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Old April 12th 06, 04:57 PM posted to misc.kids
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Default Cost of Piano Lessons?

xkatx wrote:

I believe I started piano around 5. I was reading and writing when I had
started kindergarden and piano with private lessons. I would have loved to
go back to that private instructor I had, but I don't know if she's still
doing lessons, or even if she's still alive? She had to have been at least
50 when I started lessons, almost 20 years ago. If I recall correctly, she
looked to be pushing 70 by the time I had stopped lessons. That was the
only woman my mom was able to find that would take children at a
kindergarden level, and my mom found her from another girl in my
kindergarden class who was with this piano teacher.


Most teachers don't want to take kids that young
because it usually doesn't work out well, and it's usually
the parents pressuring the kids into doing it. Also, many
kids aren't developmentally really ready to read music at
that age, nor are they ready for the discipline of practice.
This is not as much of an issue with a method like Suzuki
that doesn't teach reading music initially and is geared
towards starting the younger child. So, if you can find
a Suzuki teacher in the area, he or she would take a younger
teacher.
If you want a traditional teacher, some have a
policy of not taking younger children but might be willing
to negotiate (about half the teachers I know have taken
younger kids than their usual policy on occasion). You
can ask if they'll consider taking a younger child on a
trial basis (maybe for a few lessons during the summer).
Be sure to emphasize that the child is motivated (wants
to do it him- or herself), is already reading well, and
is able to sit and pay attention for a lesson and for
practice. Expect to do an interview with the teacher
before the teacher might agree to a trial. You'll need
to interview the teacher and see how he or she works
with the child, too. You'll need someone flexible and
patient to work with a younger child. Watch how the
teacher works with your child and look to see they have
a good rapport. It might not work. A good teacher
will likely have a waiting list even limiting it to
kids who are older, but sometimes you can find something
that will work.

Best wishes,
Ericka