How to get child (5) into music

[fdkc]

Hi all, just wondering how I can see if my dd aged 5 would be interested in playing a musical instrument. It might sound like a silly question but none of my family are musical. I would love to be able to play an instrument properly, I learned the tin whistle in school and could play a bit on my childhood friends piano but my family was poor growing up and couldn't afford music lessons but I was dying to learn how to play the piano properly.

Anyway how do you even figure out what instrument your child is interested in or would be good at? There are so many I don't know where to start. Like if I get her piano lessons and she doesn't like it or doesn't have a flare for it do you just quit and move onto the next instrument like violin for example?

Any advice appreciated.

Piano is always a good one to start on, and even if they show more of an interest in another instrument it would be good to continue with anyway (if you can afford it) because it is so useful for many things.

Maybe try playing her some music and see what she likes. Put on Britten's Young Musicians Guide to the Orchestra and see if any particular section takes her interest.

Do they have the opportunity to learn anything at school? I started with the recorder in Reception, showed some aptitude and the teacher recommended a Saturday music class, which introduced me to different types of instruments… forty years later I’m still playing.

Never did piano, though. I always liked being able to play in a group.

Play music at home all the time. Get some percussion instruments like maraccas, a tambourine or a drum, maybe even a glockenspiel for your daughter to play with.

I really wouldn’t start any “formal” instrument training yet. Just get her to enjoy and connect with music. In my opinion age 7 is the youngest I would start formally learning an instrument personally (I have been a professional musician and have taught children plus known a lot of other musicians and music teachers. Also a mum of 2).

I wonder if there is any way to try out lots of different instruments when the time comes? I began with recorder and then piano and then when a bit older tried the violin (hated it) and finally went for the clarinet because my older friend played it 🙄. The flute would have been far more “me”. I wish so much I hadn’t wanted to play the clarinet copying my friend. Always lots of singing. Joining a choir teaches lots, especially if they read sheet music.

Also there are lots of recorded concerts online which show different instruments. Try searching the young person's guide to the orchestra by Britten. I think the royal philharmonic did a good video in lockdown. There might be some children's classic s or similar tupe live concerts to go to.

I'm evangelically pro-piano.

My daughter started piano lessons this year and I get the sense she gets a bit impatient with the very narrow range of notes she's learning. I had some basic piano lessons when I was older than she was and I was the same - I loved sitting at the piano and wanted to experiment with the keys, but needed a kick up the bum to practice the dull, disciplined stiff.

But I'm a grown up now (officially), so I can both sympathise with her frustration, but also focus on motivating her to utterly nail the basics, which I never did very thoroughly.

I would recommend the piano as a starting point, not only because it presents the musical notes in a visually linear way that lays good foundations for music theory that can be transferred to other instruments, but crucially, you get to join in with reinforcing the lessons and will probably pick up the basics yourself. It's very rewarding.

Also, pianos are relatively inexpensive to buy second hand and look undeniably handsome. You can also learn the basics on a small keyboard before committing to the real thing.

It's also a forgiving instrument in that a beginner will make tolerably listenable noises that are easily tuned out.

Don't start with piano. It does nothing to train the ear to pitch and it's not a group instrument, it's just lonely!

Violin is a great first instrument because you can get fractional sizes so the kid is physically comfortable. Lots of teachers prioritise playing through Kodaly singing (solfa like doh re mi using games and hand signs) and the best teachers will run group classes as well as the main 1 to 1 lesson.

You'll get recommendations for Suzuki but be careful! The method is only as good as the individual teacher and in England the organisation is appallingly cliquey!