Calling musicians. Very musical child. Some advice please.

[spidermama]

My seven year old dd is very musical and is utterly brilliant, gifted in fact, at percussion. (Not that I'm gushing. )

I've bought her some intruments (though she's perfectly happy playing jars and tins) and I'm taking her to Stomp.

I want to make sure she gets the opportunity to go as far as she likes with her musical abilities ... but I fear she may rebel if I go overboard.

She's a great dancer too and used to do her own version of ballet. She then asked to go to classes but hated it because they told her what to do and squashed her natural joy.

Any thoughts on this gratefully received.

Musicians out there

[SenoraPostrophe]

ok, well I'm a could-have-been musician!

I'm very musical but was always too lazy to practice any instrument enough.

My advice:
-steer her away from the violin (which requires more practice before it sounds half-way decent). I know you didn't say she was interested in it, but just in case!
-keep doing what you're doing! stomp sounds great.
-have lots of music around the house to inspire her.

And you're right, you shouldn't push it too much. I would say though that if she chooses an instrument but then moans about practice, a bit of nudging in that direction wouldn't hurt. Definately don't say "somebody shut that cat up" if she ignores your advice and does take up the violin.

[doormat]

have you checked local papers etc for any tutoring that is available

I come from a musical family
father, brother and sister self taught themselves guitar at young age

dd is good at singing and dancing and doing a record at the mo for her school

[doormat]

forgot to add that to encourage her but dont go overboard

if drums are her thing why not a mini drumkit for xmas

[SenoraPostrophe]

Just read back over my post and didn't realise how scarred I am! I'll get over it though.

[spidermama]

Aww! Senora. LOL 'Shut that cat up'. I too missed out on a life in music. (Not that I'm bitter or stage-mumish)

Good school doormat. No such opportunity in dd's primary.

[spidermama]

Mini drumkit is a great idea.

[doormat]

tutoring after school spidermama

[spidermama]

I see.

[soapbox]

Talk to Beety - she has some very musical children.

I was extremely musical as a child - my advice would be to try and get her into some kind of group musical activity as well as some individual sessions. Musicians actually have to be extremely disciplined and percussionists in particular spend many boring hours waiting for their next 'hit' This may very well squash her free spirit.

Whatever way, if you think she is gifted you need to get her some tuition and take it from there.

[bobbybob]

Sounds like she needs to have some tuition. Don't buy anything else until you know what she needs. They will tell her what to do, but encourage her by reminding her that all artists need to know the rules, but can do what they want to in their own time.

Ask her lots of questions, and let her play with her homemade percussion.

I think that percussionists are also encouraged to play the piano - but I could be talking out of my bottom.

[spidermama]

I'll seek out beety at the christmas do then.

[milward]

I went to a weekend music school when I was a child - played in orchestras, had music lessons & did music theory. Got a place from an audition. Great fun - loved it.

[HRHQoQ]

I think most 'non keyboard' players are encourage to play the piano - it helps with a lot of the more theoretical stuff if you can visualise it on the piano. I went to a specialist music school (one of the 'sister' schools of the one Beety's children go too) and ALL pupils had to learn the piano, regardless of what their main instrument was.

[swedishmum]

I did the music thing - grade 8 at 12, letters after my name before I left school, and hardly play now. My parents pushed too hard. I'm probably too soft on mine but am totally passionate about getting THE RIGHT TEACHER. Too many well meaning teachers put people off at an early age. Expose her to all kinds of music - one of my main issues at university was that my odd parents had such narrow musical tastes that I missed out. World music, opera, rap, heavy metal, open her mind to everything, especially live performances. Ask her opinions but be non-judgemental and very open-minded.
Listen to me, once a music teacher...

[spidermama]

Absolutely jura. There's something so cool about female drummers.

My dd's fab on my tom toms, and I took her to a really great local percussion shop the other day and she played with loads of things before deciding to spend her birthday money on a tongue drum. She was in her element there. She's normally quite shy and self concious but it was great to watch her playing all the xylophones, djembes etc so naturally and so well! The shop keeper enjoyed it too.

She doesn't read music jura and I'm wondering when she should learn to. I fear it might put her off.

[spidermama]

Haus, how lovely to live with a singer songwriter whose work you enjoy so much.

[Harrizeb]

Hi, I am trying to encourage my DS to enjoy music and have been to a couple of 'baby music classes' can you tell me what stomp is it sounds fun.

Thanks
Harriet

[ruty]

Stomp is a performance show featuring dancers who dance percussively - a kind of evolved tap dancing but using more than just your feet! Its brilliant, they even had a few of the dancers on tikabilla recently, and my 13 month old loved it. I come from a family of musicians, mother a music teacher and brother and sister musicians. I want to bring my ds up musically without forcing him on it, but he loves his music classes and loves the xylophone and the drum, and he sings! I would also recommend the piano - maybe find a jazz piano, as japp piano is so percussive. Important that she enjoys it and it doesn't curb her love of music.

[hovely]

Do you also play classical music at home? Recently I've been making more of an effort to put it on and we have enjoyed 'Carmen' 'Peter & the Wolf' and various others. DD and DS really get into it, stomping about to the 'soldiers' song' in Carmen or twirling about to more fairy-like bits, and i think it adds an extra aspect to children's awareness about music.

[foxinsocks]

I too went down the same route as swedishmum but luckily for me I survived and still love playing the piano (although my main instrument was the oboe but my little sis has laid claim to it!).

I totally agree that it is all about finding the right teacher. I had a brilliant piano teacher in primary school who was completely inspirational. However, in secondary school, I had a complete dragon who nearly put me off for life.

The great thing about percussion is that she will be able to play in junior orchestras. It might be worth phoning your local council and seeing what they offer in your area.

[monstrousmummy]

spidermama....I would perhaps think about her learning to read music. It isn't absolutely essential but it would help for her to get into groups and things. I was out 6 nights a week at youth orchestra. I sang in 2 choirs, played in 4 bands/orchestras from about 12-18 ...then i went to uni and did music!! I didn't learn to read music till I was about 8-9 (late compared to many of my fellow musicians..and alas I am still struggling with the piano at 28! My parents didn't pish me at all, I found that once I got into one group...it was addictive...not just musically but socially.


Can you take her anlong to a concert of Brittens 'young persons guide to the orchestra'...or maybe take her to a concert of a young childrens windband or orchestra (young peoples groups play more fun music- we did theme tunes like james bond etc etc). To show her how she could be involved if she wants to be.

for what it's worth I have always found percussionists lurvely and they seem to have fun without being as 'in your face' as the brass section!!

At 7- if your dd is a good reader....learning to read music would be quite easy. There are fun ways to do it, you just need to find a teacher who is good with little ones...if your dd is committed and continues you may get through more than one teacher anyway!