musical instruments and school age children

[RCT]

how many of you have children that play an instument? at what age did they start...how did you/they decide which instument.....tia...

[AnnW]

DS plays the piano and violin. He wanted to do violin when he was in Kindergarten and it was the Suzuki method and the parent has to take to and I had a baby! I also believe that a child should be able to read before they take so that they can read the music. DS started piano in either 3rd or 4th grade (can't remember). He started violin last year cause every 6th grader has to take an art and he picked violin.
DD expressed some interest in piano this summer and I let her take a little summer camp, but she wasn't all that crazy about it. I will play it by ear with her.
I think the child needs to ask repeatedly and have shown some kind of ability to stick with things before they start. I also think they need to be able to read the music.

[MaryL]

At our school, kids can start "band"/instument lessons in 4th grade. Ds1 is quite musical...and I think he would LOVE piano. However, it's surprisingly difficult to find a piano teacher that has lesson times that work with my schedule. :( So our plan at the moment is to let ds do "band" next year. He hasn't decided on an instrument...maybe drums. 8o ;)

[Cathy]

Dd1 played the violin in 4th grade. (Kids are required to take some string instrument lessons.) Quite honestly, it was very painful for me. She has no ability to hear if the notes are right, and a lot ofviolin is hearing. She did better in 6th and 7th grade with clarinet- the fingering is more precise. Her best instrument however, has to be the radio. She plays that loudly and daily. LOL
Dd2 played the piano starting in 3rd grade. She only took lessons for a couple of years, but I was disappointed when she gave it up. She was really good, and she seemed to enjoy it. I think she'll go back and play someday. She will occasionally sit and play if the mood strikes her. (4th grade violin was not her thing, but at least it was tuneful. ;) ) She also took french horn lessons in middle school for 3 years. She is musical in a well rounded (read undisciplined!) way. She loves singing with the school choir, too.
Dd3 tried piano, and violin (again, with the required lessons
:rolleyes: ). She gave it up quickly and decisively!! She has interest at a similar level as talent. But she sings along with the radio, especially when it's rap. (I'm still looking into the switched at birth possibility. LOL)

[Mickey]

MB plays the piano (weekly lessons)--started the lessons when he was 5 1/2 and he'll be 7 in May.

He's always been intested in the piano/keyboard--my mom's friend gave him a keyboard when he was 2 and he's been making up songs and sounding them out ever since.

I have a hs friend who wanted her ds to play piano, but he wanted to play the violin. After a few piano lessons, she decided to go for the violin (Suzuki) and he loves it.

[TXmom]

Originally posted by Cathy
Dd1 played the violin in 4th grade. (Kids are required to take some string instrument lessons.) Quite honestly, it was very painful for me. She has no ability to hear if the notes are right, and a lot ofviolin is hearing. She did better in 6th and 7th grade with clarinet- the fingering is more precise. Her best instrument however, has to be the radio. She plays that loudly and daily. LOL
Dd2 played the piano starting in 3rd grade. She only took lessons for a couple of years, but I was disappointed when she gave it up. She was really good, and she seemed to enjoy it. I think she'll go back and play someday. She will occasionally sit and play if the mood strikes her. (4th grade violin was not her thing, but at least it was tuneful. ;) ) She also took french horn lessons in middle school for 3 years. She is musical in a well rounded (read undisciplined!) way. She loves singing with the school choir, too.
Dd3 tried piano, and violin (again, with the required lessons
:rolleyes: ). She gave it up quickly and decisively!! She has interest at a similar level as talent. But she sings along with the radio, especially when it's rap. (I'm still looking into the switched at birth possibility. LOL)

ROFL - Cathy I just love you!! Thanks - I needed the laugh tonight!

[TXmom]

Oh yeah - my reply...ds #1 takes guitar lessons. He just turned 14 and started last summer. I agree with Ann - the child needs to ask repeatedly. It's not a cheap investment.

[darlene]

Oldest dd had recorder lessons in music class in school for grade 5 and 6. She now plays the trombone in music class at school (grade 7). She wants to try the saxophone.....it is an option that the music teacher is letting some kids try.

Middle dd plays the recorder at school as well.

No private lessons.....just what the school provides.

Ds wants to start chanter lessons (that will lead up to the bagpipes)....good thing we live in the country!

:)

[kat]

Ds plays the tumpet in the school band. Started last year. Loves it. We bought his first one. This year he wanted a silver one. He traded his in, put in $400 of his own money and we kicked in the rest for Christmas. This one was twice what we paid for his first one. It's not cheap. Last summer he bought an acoustic guitar and has taught himself to play that.

Cathy, you crack me up. I'm like your dd, I too can play the radio very well. I have no other musical talent at all. I've always wanted to play piano, but I can barely type. I just can't seem to get my fingers to coordinate to play. Had to sing and play for a music final in college and I cried. I could not get the instructor to understand I was really trying but that the message just never made from my brain to my fingers.