at what age can i reasonably take my lo for some kind of music lessons?

[bambam30]

right my lo is 2.6 and VERY into music he has various toy musical instruments and always plays along to various music he will also point out drum beats and rythms in music now i am not suggesting i have a prodigy but i just wondered do i send him for lessons before school or do we just wait until he is offered them at school i reaaly dont want to be pushy i mean are there any kind of informal music lessons does anyone know?

There are groups near me, for instance Jo Jingles that focus on music and singing.

Take him to a tots music group for now - have a look on your local authority website or netmums will have a list local to you if you type in your postcode. Or try mumsnet local. He's too young for formal lessons IMO.

Lots of areas have informal music sessions for that age group, some where you stay as well and others where you leave them in a group for a half hour or so. It can be a good start and they can later move into more formal lessons as they get ore mature. If you have anything like a music school in your area, you could contact them to ask if they know of any groups. Otherwise wherever you look for local ads might have info.

There are various music franchises around

kindermusik
monkey music
jo jingles etc

but these don't really teach an instrument - more enjoyment of music and rhythm.

We are using an at home course for dcs 6 and 4 called "dog and bird" for learning the piano here. Our two are still a bit young for lessons in my opinion, although I know some people start piano at 4 or 5 but they like this course.

My 2 started CelloBabies www.cellobabies.co.uk/index.htm at 3 & 5, after a few months both can read music well. They both have a 20 min lesson once a week. It's one to one but very fun with lots of singing as well.

I'm very laid back about practise 2/3 times a week when they choose.

They love it and my eldest has now started teaching herself the recorder.

thanx all of you i will look into some of these and rivvy thankyou that does sound great but we live in the midlands so no good but i may enquire locally if ther is anything similar.

Try Music with Mummy if you're in the Midlands. They do a scheme which is singing and drama based where you leave the children for 45mins and they learn about singing, rhythm etc. My colleague is a music teacher and won't start teaching lo's until they're five. HTH

oooh rivvy that sounds exactly what I need for ds

only he wants to learn the violin and I can't play the cello

but still, exciting

music with mummy is lovely (if you have the right person leading it).

Are you able to say which bit of the Midlands you're in? I might be able to point you to a few places if I knew.

littlefish we are in solihull thanx

there is a music with mummy group in knowle

Is that the one you really liked Beautifuldays? I know you visited a few.

BamBam30 - I don't know if you're interested, but there is a Mumsnet Worcestershire meet up happening soon (date has not quite been finalised). We meet in the evening at a pub just off Junction 7 of the M5, which wouldn't take too long for you. Let me know and I'll find you a link to the thread.

Hi

Sorry haven't been on today. Bambam, she sells books and teachers notes and has just set up with a new teacher in Devon. It might be worth contacting her as she may have contacts local to you.

Fillyjonk, she has just set up a Violinbabies with another teacher local to us, but again I guess she's produced books which if you know how to play may be you could use?

no i haven't tried that one (i have tried a lot of music groups!) too far from where i am (worcestershire) but just down the road from my mum who lives in solihull. might be worth investigating.

thanks again all of you i will definately look into the class in knowle [not far from me at all ] beautifuldays thankyou very much for the offer but evenings are a bit precious to me at the moment as dh has only just stopped working them but if you do a meet up in the day i may be interested i am off to do a search now for music with mummy!

oopps sorry i meant littlefish