I don't know if this is typical... I know I am a tin ear.

Ds who is five can pick out the notes for

Joyful Joyful we adore thee
twinkle twinkle
three blind mice

and a few other songs.

He seems to like to play the keyboard for 1/2 an hour or so a day.

Just curious if I should get him some lessons.

I don't think he would enjoy lessons. You know boys and sitting still. Seems to young for keyboard lessons.

What would you do? My husband definitley sat down with him and showed him how to pick out tunes by ear on the keyboard so it isn't like he picked it up by himself.

By Amecmom on Friday, September 16, 2005 - 08:04 am:

Talent. Get him lessons from someone used to working with young children. Someone good, who is already teaching lots of young children. He should enjoy the lessons and find them fun at this stage.
Ame
BTW - 5 is about the right age to start if he is inclined.

By Unschoolmom on Friday, September 16, 2005 - 08:12 am:

I don't think talent automatically means lessons though. If it doesn't feel right yet, just hold off and let him explore it on his own for a few years. Time to explore talents and interests without direction can sometimes be as valuable as the lessons. The talent won't disapear but if he gets into lessons before he's ready, his interest might.

By Karen~moderator on Friday, September 16, 2005 - 08:41 am:

Talent, and I WOULD suggest lessons. If he really does have a talent and he is interested he will soak it up and thrive. BTDT

By Christylee on Friday, September 16, 2005 - 08:54 am:

I think I'd see if you can get a free trial lesson and go from there based on how he likes it and his reaction. I just went through the whole t-ball fiasco with my 4 year old and one thing I learned is not to push it, if it's not his thing at this age you're not going to be able to make him like it. Brendan is musically inclined, we'll be heading in that direction once things settle down for us a bit. Good luck, can't wait to hear how he likes it!

By Debbie on Friday, September 16, 2005 - 09:03 am:

I would see if you could find someone that would give him a trial lesson to see if he liked it. There is a woman in our neighborhood that gives keyboard lessons to dks. She will let you pay for just a few lessons to see if your dks like it before you have to pay for an entire session. Besides playing the keyboard, they sing, dance and learn how to read music. It sounds really run, too bad my dks weren't interested.

By Mrsheidi on Friday, September 16, 2005 - 09:08 am:

I would find different places (that you like) and let him make the decision of *which one* he wants to go to. It would make him feel like he's in control and keep his interests in place, but yet you might feel better because you are able to channel that interest with something structured.

By Kate on Friday, September 16, 2005 - 09:09 am:

My DD began doing that, too, but totally on her own without anyone showing her. We put her into lessons in first grade and she wouldn't practice. It was no fun to pick at the keyboard playing dinky little tunes (or in most cases, no 'tunes' at all, but just scales or specific notes she was to practice) when she could sit down and play whole songs by ear! SO, we quit the lessons after about two or three months so we wouldn't waste our money. She's now in fourth grade and STILL has no interest in lessons and can still play by ear.

I would attempt the lessons to harness the talent and make sure he doesn't pick up bad habits. My DD plays with just ONE hand, and her fingering is bad. So, it's merely something she enjoys, and she obviously has an excellent ear, but the interest in lessons and doing it right just isn't there. Hopefully it will be with John, but be prepared if it isn't and don't hesitate to pull him back out so his love for it isn't wrecked.

By Pamt on Friday, September 16, 2005 - 09:14 am:

Ditto Kate.

By Kaye on Friday, September 16, 2005 - 09:25 am:

My dd had a teacher who was "suzuki" trained. So in less than a month she was playing real songs (christmas ones). They encourage them to play by ear while learing to read how the notes work together. NOt so much focu on what the notes are, but that it is one step up or down. This teacher also did traditional lessons as she got older, it was a wonderful choice for us.

By Breann on Friday, September 16, 2005 - 02:31 pm:

Feona, try to find someone in your area that teaches "Harmony Road". It's a group session. There will be other kids his age there and moms are encouraged to stay for the lessons.

It will teach him all the basics. My daughter started this year and she loves it!
It's so much different than the hour a week I used to spend with my piano teacher. So boring, lol.

I teach piano, but I learned the traditional way. That is, with the keys being called Middle C, D, E, F, G, A, and B.
Harmony road teaches the sophage way, with the keys being do, re, me, fa, etc.
It is a fun program and my daughter is picking up on it fast. The sophage way of piano is taught and used broadly throughout the world, with the USA just barely starting to switch over.
I highly recommend it!

By Breann on Friday, September 16, 2005 - 02:33 pm:

Forgot to mention that Harmony Road is taught on keyboards, not piano's. Usually you will find the studio set up with 8-10 VERY nice keyboards and stools. There will also be a "real" piano in the room for the teacher to use and show examples.

By Tink on Friday, September 16, 2005 - 07:26 pm:

I've heard great things about the suziki method and Harmony Road. If you can find either of those available, they are wonderful. My mom always wanted lessons so she started me at 5yo and I took them for 12 years. I haven't touched a piano in the 11 years since I was allowed to quit. It sounds like you are doing a great job of letting him be in charge of his interests.

By Dawnk777 on Saturday, September 17, 2005 - 01:18 am:

Emily has only played flute, with formal lessons and band in school. A year ago or so, she decided she wanted to learn how to play the piano, so she basically taught herself. We still have the easy books, from when Sarah took lessons. She doesn't want lessons and we don't really want to pay for lessons, so both kids just tinker occasionally. They do work hard on their band instruments, though.

Then the kids wanted different songs to play and we found a place to download and print music from. Can't remember the place. Will ask kids in the morning.

I didn't start taking lessons until I was 7, but he sounds like he has some talent and can really hear the music, in his head!

By Karen~moderator on Saturday, September 17, 2005 - 11:02 am:

I just wanted to throw something in here..... My extended family was very musically inclined - my dad, aunt and grandmother each played 5 or 6 different musical instruments. I played piano, my sisters played piano and guitar. My X was very musically inclined, he played bass professionally for 30 years, and he plays guitar. Both my DS's play guitar and have played professionally.

Jeff, at age 4 or 5, listened to a U2 song on HBO when it ran Rattle & Hum, and went straight to the piano and picked out the chords and started playing it. At age 5, we got him his first guitar. X was *supposed* to teach him to play, but being the involved parent he was (NOT!), never really got around to it. I waited until age 7 to start him in lessons, and only wish I'd done it sooner.

You either have an ear for music or you don't. It's a talent I'd definitely encourage.

Jeff is now teaching guitar lessons through a music store and exploring opportunities to play professionally again. He's been writing songs since he was about 13. He has notebooks full of them.

Also, playing a musical instrument, like playing sports, encourages commitment, discipline and builds confidence and self esteem. It's also an outlet - when you feel frustrated or angry and need to burn off that excess energy that comes with, you can throw yourself into it and come out feeling wonderful again.

By Cat on Saturday, September 17, 2005 - 06:15 pm:

I'd encourage, but not push. I took piano lessons for years. I would have kept it up, but my teacher retired and we tried two other teachers that flopped before I quit for good. I play other instruments, also, leaned in band starting in 6th grade. I started piano in 3rd grade, but wanted to earlier. My mom had taken piano starting at about 1st grade and she said she hated it and wasn't anywhere near ready to start. She ended up getting sick after about 3 months and never went back. If he's content to tinker on the keyboard, let him. Try a few different kinds of lessons just to see how he'd do. If it seems to be frustrating him or if he's not enjoying it, stop. I'd hate for someone with real talent to be turned off at such a young age. I've seen that happen. Good luck and let us know how he's doing with it!

By Peggy13 on Sunday, October 2, 2005 - 06:30 pm:

My son (almost 11) has been taking piano lessons since he was 5 and now plays beautifully. We told him if he keeps it up, when he is a freshman in high school, we will buy him a baby grand piano. He actually looks on-line to find grand pianos. He loves it and we won't ever have to force him to practice. If anything, we tell him "stop playing".

By Breann on Sunday, October 2, 2005 - 07:40 pm:

www.harmonyroadmusic.com

Found the web address