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Extra-curricular activities

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Is there an affordable way for children to learn piano

14 replies

Peaceflower · 19/01/2010 08:12

My 7 year old ds is interested in learning to play the piano and I think it may help with his mild dyspraxia. However £15 per session is way beyond my means [envious]

Is there a cheaper way? I play at a basic level and have been trying to help him with second hand beginner books.

OP posts:
purpleturtle · 19/01/2010 12:59

Do you live near a College/Uni where there might be a music student willing to do it for less?

islandofsodor · 19/01/2010 23:48

A music student may not have the patience though to deal with a very young child or one with dyspraxia.

Youcould try asking for lessons every other week rather than every week.

Tangle · 21/01/2010 00:25

Have you talked to your DS's school or your county music service? They may have some suggestions or be able to offer some help.

coldtits · 21/01/2010 00:37

Get books and stay one step ahead. Learn with him.

If he's going to learn, he'll learn no matter what.

Peaceflower · 21/01/2010 17:52

Thank you. I will persevere with teaching him for now. Who knows, his interest will probably fizzle out before long...........

OP posts:
sarah293 · 21/01/2010 18:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

mumblecrumble · 21/01/2010 20:57

Sorry folks, but I disagree.

Personally think, depending on what you want from lessons you do not have to pay £15. You would probably have tp pay at least £10 for half an hour privae tuition.

However loads of things are out there:

*Ask at your local music shops of they do group lessons (can be really fun and often much cheaper)

*Music students are often much more patient and flexible in my experience. And I think flexibility is the way to get around expensive lessons.

I teach ina sixth form in a fairly deprived area of UK. We fund some of lessons and of course require good quality. However we have many students who wish to learn singing/keyboard/guitar on the side. I.e. not as their main isntrumnet but to gain extra skills and therefore they don;t get funding. Flexibility is how we manage it. Many students pay £20 an hour but have less lessons and get 'homework' and backing track CDs to help them practise. SO they pay only £10a fortnight. SOme have group lessons that can be only £5 a lesson.

If your daughter fancies a go to see how it goes this would be fine. I taught piano to youger kids and adult begginers from when I was around 15 and about grade 6/7. I told parents I was cheaper as I was less experienced but that I had guidence from my own music teacher (ask them about this), had no overheads as they can to my house but that I had excellent references as an enthusiastic, hardwoking tutor. Looking back I sold myself appropriately of you see what I mean.

Seems such a shame not to have a go if any ofthe options above are possible.

WHat are of UK do you live?

try this site

www.musicteachers.co.uk

mumblecrumble · 21/01/2010 20:59

[p.s. I was just like your daughter and started on 'cheap' lessons from a nice lady down our road.... moved on as I became more skilled and have made my career from it..... so you neverknow...

ALso... Just rememebred. I used to teacher a moter and daughter at the same time for reduced rate........ WOuld you fancy that?]

mumblecrumble · 21/01/2010 21:00

ALso.... libraries can order piano books for you to borrow....You can often keep renewing them untill you've either done or like enough to buy yourself.

mumblecrumble · 21/01/2010 21:05

ALso...

I'm dyspraxic and the ocupational therapist says you're right.. It has helped.

Man, dreading all this spending when my daughter gets big! Good on you for doing some yourself.

Peaceflower · 22/01/2010 06:45

mumblecrumble thanks for caring, I can see this is a subject close to your heart. I live in a very expensive part of Hampshire and lessons are £15 per 30 mins. My ds is happy with me teaching at present but I will start investigating other ways. School does offer subsidised music lessons but only from year 3, and then it's a lottery who gets in.

OP posts:
monkeysavingexpertdotcom · 22/01/2010 07:13

If you're near a college or even have friends with older teenagers who play music see if you can find a music student to come to the house and teach for 30 mins if you'd feel comfortable with that. We started off paying £7 for half and hour teaching from a Masters student when dd1 was 7 and now she has a "proper" (ie more expensive) teacher - much cheaper than you wd pay but we don't live anywhere near. Also in the dcs primary the music teacher teaches piano and I think he charges less than the going rate. Just some ideas.

WynkenBlynkenandNod · 22/01/2010 07:23

I've no ideas on the cheaper lessons but wanted to say my DD has dyspraxia and had 4 years of piano lessons with a wonderful lady who sadly died last year. The lessons definitely helped with her dyspraxia.

IAmTheEasterBunny · 29/01/2010 22:57

Mumblecrumble - in my 'leafier' shire county, where, in fact there are a lot of less well off families, children cannot access music tuition unless parents are able to pay. We also have a fairly high percentage of service families who do not pay for music tuition, either because they can;t afford it, don't find it important, or find no continuity in lessons, if they move schools.

We would love to offer children in our school an equal chance to learn a musical instrument. Does anyone have any ideas?

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