Unashamedly pleased - DS and Music

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Sorry, this isn't a boast but I'm really proud of my DS. It's the sort of thing that I don't want to say in real life because I'd look pushy/ show-offy etc.

My 4 year old DS passed the Prep Test for Piano when he was 3 years old, and now he's working on Grade 2 pieces. The Examiner for the Prep Test said he was gifted and I was so pleased! He's learned all the scales for Grades 1 and 2 and seems to have no problems with the Aural tests. He was bored of the Grade 1 pieces, so carried on learning for a while and now he's going for Grade 2 instead.

He's also getting ready for Grade 1 violin at the moment, although this might not be for quite a while. He also plays his little recorder and sometimes writes a few notes down, to play for himself. He has a lovely singing voice too (although I might be biased here!)

I'm so proud of him. DH and I are not musical at all, but my neighbour is a teacher, so teaches him and I do her ironing (there are five of them) and a few other domestic odds and ends every week in return for the lessons. I wouldn't have even thought of him doing lessons, but he had a go on her piano when he was not even two years old and she said he seemed to have a talent.

I'm really proud. :)

He's in Reception and sometimes plays the school piano for his class. :)

Well done to your DS! Why his teacher decided not to send him to grade 1 exam? My dd, in reception too, also learns piano and violin, though I am not quite sure where we are with the violin. She sits piano grade 1 in June.

I think it is amazing when I hear children as young as 3 or 4 studying to that degree for anything!! I could never get any of my 4 children to work on anything until they were at least 5, so I am in awe when I hear children so young having the inclination or concentration on anything like learning an instrument! Well done to your DS, you must be very proud!

WastedTomatoGuts - I am really intrigued as most of your posts seem to get deleted. I wonder what is is you can say to OP to get removed?

My hat off to you OP I would be very proud too in your place. That is very very impressive - I don't know any 4 year old who could do that.

And poor you - all that ironing in exchange for lessons! Hope at that rate your DS will get a scholarship somewhere when he is 6/7 so you wont have to pay at all.

I little word of warning though - don't feel you need to rush him through the grades , his hands are very little and piano requires strong trained fingers and a decent stretch. With higher grade pieces he might struggle reaching the notes and getting good sound.

Remember - he doesn't need to take all the grades , you could do say G3 or 4 or even 5 when he is 6/7 , that will give his hands a chance to grow and plenty of time to work on good sound.

op that is lovely.

agree don't rush through the grades. there is no reason to do lots of exams unless there is something they are achieving . I've probably said this recently, bit as mine have got older ( and maybe I'm a bit more assertive lol) taking them off the exam treadmill, and taking grades when the time it's right send you are going to absolutely ace them seems refreshing.