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Gifted and talented

Talk to other parents about parenting a gifted child on this forum.

Original poster

Piano...

73 replies

bubbles1112 · 01/06/2012 23:30

dd is about to do grade 2 on the piano, she is 7. Is this gifted? Either way she's pretty good...and just wondered how we can develop her talent. I'd love for her to have as many different avenues in life to go down and music could be an excellent alternative in life!!!!

OP posts:
ReallyTired · 01/06/2012 23:33

How long has she been learing piano? She is doing well, but I don't think grade 2 at seven years old is that unusual.

This is what a gifted eight year old can do.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-16530620

Original poster
bubbles1112 · 01/06/2012 23:37

She started just after she was 5. It's interesting to see what other people think, thanks.

OP posts:
rabbitstew · 02/06/2012 16:49

Well, I don't think it's gifted to take exams. Is her playing a pleasure to listen to?

Original poster
bubbles1112 · 02/06/2012 20:25

Well we think so and most people that hear her are always complimentary Smile

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doggiesayswoof · 02/06/2012 20:31

Wait and see if she passes...

I don't mean that to sound sarky. grade 2 at age 7 when she has been playing for 2 years is a good achievement, but I wouldn't say she is unusually gifted just on that basis.

Original poster
bubbles1112 · 02/06/2012 20:38

What else makes someone musically gifted in your opinion? I guess you don't need to be gifted to pursue music as a career if you're good and enjoy it. I just don't know any other children her age or close to her age that play like she does. Very proud of her Smile

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ClaireAll · 02/06/2012 20:45

What does her piano teacher think?

My DD's music and singing teachers think that she is remarkably gifted and she is just working towards grade 1. You can't really tell with the early grades. So much of it is dependent on opportunity and parental pushiness.

I think you should encourage her, which I am sure you are doing, and give her opportunities to perform publicly. Does your school do performances? Do you go to church? Is she in a local music group where she has a wider opportunity?

Original poster
bubbles1112 · 02/06/2012 20:52

Teacher thinks she's very good and often says imagine how she'd be if she practiced Wink....she does, but likes to do all the other stuff 7 year olds do.
School is rubbish...not remotely interested Hmm and not a lot of groups or clubs to get involved in. She does like to play for people.

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ClaireAll · 02/06/2012 21:04

I think public performance is really important so you should focus on trying to find opportunities for her.

Try you LEA music service.

My DD gets lots of opportunity at school (an all-age private school), church, and most importantly by being in a prestigious choir. Her teachers were very clear about being in an external choir, as well as the school one.

Original poster
bubbles1112 · 02/06/2012 21:14

dd can join school choir in year 3 so hopefully she'll do that. Will look into LEA music service, thanks.

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ihearthuckabees · 02/06/2012 21:19

Sounds like she is very good, but I don't think it matters whether she's labelled as gifted or not. If she loves music, and has ability, she will become a good player. If she's pushed too hard, it could turn her off. Music is one of those things that children get hot housed in, and it doesn't necessarily guarantee success. Just foster a love of piano in her, and make sure she has good teachers who she clicks with, and it will work out.
Also, the grade you achieve is not the be all and end all. It is a guide to how good you are, but doesn't tell us the whole story.

DeWe · 02/06/2012 22:04

Ime a grade a year for the first few grades is about what you expect for a normally musical child who does a bit of practicing. Certainly with dd1's piano teacher, who takes on "normal pupils" ie anyone who asks when there's a space, that's standard. There's a few people on here that have had children that have got to about grade 6 in not many more years. One child at my dc's school got 143 in his grade 6 (not piano)-I think he'd played for just over 3 years.

I don't think you can go by what "other people" say unless they are experienced in music, probably including teaching, and aren't your friends or being asked by you to comment. My experience is often people are just impressed at that age that they can manage to play twinkle twinkle with one hand Wink

Also generally I take teachers' comments with a slight pinch of salt. They're not generally going to say "you're wasting your money, she's the least musical person I've ever come across" because you're paying them.

Just provide opportunities for her to keep on going while she's interested and if she's genuinely talented it will become obvious. If you start referring to her as gifted then she may find it very difficult if she hits a rough patch, or does badly in an exam.

ihearthuckabees · 03/06/2012 18:17

Dewey, that is very well put.

ihearthuckabees · 03/06/2012 18:17

Sorry, DeWe, I mean.

astreetcarnamedknackered · 03/06/2012 18:34

Can I also add a word of caution to you?

When (often well meaning) people talk about musical talent/talented musicians it can have a few side effects. Particularly in a child:

1.they risk believing that they are talented/gifted and that this will carry them. It won't. Hard work, practice and dedication will.
2.even worse, they don't believe they are talented/gifted as they find x thing difficult. Therefore they may as well give up as no amount of hard work, dedication and practice will make them talented/gifted/any good at their chosen instrument.

It is beyond insulting to be told 'you do good because you have innate talent so it's alright for you'. Erm I think you'll find it's five hours practice a day for ten years actually. 99% perspiration and 1% talent.

Perhaps try dropping the g/t language and encourage her aptitude to learn the piano. That is very different to saying 'gifted at playing' or praising result in an exam.

As an aside he is lucky to have a mum who encourages her. Good on her for doing so well. Keep up the hard work.

Original poster
bubbles1112 · 03/06/2012 22:16

Hello, I have never and would never suggest to dd she is G&T! She is on the g&T reg at school for literacy and we have never mentioned it to her...there's no point and I'd hate her to believe she was better than her peers or different. Similarly we tell her if she wants to pass her exam then she needs to practice. We tell her she's great...but in the same way you do when your child has made a blob out of playdoh Smile

OP posts:
cory · 04/06/2012 23:54

Ime a real musical gift (as opposed to merely being good at music) comes with a kind of inner driven-ness that makes a child want to play more than they want to do anything else.

Just like children with a genuine talent for art are going to be drawing and painting and scribbling from a young age because you just can't stop them.

And children with a gift for writing are going to be making up stories in their heads whether it's encouraged or not, because they simply can't stop themselves.

So if she has that kind of serious gift, you will know soon; she will just be constantly drifting towards music.

gramercy · 07/06/2012 17:52

ds did grade 2 at age 7 and passed with distinction. I wouldn't say he's going to give Lang Lang any trouble. It's true what others have said - you can nip through the lower grades with little trouble if you have decent musical ability. But what counts later is hours of practice - every day.

there is a girl in dd's year who at age 8 has achieved Grade 8. She is half-Chinese with the requisite Tiger Mother!

Colleger · 07/06/2012 23:10

Not gifted I'm sorry to say. I know plenty children who are beyond grade 8 by the age of 8. Unfortunatley my child is nowhere near that level!

Hardboiled · 08/06/2012 17:05

According to many professional musicians I have talked about this with, achieving Grade 8 at age 8 does not mean that child will be a great musician in adulthood. Getting there early does not mean ending up the best. Good musicianship comes with many other things and attributes, like any other art. Of course some will. But there's no point saying a child will not give Lang Lang any trouble just because they are only Grade 2 age 7. They may flourish in teenage years and become good musicians.

Original poster
bubbles1112 · 09/06/2012 23:03

Really Colleger you know plenty of children beyond grade 8 at the age of 8? What circles do you mix in? Genuine question! I know one other child learning the piano who is 7...he's doing grade 1!

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Colleger · 09/06/2012 23:09

Musical circles....

FunnysInLaJardin · 09/06/2012 23:13

Jesus, what is it with having your DC labelled as gifted. I started playing the piano at 5 and was at grade 2 by 7. My sister was grade 8 at piano and violin by age 13, went on the have hideous mental health problems and just retain her sanity. FFS, just enjoy your children without the need to hope they are G&T. It's not all that great you know.

1805 · 10/06/2012 22:29

grade 8 age 8??? where? how did they manage the scales, aural, grade 5 theory requirements? Let alone the musicality understanding of the pieces??
Please tell......

KalSkirata · 10/06/2012 22:31

at 7 it should be fun. ds started at 13 and was grade 8 by 16 but it was all about fun. He plays for pleasure now and for his mates.
Children should have fun, not acquiring labels.