Is 5 years too young for VIOLIN classes?

[StarryStarryNight]

I never played the violin myself so I am not sure what is the best age to start. I had one hour music lessons as part of the curriculum per week, through primary and secondary. In addition I had private recorder tuition and during secondary Church Organ tuition.

I have never been pushing my son towards music, but wheareas his peers play football, he is interested in song and dance, and is now begging for violin lessons. Not sure if he realizes what this entails (and neither do I), or if it is only because another friend in his class is on the waiting list for music tuition. He is quite young (April born), and sometimes unable to sit still, and gets frustrated if there is something he can't do. Despite this, his reception teacher says he is academically brilliant, so must been able to sit still and learn to some degree!

So violin lessons for a five year old, any opinions?

Has he listened to other children or adults playing the violin? Has he been to children's concerts? Do you have some violin CDs so he 'knows' the sound?

If this is the case, and he wants the violin (and doesn't just say it once, but often over a certain period of time), let him play the violin and not the recorder or the guitar.

If not, I'd really try to find another (even a bit older) child who could play to him, or is there a possibility to let him listen at school concerts or something like that? Our local Music Trust sometimes does Instrumental Taster Days (don't know the exact name of it), maybe there's something similar in your area? It would be really good if he could hear children (or if not possible, adults) play, ideally not just the violin but other instruments, too, so he gets a clearer idea.

Some children know very clearly which instrument they want. I knew someone who would have refused to learn anything but the violin (her parents wanted her to start with the recorder - she said she was going to play the violin or nothing at all, and her parents gave in...). As an adult she became a professional orchestra musician.

At that age, he'd need very short lessons though, no longer than 15-20mins max. If there's a waiting list, maybe you can put him on it and by the time he gets a place he'll be nearly six and the perfect age for starting.

Be prepared though that the violin (as any instrument) requires daily practice, ideally, whilst the child is young at least, with a parent who sits in the lessons and practices with the child - if done properly and if you/your ds want(s) to see some progress. Daily practice can be a couple of minutes to start with then graduallly building up, and of course later on the parent doesn't need to sit all the time with the child. If he doesn't practice (apart from the occasional missed day of course, and at that age I wouldn't be overly strict) it would really be a waste of money.

At 5 he is definitely able to gradually learn to read music while learning an instrument, if he's otherwise academically brilliant, so that shouldn't be a problem at all.

Giuliettatoday thank you. Some very valid points. I did not hand in the forms yesterday, but will try to figure out how deep his interest really is, letting him listen to more classical music and violin concertos, over summer. I am hesitant to start too early because I dont want him to be discoraged if it is hard, and turned away from this interest. He has been asking about violin lessons on numerous occasions the last few months, but I have been to busy to act on it. If I put him on the waiting list, he will probably wait a while, and will have matured some!

Some schools / education authorities let the kids borrow instruments so it helps to cut down the costs in you child changes their mind.

Thanks, I will look into that!