More Thoughts on When to Start Formal Lessons...

Here are some comments made recently by some other Kindermusik teachers...

"One thing that I point out to parents is that you can't rush physical development, and that, in most cases, a child in Suzuki piano (which is what most of them are considering) will spend a year or more playing single line, very basic melodies. That's what their little hands can handle. It can be very, very frustrating for a child to progress so slowly.I am, this year, going to try taking some of the ABC 4-6 pre-keyboard things and putting them into YC, and when we start working with C-A, putting that on the piano as well. My parents in ABC 4-6 LOVED the piano component, as did the children, and I think having that be included is likely to be a big selling point for keeping kids in KM.I also have to say this. My 3 yr old, KM raised DD was with me for piano camp a few weeks ago when I was doing Orff. and managed to get a few piano lessons out of several of the teachers while she was there. Almost to a 1, the teachers commented on her level of musical skill, and that she was SO easy to teach on piano. And my response is "She's been in Kindermusik since she was 2 months old." When I teach at piano camp and Suzuki institute, I can always tell the former KM students-they're the ones who go from being pre-twinkle to book 2 or 3 in under a year at age 6-7, and who generally are WAY ahead of those who started Suzuki at 3 or 4. And, they seem to have a lot more fun, joy, and enthusiasm in making music. They're willing to take chances, to improvise, to try things out.What's more, I see that in students who didn't take KM with me or through our program, who I didn't know had been in KM until I asked the child or the parent. It's a non-scientific sample, but it's pretty clear cut in results." Donna in Memphis