Hi,

I'm just wondering in general how old do kids start to learn piano in UK?

My two boys started to learn piano when they were four and half yrs old. Now one is nearly 8, and another is 5 and half. Their progress acturally is quite good. Elder one has just passed Grade 2 this summer. But I must say I have put lots of efforts on them, like attend their lessons, supervise them to practise every day, how long do they sit in front of piano, then how long I have to sit with them etc.( I know some piano, learning with the teacher for enjoyment). Because I feel that learning piano at such an early age, they can't remember everything what have been taught by teather, they need get some help from someone else. ( apart from teacher) Am I right? Is my situation normal? We are living in China at the moment, will be back UK next year. So in UK, For the teachers,are parents welcome to attend the lessons with their children? Do most English parents attend their young children's lesson? Are they supportive?

I'm just very interested to know, thanks for taking time to read my post.

WF

Hi WF

I personally would not teach a child under, say, 6 and a half years old. I do prefer them to be well settled into school and not have too many problems with reading, etc. by the time I start them. Although I know a number of teachers would be happy to teach younger ones, I haven't even started teaching my grandsons properly yet, although I have taught letter names of keys and also some rhythm. When they are seven I will offer them lessons more formally.

Also, in my experience, and in general, if they start a little later, they catch up over a year or two and I would expect a reasonably interested and capable child of 8 to be at about the same stage as your son, that is taking grade 2, if he started at 6 and a half.

With regard to parents staying in lessons with children, I don't object, and one or two of my parents to stay. However, I think as the child gets older and if the teacher makes notes for practice, then teaching goes better on a one to one basis.

These are just my own thoughts, but I know that others will disagree with me.

Hi!

I think it all depends on the individual child. I started my own piano lessons at four, but I was happy to pay attention and learn etc...

My sister didn't start until she was six, as the teacher didn't feel she was quite ready to undertake lessons any younger.

I wouldn't turn away anyone who wanted me to teach a child under six, but I'd meet them, and discuss it plenty with the parents before I'd start any lessons, as for many (but not all) it could be better to wait a year or two.

Amanda xxxxx

Nannyjay and Amanda,

Thanks for your replies.

Most kids start to learn piano between 4-5 yrs old in China. I suppose part reason because this is connected with the music exam system. Only be held once a year, and can not skip to any grade, must step by step, grade by grade. So even children start as early as 4 yrs old, by the time when they finish all the grades for any instrument ( 9 or 10, depands on different exam board) they alreay reach 14-15 yrs old, and with this age, they have plenty of school works to cope, most children don't have enough time to practise every day.( learning any instrument really needs to practise daily at reasonable time)


I used to read one article( The Sunday Telegraph) said "Children who take music lessons before the age of six tend to be more intelligent then their peers, according to the results of a study in Canada....Academics at the university of Toronto found that the IQ scores of six-year-olds who had taken keyboard or voice lessons were, on average, three points higher than normal...."

What does everybody think?

WF

I'd think it's more likely the other way round, those more likely to succeed academically because they have educated and suportive parents, are more likely to take up music lessons (at all, and hence more likely to do it before 6) than other children; rather than the music actually making the children more intelligent. Of course, the music teaching will be part of the child's education and support from the parents that do make them more likely to succeed. I think we're seeing a socio-demographic effect at work. Of course by no means do I intend to imply that those without educated and supportive parents cannot succeed; nor do I mean to imply those who didn't get music lessons before age 6 can't either.

I think that does not prove anything as a matter of logical analysis. It's non sequitur. Those who started music lessons VERY early may well have better scores due to relatively more supportive parents than those whose parents either never sent them to music (or to it very much later) or due to the fact that they were the very ones who could sit still and "take in" music lessons at such an early age as they would their studies due to temperament/good concentration. What about those who dropped out due to lack of interest/concentration after a few months? These may not be in the "music" figures but they may be in the later category as those who took music much later?

Another point worth considering is whether the music lessons taken at this very early age were fun-style or formal? My friends who live in South East Asian countries tell me that piano and violin lessons there are generally formal even at an early age. However, there is, again in the Daily Telegraph (in fact, annually quoted) that the earlier formal education begins as in the UK, the more a country (such as the UK vis-a-vis the rest of Europe) lags behind in literacy and numeracy achievement/skills. It is not known why very early formal education results in a child measuring less intelligent or less creative than one in Europe who starts formal education later although some have suggested that this is because basic social, interaction and communication skills (be it btw teacher and child, etc) are a more fundamental pre-requisite to a "sound" education.

Tess

You sound like you are doing a great job in supporting your boys! There IS a thread on parents sitting in lessons which will DEFINITELY interest you! Can someone provide WFW1024 with the link??? I am hopeless, technologically!

The latest topic is here and there's an old thread on the same topic that I found whilst searching haven't read this one recently though so I don't know how relevant it is.

My daughter started learning piano at 7. She has been learning the violin since she was 4 1/2 though. The violin is taught mainly by Suzuki method, although this has morphed more and more into standard teaching as she has grown older. I am required to sit in those lessons. The piano teacher is not a Suzuki teacher, although she is familiar with his methods. She is a fantastic teacher and adjusts her teaching methods to the learning style of the child. She likes me to sit in sometimes, but I don't have to. We have known her for years, as she has taught both my older children too. I guess I stay about once a month.

Violinma

Violinma,
What do you actually do when you sit in? Just watch and listen? Or, take notes as well?

Tess