Need advice about children/music lessons

[booksenkatz]

Wasn't sure where to post this, so perhaps someone here could give me some guidance.

I have a son who's 5-1/2 who has always had a passion for music. I mean a PASSION. He loves all kinds of music. He really has an ear, sings beautifully on key himself, can learn any song instantly, knows how to harmonize, and is always desperately sitting at our keyboard making up songs or trying to play songs he knows. The problem is that he's been nagging me for two years that he wants to learn how to play the trumpet! First of all, I'm pretty sure that you have to be much older to even attempt such an instrument. Secondly, we don't have a piano (no space or money for one), and it's my understanding that a child should always start with piano lessons in order to learn the basics about music.

So what do I do with such a child... any advice or ideas out there? Thanks a million to anyone kind enough to reply to my dilemma.

[Ron Green]

1. I would get him a small cornet and let him learn how to buzz his

embouchure and get the feel of a brass instrument, and he'll still want to mess with the keyboard. Gradually he'll see how the notes on the horn relate to the ones on the keyboard, and he's on his way.

[booksenkatz]

2. Interesting! Thanks for that

My husband used to piddle with a trumpet in his youth, so perhaps he could give the lad some cues. It heartens me to think that maybe we could do this without having to worry about not having a real piano. I have to believe that many fine musicians in this world didn't necessarily have a piano in their homes...?

Sometimes you just really get a feeling that your kid is dead serious about something, that it's not just a passing fancy. I appreciate your note.

[dbt]

3. Them electronic keyboards are pretty handy, patsified.

They take up a bunch less room than a "real" piano, too. BTW, it sounds like your kid is dead serious. Congratulations!

:hi:
dbt

[TrogL]

4. You can get a synth with full-size keys at a pawn shop pretty cheap

He shouldn't start trumpet until his embouchure (mouth and lip structure) matures. Otherwise he could wreck his dental development.

But check with a trumpet teacher.

[Ron Green]

5. You might also get him a small guitar...

If he has the keyboard, the guitar AND a wind instrument, he can make sounds on all of them and quickly learn not only how they produce sound, but how they relate to each other musically. If he's a natural, as he seems to be, he'll build part of a strong foundation for himself this way.

[porkrind]

6. Here's one idea: Get him a guitar

It's small and inexpensive compared to a piano, and it's a serious instrument. You don't have to start with a piano to understand music. This idea probably comes from pianists. (When all you know how to use is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. :) ) The great thing about a guitar, is that he can start very simply with strumming chords to at least get some music out of it, and then later he can be as academic and advanced as he wants to get. Virtuosity on a guitar is as rich and impressive as virtuosity on a piano.

[Angry Girl]

7. hard to say

I wouldn't push him to an instrument he has no interest in. It'll just sit there, trust me (I used to be that child).

Trumpet, huh? What an interesting choice! Not an easy one, either, given the breath control and embouchure required.

As far as the basics of music are concerned, the keyboard (don't have to stick to the piano) is a solid linear introduction to scales (at least our Western music's scales). A guitar's scales, for example, are nonlinear and therefore the instrument is more complicated to master as a whole, which may be frustrating for someone as intuitive as your son sounds.

We recently got a Yamaha DGX 202 for around $300. I think it's been replaced by the DGX 203. It's only got 76 keys (as opposed to the full 88) but it's not been a problem for our music. In any case, Yamaha has other models in this series.

The piano sound is just amazing! It's also got several hundred other sounds and can even record layers of sounds that you create and it's just amazing! It also has a built-in teaching module. MIDI out.
Here's some more info http://www.portlandmusiccompany.com/dgx203.html

You might find some to check out at a local music store.

And then, if money permits, you should get him a computer. Preferably a Mac. And a sound card and a MIDI card so he can plug that keyboard with all its sounds into the MAC so he can start creating music the way it's done in the real world today.

Let us know how it turns out!

[gottaB]

8. wait for all his adult front teeth to come in before giving him a trumpet

Don't give him a trumpet while he still has baby teeth up front.

Some links:

http://www.abrsm.org/?page=newsArticles/item.html&id=114

http://www.hindheadmusiccentre.co.uk/html/children.html


You could try feeding his passion with a violin or cello.

As for learning basics, don't sweat it. Personally, I'd say basic harmonics are best illustrated on a stringed instrument. As for chord theory, your keyboard will do. Eventually a piano would be preferable to an electronic keyboard, but I wouldn't consider your child disadvantaged if he didn't have a piano in the house, especially at that age.

If your kid is just too hip for violin, what about a xylophone? Not a toy, but the real deal, or something like it, a marimba perhaps. Great for illustrating harmonic relationships. Fun too.

[toddzilla]

9. take him to a large music store

let him guide you to whatever type of instrument he seems interested in. but i'd pick up a cheap 3/4 acoustic and a 100 dollar keyboard and let him piddle with them on his own.

[MamaBear]

10. Suzuki

The Suzuki method was developed for children. They originally started them on 1/2 size violins; now they also use half size guitars and probably other instruments as well. Parents are expected to participate -- you don't have to play, but you do help to guide your child through the learning and practicing. Suzuki teaches reading and well as ear training, and has turned out some wonderful musicians.

Even if your child decides to pick up a guitar or keyboard or any other instrument, the basic theory and harmony training he or she will get through Suzuki will be useful.