Kids music lessons - (merged)

Sensemaya

ooobedoo wrote:

I want to ask DS if he wants to learn to play the triangle or something but looking online the lessons seem so expensive, neither DH or I are musical(unless drunk, then I am Mariah Carey and he is Robbie Williams....)

Anybody any ideas how to get it cheaper??????

I did a cracking rendition of ' Big Spender' recently in an overpriced hotel. Managed to get the modulation perfect too, but the acoustics were quite good,so that helped. BF was impressed.

One to one tuition is always best. Best to choose an instrument first...as for the triangle, love your humour:T . I would approach a student in music college or follow rainbowrisin's suggestions.

Musicians do seem to have a twisted sense of humour, so maybe you should persevere with a different instrument:

:A

RadoJo

I wouldn't rule out exams altogether - my piano teacher never let me take any as a child and I always felt as though my friends who did take exams were doing better than me, just because I never had any sense that I had achieved anything other than playing the next piece.

Exams aren't the be-all and end-all, but if your daughter wants to do them, do consider how much more motivated she will be if she can actually measure her achivement - as a lapsed pianist I now really regret the way I was taught and am trying to get back into the habit of playing.

benood

I think it probably depends upon your daughter's personality - personally I needed exam pressure to do any practise at all but that's not to say she does - perhaps ask her if she wants to do them and her teacher if it's necessary.

Fizog

I opted out with ds on the flute he started at grade 2 but hated the whole process. He is now a grade 7 standard and doesn't intend to take it up professionally. His music teacher said he could enter at grade 8 for music college if necessary, just as nerve wracking as an audition which he has done for orchestra playing. I danced as a child and all the certificates and cups and festival medals meant zip when I went into dancing professionally... it was how I performed on the day. It does keep Royal college wealthy and gives something to aim for but playing in an orchestra is so uplifting and you can practise with the official books anyway.

ooobedoo

Not musical, but in our local italian, I asked the italian waitress if any of them gave private languague lessons........I have given her my phone no and email and hope that she contacts me, question is...what is a reasonable price?????

welshcakes

andyrules wrote: »

Yes, you will be right about the musical ones being higher achievers. Not sure whether it's self-discipline or what. A psychology student told me years ago that music training helps them focus

This seems to be a popular school of thought in contemporary physcology and an article I read probably a year or so ago, associated enhanced academic acheivement with instruments including the drums and social debating skills included the piano!

I wonder what psychologists would make of successful one man band entertainers

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ooobedoo
really depends on area & qualification of tutor. My 9 yr old has piano lessons paid for courtesy of my parents and it's £11 per 30 mins once a week at tutor's home. It's alot and you have to remember best results need the instrument bought to practise at home as well, books and exam fees (these can be pretty hefty).

hannaha100

Hey! As a university student I'd agree with andyrules about looking for musical students. All students are strapped for cash and it'd be fairly easy to find someone of a decent standard (not necessarily a music student either) who would be willing to undercut the local (more qualified) teachers. Of course the trade-off is lack of teaching experience and fewer qualifications - although this isn't necessarily an issue with a beginner.

Regarding language lessons: again students might be the way to go! I was approached at university last week by a group of students from Spain who were willing to offer basic Spanish lessons in return for a chat in English to help them improve their language skills (and I may take them up on the offer!). Unfortunately this kind of offer isn't always advertised but it doesn't hurt to ask...

Savvy_Sue

could you all please stop implying that there is no skill involved in playing the triangle?

First, you have to know where to strike the instrument.

Then how how hard.

And how often.

And in what rhythm.

Since triangle solos are rare, you then spend HOURS counting your way through bars and bars where you're not doing anything.

But you still have to stand there looking intelligent. Which is a struggle for some of us.

But FINALLY, and most importantly, YOU MUST NEVER DROP YOUR TRIANGLE ON STAGE! Especially not on a hollow stage, in a quiet bit.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Seriously, how old is your son? Asking WHAT he'd like to learn to play is important. And going for it WHEN HE WANTS IT is vital.

With my sons, DS1 learned recorder briefly at school. This was free, but he didn't enjoy going and none of us enjoyed practising.

DS2 said he wanted to learn the violin. I enquired about lessons through school, but he was at a school where the peripatetic music service never came. What I should have done was ask around and try to find a private teacher. After about a year, the school music service registered that I was STILL asking for violin lessons, and arranged for me to take DS2 and by then DS3 to lessons at another school. DS2 had lost interest by then. He did squeal for a bit, but I don't really know that he learned much.

DS3 kept it up a bit longer. What he really wanted to learn to play was a brass instrument, but you have to have all your second teeth for that, and he didn't.

Then a few years ago a friend mentioned that she was looking for piano pupils. I mentioned it to DS3 and he's been having lessons with her ever since. He's still on 'first year piano', and he rarely practises, but he's enjoying it, and she's teaching him about music, not just which notes to hit.

Given my time again, I don't think I would use the schools' music service. The lessons are VERY expensive, even shared in a group, and really isn't one to one tuition likely to be better?

whitewing

Hi All,

Just looking from a purely financial perspective, what would be a good instrument for a 10 year old boy to learn.

We are not a musical family & don't really listen that much to music (too busy logging on here!). Let's also assume that he is up for the challenge, would do the daily practice and would aim to reach a level of mastery eventually that would allow him to perform as part of a group in public at a school function.

So,consider in terms of tuition, cost of lessons, cost of instrument and anything else you vibrant and creative bunch can think of....

One final question for now, would singing lessons/voice training help improve his musical skills in the same (or a different) way? (Told you I'm not musical, if this is a daft question)

I look forward to reading your responses....

Rikki

Clarinet.

My eldest learnt the clarinet for many years and enjoyed it.
My youngest started the clarinet too, moved onto drums and is now more into his rugby.