I had someone ring me this afternoon after piano lessons for her 4-year-old daughter. Personally I think this is a bit too little... (I've taught a 6 year old before and that was bad enough). So I suggested she look into classes specially for small children - eg. Kodaly, Dalcroze. I don't know much about these other than the general principles, though, so I could only really suggest she googled them. It occurred to me that it would be helpful to have a list of useful websites that I can refer people to in future - so can anyone give me ideas?

I am near but not in London, so if anyone knows of a list of teachers/classes who work outside the big cities, that would be good, too.

I agree with you. A more general lesson involving games, singing, clapping and a fun approach within a small group of other children of a similar age, is a far better music education for anyone under the age of about 8 - unless they have shown some innate or natural skill in music making already.

I personally will not take on children under 8 years of age for violin lessons. While they may have very active minds, on the whole, an average childs attention span for developing such specialised skills is simply not there.

Being 5 feet and a bit tall, I was intrigued by the topic and wondered why "small" people would need special music classes...

Now that I know what you meant, in London for very young children there's Monkey Music (see web site here). I don't have direct experience but many of my colleagues' children have been going since they were 1-2 years old and very much enjoyed the classes, which involve singing/dancing/ rhythms/musical games etc. The parents have been recommending the classes to each other (and that's how I heard of it).

The Kodály and Dalcroze websites are, respectively, www.britishkodalyacademy.org and www.dalcroze.org.uk.

If you contact the BKA they may be able to help with suggesting possible teachers in a particular area, and I would imagine the Dalcroze people could do the same.

You could mention the Kindergarten Course at the Guildhall - it consists of a half-hour lesson in each discipline and we take children in at 4+ and 5+. We do have families who travel a considerable distance for these classes. I know I'm biased, but I think they're fab!! Also these classes may lead to entry onto the String Training Programme at 6+ - an even more fabby course!

I have to say that I have had quite considerable success teaching 4 and 5 year olds, once you get used to the reduced attention span and cater accordingly.

My son is six and has been learning cello for six months very well, and piano for about a year now. It's a reminder to take each child as an individual and not to prejudice against 4 year olds!

hear, hear!

That's probably fine if you're used to children / have your own, but I don't. I have a pretty low child-tolerance threshold in everyday life; in terms of teaching I can be patient enough for half an hour with a 7 or 8 year old, but I don't like children enough, or know enough about them developmentally, to be able to cope with smaller ones.

Your point of view is a very valid one, and one which I suspect others share but may not be willing to admit to.
I don't take children under 10 unless they are talented and very keen. I just find them hard work, not from the music side of things, but keeping their attention and interest. They seem to like coming for lessons, but I don't always look forward to them myself.
I much prefer adolescents, with whom I seem to get on very well, and adults, who between them, make up over 80% of my students.

Yahama used to run (not sure if they still do), group lessons from 4 year old. An hourly session one a week which incorporated music and movement with fun ways to learn how to read notes, and play simple tunes. They had homework in the form of a workbook, (colouring in crochets and quavers, drawing circles).

Not sure how popular they are in the UK, but were very popular when I was in Australia.