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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Music tuition

29 replies

Lorelai · 08/10/2013 15:49

Does anyone have any thoughts on starting children on music (instrumental) lessons? How old, what instrument, group or indiviual lessons etc? I'd like DD1 to learn but not sure when/how to start.

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Janacek · 21/10/2013 08:57

I am a peri violin/piano teacher. After teaching this age group for years and having 2 musical DS myself I would say the best age to start is yr 2. A few yr 1s manage but without being sexist they tend to be more mature girls. If you start them too young you are just wasting time and money as a musical child will catch up even starting much later. Suzuki is a mixed bag. Gets them playing young but they run into problems with reading music later.IMHO. Wind players need to have 2nd teeth thro. Good idea to have a "benson" test for musical aptitude as you can waste a lot of time and money on lessons before finding out your dc has no ear.

babasheep · 21/10/2013 10:47

I think in terms of choosing a instrument and whether group or individual lessons it depends on your dc's personality from my own experience. I d tried dc with violin in group lesson when dc was 4 or 5. It really didn't work for both of us as dc was and still is a very shy little thing. But when dc was 7 I started her again with piano in one to one lesson without me around in the room. It works much better. My dc is one of those children who will either playup or distracted if her mum is with her. Also piano is an instrument that doesn't require much eye contact or having to stand up and face to the audiences so it suits her very shy personality.

AngryPrincess · 21/10/2013 17:30

My ds has been doing suzuki violin, and the teacher is Great! But I think the violin is a very hard instrument to start. If I had had room and a teacher nearby I would have gone with piano. Although I have read, (in nurtured by Love or something, can't remember), that children who start at 8 catch up with those who start younger.

AngryPrincess · 21/10/2013 17:33

Oh and Kindermusik is great if there is one near. We had to stop that because we moved too far away. Good for young children, exposing them to lots of different types of music, and playing with making music.

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