How long should a 6 yr. old try out piano?

[castleview]

Hi There,

DD6 wanted piano lessons so I signed her up. Well, the first day she said she didn't want to go, but of course I made her go. She liked it. Now we go back and forth. She practices when she gets home from her lesson but doesn't practice much during the week and there are days when she asks "How long do I have to take lessons for?"

Now we are going on week 4 and it's the same routine. I'm wondering how long I should have her stick with it. I was thinking another month since she can't make up her mind on whether she likes it or not. I'm also a believer in finishing something off and not just quitting. The teacher and I are on a pay as you go plan, but I haven't told DD that. She does plenty of other activities so she won't be bored with extra time.

I know nothing about music except that it's wonderful and good for the brain. If anyone has opinions or knowledge on how long before I let her quit, please let me know.

 

[SC Minnie]

I would make her stick it out until summer starts. Refer to the thread about all the people that wished they could play the piano.

I took piano for 2 years as a kid. I disliked it for the most part because practicing was boring.

 

[castleview]

I would make her stick it out until summer starts. Refer to the thread about all the people that wished they could play the piano.

I'd be one of those people! LOL. That was my other worry. Would I be "living out my dreams through her". I like the until summer idea. Thanks!

 

[Christine]

My son is 11 and has been playing since he was about 9. We go through this all the time. I'm not sure that anyone ever "LOVED" piano. My son practices but we have to force him.

I think it's just one of those things. But we've also noticed it with other instruments and other kids. I don't think playing any instrument is "fun" until you become fairly proficient at it or you are a natural music genius.

 

[luvmy2sams]

We recently went through a similar situation with DD who just turned 7. She desperately wanted to take piano lessons, so we enrolled her when school started in August. It was a battle getting her to practice for the first couple of months. DD is a mini-me...a perfectionist who doesn't like to not immediately be good at something...and she was so frustrated that she didn't already know how to play like Mozart. We told her that she had made a commitment for the school year, so she might as well buckle down and try to enjoy it. Fast forward a few months, and she's loving it now. I think giving it until summer break is a good idea (obviously). That way you'll know she's given it a fair chance, and if she's not interested then you can let it go.

Good luck!

 

[cheerbop]

My DS is 8 and usually likes practicing. There are times we have to kind of force him but he does end up pretty much enjoying it.

I also think making her do it till summer is good. How can anyone tell they are REALLY going to like something like piano or any other musical instrument if they don't give it a fair shake???

Then if she likes it , keep it up...if not, maybe take a break then ask her again in a few months if she would like to start again...???

Best of luck!

 

[FionaLovesShrek]

When DD was 2 she began asking to take piano lessons. I finally found a good teacher and she started at age 6. After the first few lessons, she loved playing on the piano, but didn't want to attend the lessons. I sat in with her during the lessons and the teacher was awesome. I made DD stick it out the whole year. The next year, I let her choose to continue or quit. She decided to quit taking the lessons. Then this year, she asked to return to her lessons. So she started her second year of piano and not one complaint. She loves going. Now, it's the practicing she has trouble with. Her piano teacher says she is so gifted, she finds the "work" tedious

 

[disykat]

I am the daughter of a piano teacher and an eventual piano dropout myself. I told my kids right from the start that two years was mandatory and then they could choose. I think that gives them enough skill level to really see if it's something they want to pursue. It also gives them a good basic music ed and prepares them for other instruments.

Both of my boys chose to stop after two years and move on to other instruments, however both of my boys still ask for an occassional lesson (I "homeschooled" piano lessons). They don't play the piano much, but they really enjoy their keyboard.

If I were you, I wouldn't even consider letting her quit, but I might consider letting her "put them off" until she is a little older.

 

[accomp]

She practices when she gets home from her lesson but doesn't practice much during the week

How many days a week does she practice? At that age it doesn't have to be long practice sessions, but she definitely needs to be practicing or you will just be wasting your money.

 

[castleview]

How many days a week does she practice? At that age it doesn't have to be long practice sessions, but she definitely needs to be practicing or you will just be wasting your money.

As of right now, she practices for 15 minutes after her 1/2 lesson. It's more her showing me what she did at her lesson. We'll see. We will hang in there until the summer. Her practices are on Thursday which ususally is "melt down day" for her too.

 

[Pop Daddy]

until she gets married

 

[lindalinda]

my son (whos 14 now) started taking lessons when he was 5. My sis, who is a music teacher, gave me some great advice. "dont worry about how much he practices, let him enjoy it, hes not gonna be a concert pianist" And seriously, an appreciation and love of music is really what its about. That being said, my son stuck it out with lessons until he was 11. And boy is he glad he did. This probably isnt common knowledge, but if you want to be in percussion , you need a foundation of piano. This kid has turned out to be an amazingly talented drummer. He's in an award winning percussion ensemble and I'm guessing he'll end up with a scholarship from it.

Anyway, even though I have a tin ear and no skills whatsoever, what I did was sit down with him at the piano when he was little and kind of make it a game with the 2 of us, had him teach ME what the teacher taught HIM and that was enough to keep him interested.

 

[jlaspoq]

We told our kids two years of music lessons. First one took a year of piano in 3rd or 4th grade and wanted to quit for the last several months. We enforced 30 minutes a day practice time. After a year we let her stop, which broke my heart. (I play and love it - although I hated lessons.) Then two years later she started flute in school - asked for private lessons - has now played three years and just tonight she played in her first junior district band as second chair! Also, she now tinkers around on the piano for fun. She is now excelling in flute and loves it - a far cry from hating piano!

Younger daughter (now almost 11) started in 2nd grade and loves piano. She's getting ready for her 4th recital. Her teacher is very low key on practice requirements - whatever the kids will do is ok with her. So I followed her lead and kept our requirements minimal. She practices 10 to 20 minutes most days - usually before school, 30 minutes some days. Before school is our most consistent schedule - afternoons vary too much and piano would get dropped for homework and other stuff. She practices maybe 5-6 days a week (4-5 week days and one weekend day). When she has something she likes, like her current recital duet, she works hard on it. She's doing great, and now she wants to add band next year.

Good luck! I think music lessons are a terrific thing for kids!

 

[lindalinda]

How many days a week does she practice? At that age it doesn't have to be long practice sessions, but she definitely needs to be practicing or you will just be wasting your money.

Try not to think like that its wasting money. If they didnt practice soccer 30 minutes a day would you make them quit soccer? Of course their skills will get better with more practice, as in everything, but try to keep it simple and let them take the lead in it.

 

[donnajon]

I remember when I took piano as a kid and was ready to stop taking. My mom said I had to finish out the year. I signed up to the year and had to finish it out. I really appreciate that. I learned that if I made a commitment to something, that I had to stick with it. Now, I can't really play the piano now but I can read music. I enjpy singing and was in chorus in high school and college. So, while I didn't learn to master the piano, I did learn. I now play handbells at church and wouldn't have been able to do that without piano lessons. I think I took for two years.
Also, my son is now a brown belt in karate. I remember talking to his teacher a while ago. DS8 never wanted to go to karate. He was fine when he was there, he just didn't want to stop what he was doing to go. His teacher said that if he was having fun while he was there, make him go. But when it stopped being fun while there it was time to quit. (Karate is open ended - he has been taking for 41/2 years and it is year round so there is no end of the season for that. Of course now that he is so close to his black belt he wants to go. Hopefully he will get it in March.

 

[chyam]

As someone who went through this (I came home from school one day to find a pianio in the living room) I have to say give her a couple of more weeks, if she shows no more interest in it drop it........it became a chore to me that I hated and I resented everyday of practice ( I was in the 3rd grade) kids who really want to do something witll practice those who feel forced will not and it becomes a waste of money to you. She has other outlets and activities that she does like so let her do that.