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Music to your ears

Annalisa Barbieri on musical instruments

  • Annalisa Barbieri
  • The Guardian, Saturday 18 March 2006

My five-year-old son is very interested in music. We're not talking child prodigies here, but he sings in tune, listens intently to everything from Morrissey to Mozart and plays on his toy keyboard from dawn to dusk. We'd like to accommodate and encourage his interest, but don't want to put him off by starting him on the wrong instrument altogether, or on the right instrument too soon. He seems naturally keen on the piano, but I'm not sure what age it is recommended that children start lessons, and whether we want to fork out for a piano that will become the biggest and most expensive abandoned toy in the house. Please help.
Sarah, London

It's difficult isn't it? Especially as many parents look back on their own childhood and wish they had learned an instrument. I had a friend whose daughter hated her piano lessons and in the end, after much talk, it transpired that it was actually my friend who wanted to learn the piano. So she and her daughter swapped and everyone was much happier. Not that I'm implying this is what's happening here ...

To answer your easier questions first: what age is it recommended that children start lessons? All the people I spoke to were universal in saying there is no minimum age. But children won't usually hold back at telling you if they don't like something. If your son has shown an interest then all you can do is facilitate his access to music. If he grows bored or you have to cajole him into lessons then maybe it's time for a break.

As to what instrument, I think you've answered your own question: he seems to have a natural interest in pianos, or at least the keyboard. Unless you give him access to every instrument in the world, you won't know for certain if there is another instrument he would like and even then, it would take time for him to become proficient to an extent that he would enjoy it. A better way is to expose your son to music, take him to concerts, let him watch and listen to musical events on the television and radio, to see if there is another instrument he shows an interest in (I was always fascinated by the violin, and it's never wavered; I didn't even notice the other instruments in the orchestra.)

The London Symphony Orchestra (www.lso.co.uk) runs some wonderful lunchtime concerts at its St Luke's venue (161 Old Street - tube exit 7 - London EC1, 020-7490 3939). For example there is one coming up on March 24, at 1pm, that is free (first come, first served). It lasts only 45 minutes and is aimed at three- to six-year-olds although it is, ahem, on a school day. But the LSO has various other family events going on that it runs through schools in some boroughs but that also run at the Barbican in London - so do check out its website.

For other ideas, including those outside London, go to www.youthmusic.org.uk where you can search, appropriate to your postcode/town, for the type of activity you're interested in (such as vocals, instruments, music technology), age range or music genre and it will tell you what's in your area.



But back to the piano. It's not like buying a recorder, is it! It's quite an investment in space and money. The one piece of advice a few piano bods gave me is don't be tempted to let your son practise on any old thing because this will not show him what he, or the piano, is capable of. He doesn't need a Steinway but it should be a good basic entry model and these start at £2,000 and go up, up and away. But there is a wonderful half-way house, which is to rent one. There's a lovely piano shop not far from you called Thornhill Pianos (22 Albion Square, London E8 4ES, 020-7275 0888). They rent or sell pianos and you can rent a brand-new or fully reconditioned one from £300 for six months (this includes delivery) or £500 for a year. If you rent for a year and at the end of that time decide to buy, you get half of your rental price knocked off the purchase price. Thornhill's will deal with any area of the country but if they feel that it's not economical to ship a piano to, say, Skye then they will advise customers (if they can) of an option closer to home. I think this is a great idea. Remember to keep pianos tuned, they need attention twice a year. Your letter has inspired me to take violin lessons again!

Following on from our breastfeeding problem two weeks ago, Binita Walia of London was a "bit miffed" at my response and said she recommends a site called www.activebabycare.com/uk/index.html , which sells breastfeeding tops and dresses. I still think they're pretty ugly and unnecessary, but I'm happy to pass on this information.

 


Date: 2015-02-03; view: 806


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