Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site watdcsu.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!watdcsu!sgcpal From: sgcpal@watdcsu.UUCP (SG Chamberlain - El Eng) Newsgroups: net.kids Subject: Re: music lessons for young children Message-ID: <890@watdcsu.UUCP> Date: Sat, 2-Feb-85 12:54:51 EST Article-I.D.: watdcsu.890 Posted: Sat Feb 2 12:54:51 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 2-Feb-85 14:24:07 EST References: <546@mako.UUCP> Distribution: net Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario Lines: 57 My wife and I are expecting our first child later this year and we have already decided that he or she will start on the piano at about age three. I might point out that my wife teaches violin, piano and voice, and she started her training at this age. Her general opinion is that lessons can begin as soon as the child has an attention span that is as long as the lesson, typically 20 or 30 minutes. Why the piano? First of all it is one of the few instruments that requires fine coordination in all ten fingers and the sooner this is developed the better. Secondly, to advance beyond a recreational level in any other instrument, a knowledge of the piano is required for the study of harmony, history and composition. Thirdly, it is an instrument that will likely be played in adulthood should music become only a recreation. (Have you ever heard a trumpet played by someone that studied it "as a kid"). At the age of 5 or so, we then plan to introduce the child to another instrument. Perhaps the violin or cello, while maintaining the piano. In the future, should the child decide to drop the piano, and continue only with this new instrument, the fine coordination and music reading skills developed during the piano lessons will still be of benefit. To go the other way would be much more difficult, as the piano has 4 voices while most other instruments have only 1 (usually). I told my wife about some of the responses to your posting, here are her comments. Group lessons? No way. She feels that individual attention is required especially in the beginning when bad habits develope quickly and can go unnoticed in a group situation. Private lessons can usually be found for nearly the same cost anyway. S----- Violin Lessons? She has several students that started this way and has told me that a year or two of these lessons, from her point of view, is worse than no lessons at all. Bad habbits like playing by ear are difficult to correct. Kids know what Three Blind Mice sounds like but its unlikely they have heard many violin sonata's. Minature Electronic Keyboards? See group lessons, as this is where they are usually found. Besides a piano won't depretiate if its properly maintained. Our recomendations on finding a good teacher would be as follows: (1) Check with your friends and find out about their child's teacher. (2) Attend a local music festival and find out who taught some of the children that you heard. (3) Sit in on a few of the lessons to see if your paying for music lessons or a baby sitter. (4) Beware of music stores that also offer lessons. They have been known to use teachers that can't make it by themselves. And in our area they are usually much more expensive than those taught in someones home. (The above opinions are those of the author and may not be a reflection of the position of the University of Waterloo, or anyone else for that matter.)