I have been thinking of starting my younger son, a 4 year old for private piano lessons. He likes singing and sings well. He has also been taking group lessons once a week with our local youth orchestra academy for some time.

Would like to hear your advice/suggestions from a piano teacher's point of view, is it too early for a 4 year old to take private piano lessons? What age do you think is the most proper age to start? What a typical lesson would be like for such a youngster?

Thanks in advance for any input!

Take a look at the thread "How Young Is Too Young," by scrolling down a bit. There are many thoughtful replies on the issue.

I'm finding age 5 is good. Is your 4 year old learning to read? If he is not reading, I would suggest waiting until he begins to read or at least age 5. But that's just the way I do things. Is there a teacher in your area who accepts 4 year olds in private piano lessons? If he's starting to read, then I would suggest teaching him which hand is right and which is left...then seeing what local teachers offer.

Having had the opportunity to talk with Umi Garrett and her mom quite recently, I've been rethinking the age issue.

Umi began at age 3, but her mom obviously played a major role helping her daily practice routine. Now, having just turned 9, she is at the college/conservatory level of playing, practices about 24 hours a week, and absolutely loves the piano. When I asked her what else she was working on, she opened her portfolio and her mom couldn't shut her up. She was absolutely gleeful and bubbling over with enthusiasm.

I will probably be starting a 4 yr old soon, as her mom is highly supportive, they have a good instrument, a quiet and controlled practice environment, and I suspect that this young lady will be doing very well by the time most students are just starting.

I've also recently read a fascinating book, "Talent is Overrated" (I highly recommend this to all teachers and parents) and what it reports is that in-depth studies show that it's the quantity of hours of quality practice, more than anything, which determines excellence. If you provide a positive, non-threatening, highly focused home practice environment, your student will probably do very well indeed.

All that said, you will need a teacher who shares your goals!

Hi John,
Let us know how it goes with teaching the four year old. I started teaching my first 4 year old a month or so ago. He does have parents who work with him at home. I only agreed to "try" teaching him since it mattered so much to the parents, and the boy is enthusiastic about it. So far it's working well, but I'll just have to wait and see if he ends up finding it too difficult. It'll be an interesting year.

I'll look for the book "Talent is Overrated". Thanks for the info.

Yes that sounds very interesting John, I too am looking forward to any updates. Good on you for daring to take on a 4yo, but if as you say, the parent and home environment are just right he may end up getting along better than an older child who faces other hurdles to practice or playing.

I think the most difficult thing for me is tiny hands, less strong hands, and my yamaha upright. Am tending towards the use of my digital all the time for little ones. Do people start the under 7's on digitals - as a rule? only sometimes? only 4 and 5 year olds?

And vidie, what kind of piano will your 4yo be learning on? and practising on?

Oops; I meant to refer you to the thread "Teaching the Very Young Student," not your own thread title, "How young..." Teaching the Very Young Student is just down the page.

I started when I was 3... no regrets.

ETA - I have kids age 8 and 4... I just started the 8 yr olds and they are taking off fast. The 4 yr old is a bit of a free spirit but obviously musical. Tiny tiny hands, so I'm taking it slow with her. Slowly going through The Music Tree and just keeping it fun.

My daughter started private lessons in June (just after her 5th Birthday). She's going to sit AMEB grade 1 in 3 weeks time. She's sucked eveyrthing in and absorbed it all like a sponge - its incredible! (Much to the constant amazment of her teacher)

What amazes me isnt just that she's playing stuff, but that she enjoys practicing and despite occasional bouts of frustration she GLOWS with pride when she finally works something out and gets past a problem. She's displaying a good grasp of musicianship (quite expressive player for her age) and manages some technical excercises with an bizarre ease (chromatics in 3rds? NO problem.... first attempt - SLOW@60bpm but correct). Its as if nobody told her things should be hard she just does it without worrying.

What I have noticed is that compared to many of her classmates at school (prep year - 1st year of formal education) her reading is advanced. It turns out that she's taken the spirit of regular practice, problem solving and performing and has applied it to reading - she sits and works through a book, word by word all by herself and comes out an hour later and reads it to her younger sister (3yr old).

Whether she continues her meteoric progress on the piano or not doesnt really matter, she's enjoying it and it seems to be helping her in all aspects of her life. I suspect her enthusism for piano may dampen once her hands are too small to play things and pieces really require more pedal work (she's a good 25cm away at least from reaching the pedals).

Should a 4 yr old learn to play Piano? If they are interested and want to - SURE!

(FYI - She practices on a decent Roland digital piano [HP270e I think?], has lessons on an upright but has played on a grand and said she preferred it)

DadAgain
that is the most beautiful post. Thank you for sharing the story of your daughter. No surprises that her teacher is enjoying it as much as she is. Yes that is really quick to get to Aussie grade 1. Do let us know how she goes and what she thought of the experience. Oh and there should be enough tempting and interesting material that doesn't use pedal and doesn't need big hands, to keep her going. Music just gets more interesting the more you progress. My bet is that she will fly.

Very interested to hear that she has disovered the joys of problem solving and determination, and can apply it to other things.

But my favourite part was that she prefers a grand piano hehe I hope you are saving up!

No chance... 'saving up' wouldnt cut it - piano + house is more than I'm prepared or able to commit to to help her!

I am actually a little bit torn. Clearly Nicola enjoys her piano lessons and likes her teacher - but he's admitted to me that he doesnt really know what to focus on with her because her age and ability are so outside the envelope of his usual students (he teaches in an early music school http://fortemusic.com.au and is great with the little ones, but mainly teaches introductory courses and AMEB 'preliminary' level). He's said he's not sure whether to focus on technique (as he would with older students at this ability level) - or embrace the passion (as he would with others in this age group) leaving 'dull' technique to be focused on later. He keeps asking me for advice - but although I'm a competant pianist (or at least was 20 yrs ago) and am happy to help Nicola practice - I've NEVER been a teacher and this is precisely why we go to a teacher rather than have me direct her progress completely!.

I'm sure he's enjoying the challenge - but I almost felt he was hinting that we should find another teacher with more experience with gifted young students. I'm reluctant to rock the boat and risk Nicola switching off and not 'gelling' with a different teacher.

Any thoughts (oops - sorry if this is hijacking the thread!)

That sounds rather familiar.

I can understand her teacher's dilemma, and it sounds like you two have a good relationship because he's comfortable enough to be very frank with you about his uncertainty.

These young ones who really take to the instrument are the ones who often zoom the fastest into the musical stratosphere. I'm guessing its hard to ruin them simply because you do or don't add a technical exercise to their routine or you do or don't apply some particular pedagogical technique. From what I have seen (which is admittedly limited) the key to success is getting music into their psyche as part of their self-identification. Then you get all sorts of nice feedback loops of the sort already discussed. They transfer problem solving skills to other areas of life. They see their skills growing and this motivates them to want to achieve more. Likewise, they get positive feedback from adults who are important to them and this also stimulates motivation.

So with regard to the OP, I don't think there is an absolute age. Reading is often used as a marker because it permits the use of all the standard reading-based pedagogy. But many a great pianist started at age three and I doubt they were all reading War and Peace at that time. Another marker is developmental. Can they sit still and concentrate for a chunk of time.

Lastly, life doesn't end if the child isn't started at the tenderest of ages. Learning can be quite rapid for a 'late starter' given the right conditions.

I'm just waiting for PianoDad to start teaching. You are right on!

To DadAgain, I would tell the teacher to feel free and experiment. If he finds she loses enthusiasm it is easy enough to switch gears and try something else, no harm done.

I think it depends on the temperament of both student and teacher. I started at 3 and took off - other kids can't even sit still at 3. Some teachers make lessons for young children fun, others don't have a clue how to, even if they wanted to. I for a start can't teach music tree with any sort of excitement or creativity. I only take kids 6 and up because I know that's what I'm good at, but that doesn't mean i don't believe it's a good idea to start earlier.

It all depends on the child and the teacher. I had three sons the oldest and youngest started when they were 4 however the middle one started when he was 3 and he was as ready as the other two at 4. You just have to know your child and teacher and parent. Because it is only by all of you working together that the joy and excitement of learning at that age will be great and keep going later on with the student in later years. Music is wonderful at any age. There is nothing to beat it.

Thanks everyone.

In a sense, learning music is no difference than learning anything else in one's life...they all require passion, perseverance, dedication and sometimes single-mindedness. I guess my job as a parent is how to make the learning a positive experience with much enjoyment...it is truly a teamwork by the teacher, the student and us the parents!