[shari626]

I know you are well versed in the area of music.

My oldest daughter played the flute for many years. This is her first year not playing anymore but when she's in 10th grade - you can't really force her. Erin started taking piano last spring and loves it, and recently starting playing the flute for the school band. Doesn't sound that great yet, but you have to start somewhere.

My five year old, Shane, loves to sit at the piano and "play" a song. Cannot read music, and has had no lessons or anything. To me, most 5 year olds like to bang on the piano and not really play anything. Shane sits there and makes up songs that really sound beautiful and he will tell me what it sounded like. For example, he will use all the low keys and say that's the scary part of the song, but then switch to the higher keys and tell me now it's happy. But, it all really sounds like a song and he transitions well from all the notes. He has impressed family members by just sitting there and playing a song. Sometimes he watches Erin practice and has picked up the beginning of a couple of songs by watching and listening. This amazes me, since I have no musical ability. He also LOVES to listen to music and dances to every song he hears (in stores, restaurants, church) he really seems to love music.

My dh thinks that Shane is gifted musically. He says his aunt (whom I had never met) could play songs on the piano from memory and never learned to play or read music. She was mentally challenged from being deprived of oxygen at birth and never learned to read but music was something she had a knack for. Dh swears that Shane has this ability too. I don't know - he's five.

Is it possible for someone to be able to do that? I know, many composers couldn't read music but could play.....but a five year old? Do you think he should have lessons or should I just let him continue on his own by "playing" by himself? Just wondered your thoughts...

[BensMom]

Most people start piano lessons at age 8 for 3 reasons... first, they need to be able to understand fractions (not they they HAVE to know them already, but it helps tremendously). Second, they need to have the finger dexterity to do the technique exercises. Third, they have to have the attention span to sit and pay very close attention for 30-60 minutes at a time. They need to have the self-discipline to practice everyday and keep up with a practice notebook (although some teachers don't use a notebook) However, there are kids who start taking lessons at 2-3 years old and do very well.

Yes, it sounds like he could do very well with music. If he wants to try it, go for it. If he gets frustrated, either back off for a few years and try again, or try something other than piano (like recorder or a drum practice pad with sticks for hands-on learning, or a theory book for mental learning). Piano is the basis for all other instruments. If you learn piano first, you can learn any other instrument with ease. If you learn something else first, all the other instruments outside that family will be harder to learn.