Twins and music lessons--separate or together?

[Linguaphile]

Bit of a random one for those with slightly older twins. My 4 year old girls are interested in learning to play the violin. Just wondering, is it better for them to have separate lessons or a joint lesson? Normally I'm all for separating (they're in different preschool classes), but in this case I think they'd be dying of curiosity to see each other's lessons and will probably want to sit in. I also think being together might help them to keep focus and might spur them on to practice. But then, separating is good in school so does that also apply to music lessons?

They are identical and not unequal in cleverness, so I don't anticipate massive gaps in aptitude that might cause problems in a joint lesson, but perhaps that's a naiive of me! We did toss out the idea of different instruments, but they seem to be set on playing the same thing.

Does anyone have experience with this? What did you do and/or what did the teacher advise?

It's not quite the same but I teach violin to 2 pairs of close siblings. Both boy/girl a year or so apart.
We divide the lesson so we begin together and finish together but sections of 1 to 1 in the middle.
It's lovely! Great to be able to play duets right from the start too.

Ah that's a brilliant idea noteven! Is a half hour lesson enough do you think? Not sure their attention would hold for longer than that! And do you reckon one instrument to start with and see how they do or should we get each of them a violin straight off?

Our twins started off on the piano at the same time, both had lessons but separately.

If yours are both keen, you'll need 2 instruments so they can practise without arguing over whose turn it is. And it will give them the opportunity to duet eventually.

Look into instrument hire, you can rent for a few months to see if they enjoy it and whether you can afford to buy 2 at the same time.

Oh they need a violin each, definitely.

One of my pairs has 30 mins and one has 45 which includes a bit of singing. Better to start with 30 I think, it's physically and mentally tiring in the early stages.

I'm excited for you!

Not the same but one of my ID twins is starting violin next week. He brother was having none of it and is starting drums...
They are 5. Their sister is 7 and is still very.much a novice violinist too. I am very very glad we have no near neighbours....

Oh definitely consecutive lessons and an instrument each. You will be able to have them practise together and when they get further on playing together can be a tremendous motivator. Are you looking at a Suzuki teacher? [generally I would recommend you find a teacher with experience of teaching younger children, at any rate, as it needs a different approach to starting with, say, an 8 yr old]

Observing each other's lessons can only be a positive thing. Think about having simple things like colouring that they can do quietly while they watch if they prefer. If I were taking them on I'd probably expect to run lessons as a mixture of separate and joint.

My sister and I started violin when she was 4 and I was 6; initially lessons had only been arranged for her (I had been very deaf with glue ear and hearing was only slowly improving), but I was adamant I wanted to do it too. So at first we shared a 20 minute lesson, if she was awake she went first, if she'd fallen asleep in the car I went first! As we got further on, it worked really well to play through previously learned music together.

Have a great time and hope it goes really well!