the UK. Or try the ISM.

I have taught lots of 6 year olds and the secret is to get them to do one thing at a time and put it together really gradually. I use 3 (!) books with the young ones, so that they learn technique, new things and get more pieces to play at the same level before moving on.

Ds started the cello just before he was 4 and he would not entertain any other instrument!

grownupbabes · 12/11/2008 16:31

Sign up to Freecycle in your area (look on google). I have seen lots of pianos being given away for nothing on freecycle, although you will obviously need to pay the removal cost and to have it tuned, which should come to about £100.

mrsgboring · 12/11/2008 16:40

You have to be really careful with cheap and free pianos - it's a little like buying a secondhand car: if you don't know what you're doing you can end up with a real turkey. My parents got a cheap second hand one for my sister and it was great for a few months, then constantly went badly out of tune as the frame was shot. Our piano tuner told us he'd recently been to four different Ebay pianos that were all heaps of junk.

muppetgirl · 12/11/2008 16:41

I have to say that just because a child isn;t reading fluetly it doens't mean they will find reading music difficult. Ds 1 is very mathermaticaly minded and has taken to the 'dots and dashes' like a duck to water despite only having been in reception since sept. Yes, I was a music teacher and can help him but he learned crotchets, minims and semi-breves in 2 lessons. He understands middle c and can find c anywhere on the piano also d + e. He's only had 3-4 'lessons' from me as I don't push him at all and go with his enthusiasm.

As to the op I agree with whoever said that you should let your child choose their instrument and if that's the piano then piano it is. You really can't explain why you want to learn one instrument over another it's something that you just feel iyswim. I started recorder, then treble in infant school and loved it. I then wanted to play the violin but wasn't allowed to so I started the 'cello. (piano came way later for me!) When I taught I let children practise on the piano at school -could that be a possiblility for your daughter? She could practise in her break times and then you would see if this were a passing phase or something she is serious about before making a large purchase.