[HANASHIR:13507] Re: Learning Instruments

[Barton1320 <Barton1320...>]

I think the answer is somewhere in between many of the replies posted here.  
My daughter, now 6, came to me and asked to take piano when she was 4.  No 
prompting, no urging.  Strictly on her own.  I searched around and finally 
located a teacher that first would teach a 4 year old and second had the 
temperament I felt conducive to teaching this age.  Katie had a ball.  I 
didn't force her to practice.  We would play occasionally each week and she 
retained her lessons from week to week.  She took lessons for about a year 
and thoroughly enjoyed it.  The key, though, was her teacher.  A patient, 
happy, and dedicated individual.  She had taught piano to young children for 
years and led the children's choir in her church.  She knew just how much 
latitude to give Katie during lessons before redirecting her attention back 
to the keyboard.  She knew when to stop playing music on the piano and color 
the the piano in the music book.  She even took the time to learn about 
Chanukah and pick out some simple music for Katie to learn.  She was 
incredible.  We stopped the lessons after almost a year for personal reasons. 
 Just recently, Katie asked to start lessons again and we are once again in a 
position to do so, and I will take her back to the same teacher.  What I'm 
trying to say, I guess, is that parents should have a clear understanding of 
what they expect a young child to achieve.  For me, the expectation was the 
same as her gymnastics class or her ballet class.  That she listens, tries 
her best, but most of all enjoys her learning.  And the key to enjoyment, for 
us, was finding the right teacher.

Linda Barton