| Author | Message | ||
     Lisat |
Does anyone have an opinion about the best way to start a child's music/instrumental lessons? My 5 year-old has always seemed especially tuned into music. He gets some music in his pre-k class. But he seems ready for more (I realize he's too young to learn to read music). Are there opinions, especially from professional musicians or adults who still play, about when and how it's best for kids to start? Neither parent plays anymore in our house, so there's no osmosis going on. We have an old piano, which we're planning to have repaired. He likes to plunk at the piano by himself. But he really wants to play an electric guitar. This doesn't seem like a good first instrument. Am I wrong? Any opinions about Suzuki vs. the other methods? I understand with Suzuki, students don't learn how to read music ever. Does anyone teach a hybrid Suzuki method? Is there any way to start with lessons just being fun and very basic? Any benefits to taking group lessons? Anyone I speak to seems to think you must wait until 7 or 8, then nose to the grindstone. But I can't help thinking if a child is in a musical family (a family with one or more parents playing) there are some things he/she would just pick up naturally. So, I'm wondering if those natural things could be transferred to a 25 minute weekly lesson. I was even thinking of having a student practice his/her lessons at our house a couple of times per week. Does that sound crazy? I suppose the repetition of mistakes might turn a little kid off. Any recommendations for teachers and/or certain teaching methods? Anyone want to trade art lessons for their kids for music lessons for ours? Thanks everyone. | ||
| Njjoseph |
Lisat -- I'm not a parent, but I am a musician who has taught to adults, as well as to children 5 years and up. Take what I have to say with a grain of salt, as I don't have as much experience as some others on this board. I think 5 years is a great age to start an instrument like the piano. But be warned that you will need the discipline to make sure your child practices daily, if only for 15 minutes. You should attend lessons, especially if you need refreshing in music theory so that you can answer questions and politely correct if you hear the same mistake over and over again. I recommend that the child study a classical instrument first, as theory is important and can be bypassed easily with an instrument such as the folk (or popular) guitar. I don't know the Suzuki method, but if they don't teach the child how to read music, you will need to switch programs at some point. I can't believe that they don't, but maybe at the beginning they rely more on ear. I think it would be great if you had another student come into your home to practice. I think it would give your child(ren) a chance to see other children playing and enjoying an instrument, and might encourage them to play without you having to force them. I hope this helps! | ||
| Lisat |
Thanks for your advice, njjoseph. I like what you have to say, but I'm open to other opinions, too. The truth is, I took piano as a kid and I don't remember learning any music theory at all. If you were teaching a 5 year old, would you start with teaching them how to read music right away? | ||
| Njjoseph |
I would teach them to read music right away. My preference. Maybe others disagree. You did learn some music theory as a child, although you may not have the heavy-duty stuff, which is usually taught outside of instrumental lessons in a course by itself. However, if you studied for a few years, you must have learned tonic, dominant and subdominant chords and progressions and things like that. | ||
| Mim |
I would also insist on music-reading first thing. Piano is the obvious vehicle for learning this, because the structure of the keyboard closely resembles the musical structure you see on the page. In my experience, children who fail to learn to read music at the earliest stages inevitably become frustrated when they outgrow elementary literature (which they can often pick up and memorize without reading). It's a missed opportunity that is very hard to recapture later. But there's no reason NOT to learn to read music immediately, even at 5 -- the only prerequisite is recognizing the first 7 letters of the alphabet! | ||
| Tom |
It's not too early to learn to read music. It's no more difficult than reading English. A friend of my son's was a Suzuki-trained violinist, and now at 12 he's getting frustrated by his inability to sightread, despite the fact that he's technically very advanced. | ||
| Lisat |
Thanks, njjoseph, mim and tom. I guess it makes sense that if a child's brain is wired to learn languages at an early age, it's wired for music, too. If anyone wants to take this off-line and recommend a piano teacher or piano tuner, please do. You can reach me at killerillos@aol.com Thanks again. | ||
| Njjoseph |
Lisat, if you find a good piano teacher and/or tuner, please let me know, as I'm new to the area and need these services, too. You can reach me at njjoseph@aol.com, and be sure to put in a heading that makes it clear that it's not junk mail. Thanks, and good luck in your search! | ||
| Nakaille |
Actually, please post info about good piano teachers online. Lots of us would like to know. Also, what's the going rate for lessons? Bacata | ||
| Kmk |
We used Albert Lord (great name Huh?) to tune our piano. His number is 239-0098. I've forgotten what he charged us but it seemed very reasonable. Our six year old is taking private piano lessons at her school and she is being taught both to "play by ear" ala Suzuki and to read music. The first songs were by ear and now she has added names to her notes. She has also learned what whole and half notes look like. Next we are on to the treble clef etc. I can strongly recommend the "Music Together" program for any moms out there with kids 3 months to 4 years old. It is unbelievable what natural musical ability little kids possess. | ||
| Debby |
Hi All- My son takes piano lessons and is in first grade, so I would like to comment on a few things. He has been playing for a year, and is learning vis-a-vis the Suzuki method. They do , in fact, learn to read music. However there is much more emphasis on ear training. Here's how it works: The child starts off playing a song from the very beginning - no scales. The first song in the first book is "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star". It is played very simply - just the right hand. Then they learn some variations of this (with note repetitions, etc.). Eventually they learn to incorporate the left hand. Then they move on to other songs. All of this is with a book with printed music. They also receive (you buy) a tape or CD with all of the songs from the first book on it. You are expected to practice 15 minutes every day, and to play the tape once every day to train the ear. We take lessons at Andy's Family Music Center in Livingston. You have a once a week private lesson for 30 minutes, and their is a weekly group theory lesson as well. For little guys, this is very elementary, playful stuff: clapping the beats of a line of music, finding half-notes and quarter notes, reading the notes on a staff. The theory behind the approach says that kids need to be very familiar with the way music sounds if they are to learn how to play. Just as we teach children to speak by speaking to them, not merely repeating consonant sounds to them, we should expose children to songs - not scales (uh-oh...sounds like I'm starting that whole-language/phonics discussion again!) Our instructor explained that Suzuki is available for piano and violin, and that children can start as early as four years old. Piano, he said, is really ideal because 1) it sounds like music the very first time you play it ( beginner violin can really be excruciating), 2)a "C" always sounds like a "C", 3) the child gets into melody and harmonics very quickly, and 4) as someone said above, the music is organized sensibly for piano - with the right hand playing the top staff and the left hand playing the bottom. At Andy's, the cost is $100 /month for Suzuki, and $80 for conventional. Our instructor is Barbara, and she's absolutely lovely. Chuck is the theory guy, and is a lot of fun, too. Good luck with your decision. | ||
| Lisat |
Thanks everyone. I feel like I'm learning a lot. Debby -- a relative-in-law of mine has his son taking a kind of Suzuki-traditional mix and he takes the lesson and is learning with his son. Do you do that, too? Maybe he's just trying to get a 2 for 1 deal, ala a Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Also, does your son ever say he doesn't want to go, or hates it, or throws a temper tantrum about it. If so, what do you do? | ||
| Antrim |
We also use 'Andys music school' and my daughter started last year at age 4. The earlier the better with suzuki. A parent has to commit to learn with the child and continue the lesson at home, this is expected. Yes, sometimes she does not want to practice but she gets very excited at showing people what she can do. Andys throw in a group lesson with the cost of tuition and there the kids get to perform for the group which gives them incentive, they also learn theory by playing little games, ask to try a class... I think it is worthwhile. Good Luck! | ||
| Debby |
Hi Lisa Yes-I take the lesson with him - it's expected. He has never, ever said he didn't want to go - so I can't comment on that particular problem. We just recently got a piano, and he is much more eager to practice now (previously, we just had a keyboard). The "performances" are really cute. Each kid performs for the group every week - even if it's only to stand before the group and bow. Montlair State also has a Music Preparatory Program for kids, run by the same instructor, Chuck Speicher. I think it may be more appropriate for slightly older kids, though. There, you pay by the semester, and the child may take additional electives. I'm considering it for next year. Good Luck | ||
| Lisat |
Again, thank you for all the information. I have a sense of how to approach this now. If we go the suzuki route, my husband and I will be fighting over who gets to take the lesson with him. BTW are there any Dalcroze advocates out there? Much appreciated, Lisa | ||
| Claudinejoelle |
Hello to all, I am a private piano teacher in Maplewood, MM graduate from the Manhattan School of Music. I have taught students of all ages, group and private lessons. I have taught methods which place more emphasis on ear-training (such as Suzuki), and methods which place more emphasis on theory. As someone mentioned already, learning music is very much like learning a language. In learning a musical instrument, one wishes to become "fluent" in all aspects. Therefore, incorporating music theory (the "grammar" of music) and ear-training (understanding the relationships between the notes by ear and by sight) are both very important from the very beginning. Every student has diffent strengths and weaknesses, which is why I do not like to stick to just one method or another when I teach. Learning to read music, however, is ultimately the most valuable skill, and I would look for a teacher who believes it to be an important focus in the lesson. Although playing by ear provides immediate gratification, beware of teachers who teach mostly "by wrote". Everyone hopes to someday be able to just pick up a piece of music and play, and one can only do this with an ability to "sight-read" music. Good luck in your search for the best music teacher for your child! Feel free to contact me if you would like more info on my piano studio. I would also be happy to provide you with references. Sincerely, Claudine Hickman cjhmusic@ix.netcom.com |
