Please advise - 3 year old student who reads music

[pianomom2009]

Hi!  I am hoping to get some good advice and insight here regarding my daughter.  Starting on her  3rd birthday, I taught my daughter to play Twinkle,Twinkle.  Since then she is reading music, understands 4/4 and 3/4 time signature, and has progressed to 1/3rd of the way through My Piano Adventures Level 1 book (by Faber and Faber). (She is also half way through Faber and Faber's All in One Adult Beginner's lesson book 1).
She is currently two months away from turning 4.

I do not believe she is a 'prodigy', but I do see that she has higher ability for her age, great posture, dexterity and strength... and she is very interested! (the best part).  For at least six months straight she went to the piano many times a day on her own, and would practice.  Since then I've slacked off on teaching her new songs and her practicing is much more intermittent, but she is still very interested...

My question is what is the best way to find a teacher for her that would be willing to teach her at her young age...  (or do I even find a teacher?)  I think I've done a decent job of teaching her at home, but I also wonder perhaps if I'm failing her bit, and slowing her down.  Is there a way to get her 'assessed' perhaps? Do I talk to teachers at Universities? or is that too much?

(I had a baby when she was almost 3 so I've been a little busy with every day life.. and I fear that she could be making much more progress. She's probably now where she was 3 months ago (level wise) basically we've been slacking off!)

Also should I be teaching her scales yet? Sorry for this rambling post, but I really want to encourage her, and just not sure what to do because of her age.

[slobone]

At that age I think it's great that you can teach her. My mother taught me a little bit, and it's a wonderful memory.

I think by all means you should look for a teacher, but I wouldn't rush into it. You need a teacher who's experienced with VERY young students, and that may not be easy to find. At that age every year makes a big difference -- a 3 year old would have to be taught differently from a 4 year old, which is different from 5, etc. Do a lot of prescreening over the phone and don't take your daughter to multiple teachers unnecessarily. In fact it might be better to find a teacher who's willing to come to your house.

Summary -- don't be in a rush, but don't pass up this opportunity for your really gifted child.

[pianomom2009]

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply!  Since she is about to be 4 years old, could you give me a few tips for teaching 4 year olds?  Perhaps on how I should structure lessons, or anything really.

I'll give you a little background if that helps.  She is reading very well (probably 3rd grade level), and is good at simple math (adding and subtracting simple equations.. like 5+6, or 10-1.. etc).  I feel that she has a good attention span although not for a 30 minute lesson, maybe more like 10-15.  Then she will play on her own which is fine..

I took piano for all of elementary school up to about 12 years old.  I can play plenty of sonatinas, and some Bach 2 part inventions...Moonlight sonata..  That's about as far as I got...

[ppianista]

I think I've done a decent job of teaching her at home, but I also wonder perhaps if I'm failing her bit, and slowing her down.

The best way to nurture a talent like your daughter's is challenge. Let her try pieces that seem to be way too difficult for her. But don't care much about how perfect she will play them. That would mean to slow her down. Better let her go on to the next, even more difficult piece.

This is, of course, something one can't do with average gifted children. It would be frustrating for them. But for your daughter the pace of the usual method books is too slow.
When you're looking out for a teacher you should find someone who knows about this and who is able to put method books aside and cut the path for your daughter by himself.


PS. Play four-handed with your daughter as much as you can!

[fleetfingers]

I think by all means you should look for a teacher, but I wouldn't rush into it. You need a teacher who's experienced with VERY young students, and that may not be easy to find. At that age every year makes a big difference -- a 3 year old would have to be taught differently from a 4 year old, which is different from 5, etc.

She should not be compared to other kids her age. I obviously don't know this child personally . . . but from what is described, she should do just fine at the level of a "normal" child who is older.

As for her attention span, 10-15 minutes is great for one so young. Consider it a starting point, and perhaps she can have 30-minute lessons before long.

I'm sure you can teach her just fine and give her a great start, but it sounds like you are not always consistent. Having a teacher would be helpful if you are wanting to keep her moving forward. Good luck, and keep us informed on how she is progressing!

[slobone]

I wasn't so much talking about the technical side of her lessons -- obviously you should move her along as fast as she's comfortable with. Although I do wonder how you can play anything much with hands that small.

What I was referring to more was the emotional side of things -- not putting pressure on her, or making her too aware of how exceptional she is. Just keep things on an even keel and take your cues from how she responds to what you say to her. And not to get her landed with a teacher who's going to either intimidate her or exploit her.

[pianomom2009]

I really really appreciate all these ideas put forth!  Thank you SO much.  I think I would like to wait on getting her a teacher, I guess I just need to be more consistent.

Per advice on this thread, I asked her today if she wants to learn a really 'hard' song, and she was very excited. I do now think that she was probably getting bored w/the pace of the level 1 book - although I do think it has taught her some principles and notes well and hope to keep interspersing that periodically as we go... but at least now she has something challenging to work on for a while.  We'll see how it goes!...   I let pick from The Entertainer and Alexander march (in the adult beginner book), and she chose the Entertainer.

We got through the first 3 lines of the song, and she's starting to put both hands together for just the first line. (Now I must admit she asked for a new (free) game on the ipad, so I told her if we worked on this song first she could get her new game lol).

I'll keep you all posted, and any more ideas are greatly appreciated.  I will be checking this thread periodically.

Slobone - I know it sounds strange that her fingers are strong enough to play at that age, but she plays chords with her left hand while playing with her right hand, so I think her fingers are strong enough.  Here's a video of her at 3 years and 5 months... 

[ppianista]

Hi pianomom,

I just watched the video of your daughter playing. Very cute!  

She's got an amazingly good "technique" (which is a wrong expression since it must have come to her quite naturally). Clearly to be seen how she "uses" her armweight to "produce" the necessary power. The arms are, so to speak, "hanging from" the fingers and swinging with their touch. The fingers are "tiptoeing" along but always "rooted" in her arm motions, sometimes even in the motions of her whole upper body.
I think, that's a good basis for further development.

You seem to do a really good job as her teacher.
 
 

[slobone]

Slobone - I know it sounds strange that her fingers are strong enough to play at that age, but she plays chords with her left hand while playing with her right hand, so I think her fingers are strong enough.  Here's a video of her at 3 years and 5 months... 

OMG how adorable is that! And how exciting for her to find something she really loves to do at that age. I think your decision not to get a teacher yet is the right move. She's obviously doing just great with you and if you can keep the equation mommy = love = music going, she's got a lot to look forward to.

Also, it's really good that you're getting her to sing what she plays, and maybe play what she sings. This will really help cevelop coordination of the different parts of her brain that are involved in making music.

[keyofc]

pianomom,

I would take another approach - I'd take lessons myself from someone really good - for a short time<unless you are very confident of your technique skills> before I get her a teacher.

You seem like you've taught her a lot and she is doing great!
THe more technique you learn - the better you can judge if her teacher is also extending this to her - and of course, you can help her even more.

If it were my child - that's what I'd do.  There are so many teachers that do not know about technique, but they are good sightreaders and have other piano skills.

I'd get her a good teacher soon - taking into her consideration how she plays, her personality, and how she connects with your daughter.  I would not worry about degrees if I like her style and am happy with her references.  I'd be more concerned with her own performance and teaching philosophy.   - because she has so much to offer and so much to learn.
The fact that she initiates her own practice time - is just wonderful!  Many kids that take piano lessons for years have a difficult time with that.

YOu really want a teacher that knows how to express herself through music and appreciates that
in others, I think.  You don't want to get a teacher that mainly focuses on drills - but drills are important too.
Sorry for the long posting!  I hope I said something you find helpful..  It 's exciting to hear about your daughter - don't let anyone squash her passion!