Seeking Advise for Music Classes

Find out what grade level the music program begins in your school. In my case it began in 5th grade, but I knew before then that I wanted to be a flautist. Funny thing, my mother always wanted to play the flute, but because of the depression could not. I never knew this until much, much later. Playing the flute was MY dream, not hers.

Take your children to concerts (including the concerts at the high schools) and the instrument stores. Let them fantasize and dream. This is something within their reach. Let it be their dream, not your dream. You can find music lesson at the instrument stores if you want to go that way.

I teach both my younger children piano. My eldest started trumpet in 6th grade and was sad that we hadn't started him on the piano first. My 2nd plays the violin, she strted in 4th. My third also has violin lessons and drum lessons.
When they learn an instrument they learn a life skill that they will carry with them forever.
Just yesterday I had a dishwasher installer come to my house. He saw my piano and asked if he could play it. His own burned in a house fire. He said he still didn't have a piano and missed it so much.

I liked both other answers you received, especially the voice-as-instrument answer! If I had read that a number of years ago, maybe I would have started my kids with that! :)

I always thought piano was a good starter. Then, in school, every child in oour district learns the recorder in 3rd grade, so they learn to read music. They also can start an orchestra instrument at school in 3rd grade, in our district, and a band instrument in 4th grade, and we have mandatory choir in 5th grade, so a lot of music. My kids were age eligible to join our religious school's choir in 3rd grade. All in all, they had a lot of great opportunities. I would recommend all of it! :)

Enjoy!

I come from a musical family and not everyone learned piano first. I didn't because we couldn't afford one but still sat first chair in band. It has to do with natural talent and ambition. As much as you want them to learn piano (or music) if they have no desire it will be a chore and they won't learn anything. Some kids just don't want to learn music. I would keep exposing them to different types of music and let it be their decision. If they really want to learn music it will come from the heart and they will just "know" what they want to play. My older son expressed interest in music at age 11 and he started with beginning band. Now at 12 1/2 he plays clarinet, trombone and piano. My younger son is 8 1/2 and wants to learn everything. Since we have plenty of instruments at our disposal he plays around with each of them. We can't afford private lessons so he is just getting the basics from us right now. If they are musically inclined it will happen at their own pace.

I hope this helps.

I learned violin first, because we couldn't afford a piano and we moved too much anyway to lug one around. When I went to college as a viola (looks like a violin, sounds like a cello) major I was really behind, because I didn't understand the chord structures that are easily learned on the piano. It was really hard for me to catch up on all the music theory that I didn't get as a result of the suzuki method of teaching (I didn't start until I was in high school---long story). Try seeing if your kids are interested in any particular instrument. Take them to a music store where they can try out different instruments. I would also take them to your local symphony to see all of the instruments. They usually have a "kids" performance during the school day where they can see a whole range of instruments. As a string player I have been told that the reason band instruments are not taught quite as early as string instruments is, because the lip control required doesn't develop until 5th or 6th grade. However, there are some prodigies who start wind instruments much earlier. If they choose the instrument they are much likely to stick with it. (if it comes down to keyboard vs piano, I'd really suggest the piano. They can be rented or as someone else suggested, keep an eye on Craigslist)

good luck

S.

Hi K.,
My husband has an old friend who's now a music teacher. We asked him the same question, and his suggestion was to start with voice/singing. He says it's a child's first "natural" instrument that's easiest for them to learn to control is their voice, and they learn to read music and understand rhythm, etc.

If they show a natural aptitude or interest, you can move them on from there.

t

Piano is a good starter, if you want them to have a solid base in coordination, music theory and subtle percussion. You might want to take them to a music shop, and let them check out the instruments, to see what they might prefer, and then check into lessons in those instruments. We tell our kids, you have to learn an instrument, we don't care which one-but it is a great thing to have under your belt, a great experience.

Looks like you have already gotten some good responses, but I have to say that nothing beats having a real piano in your home! I often see uprights being given away for free on craigslist.

K., When my sisters and I were young we were blessed to walk to our grandparent's house most days after school. There my grandpa would play old spirituals on his little organ and sing along. Also, my grandma would give us "piano" lessons (on the organ), and if I remember right this started as soon as we started school - so, your boys' age.

When I was old enough to join the band (6th grade in our little town) I chose flute. All I had to do was learn how to make noise on the flute and the right finger placements for each note, because I could already read music. It was immediately obvious who in the band had learned piano and who hadn't because those who had filled the "1st Chair" positions, and those who hadn't struggled to learn both notes and their instrument at the same time.

After learning flute I could pick up any woodwind instrument - clarinet, saxophone, oboe - and quickly learn to play it since they're all related. Likewise my best friend who had chosen trumpet could play most any brass instrument. It's easy to change your mind (especially if you're borrowing or renting an instrument from the school or music store) as you learn what you prefer. But the basis in piano is all the same. I think you do your child a great service by "making" them learn piano/keyboard, even if they don't like it so much - in order to help them succeed at the instrument of their choosing later on.

P.S. When it's time to decide on an instrument, I think it's great to take the kids early to a high school band/orchestra concert so they can see and hear the warm-ups and what each instrument sounds like. Another great place is Soundbridge in Seattle. They can try a lot of instruments there themselves!

As someone who plays piano and once taught piano, a keyboard is not the same as a piano. However you do learn many of the same skills. Rhythym and reading music are basics to piano/keyboard and any instrument you may learn later. I think 7 or 8 is a good age to start music lessons since being able to read a little is also helpful when learning musical notes.
Piano vs keyboard- are you meaning the cheap $100 variety at walmart or a better quality with weighted keys and full 88key keyboard? You can get nice keyboards like a clavinova that are almost as good as a piano and your skills easily transfer. Some of the less expensive keyboards don't have full size keys or weight/touch sensitive keys, both of which pianos do so if switching between you can have problems and it won't feel the same. Not having a full 88key keyboard isn't important in early lessons, but as they progress it is needed for more difficult pieces.

I understand finding a good and patient piano teacher is extremely important.  My wife and I have several friends of the family that work with a company whose goal is to match piano students with piano teachers.  They work with students of all ages.  www.learnpianoinyourhome.comDrafts