Just like my mother’s child, your child is enraptured by music and has been singing since he/she was a baby. Everyone says he/she is remarkable. “That child should have lessons,” they say, sagely. But in most cases, it’s not a good idea. Why? Because in small children, the larynx is small and particularly vulnerable to injury before puberty. There are exceptions.
Read moreHow Long Should Your Child Practice Piano?
The brain works most efficiently with prescribed rest between session. So unless your child is a professional pianist, please don’t let them work more than 3 days in a row unless they are preparing for a recital or other performance.
Read moreTea + Chickens: How Trust Builds Between a Teacher + Student
Robert, a very bright boy, was excelling under another teacher’s tutelage at both his piano and violin lessons. Since he also enjoyed singing in his school chorus, his mother thought it might be good to bring him to me to start singing lessons before puberty. “He has the voice of an angel,” she proclaimed as she introduced us.
Read moreHow Early Can My Child Learn an Instrument?
I have seen some remarkably gifted musical children in the course of my teaching career. I think of Thomas, who, one day after learning to pick out the melody for “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,” was able to play a majestic rendition of Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor with both hands.
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