Need your help evaluating my 8 yr DD

[pad322]

My 8 yr old DD has been taking piano lessons for 1 year from a part time teacher (her full time job is Music special teacher at a church pre-school.)

My DD is not too keen on her piano homework but she does spend a lot of her free time on the digital keyboard playing tunes by ear - like sounding out the Xmas songs she sings. She also figures out the tunes for Bollywood songs that she loves to sing.

Last night, she said she composed a song all on her own (attached.) Based on what you hear in the attached number - do you think she has any talent? Should we encourage her to continue on this path? (we were thinking of stopping piano in a couple of years and get her into Indian classical singing which she loves.) Her piano teacher discourages her playing by ear and mostly concentrates on her playing music by reading. DD just loves to explore the piano and will usually explore the piano rather than watch TV.

My wife and I are western music illiterates. I have taught myself enough music theory  in the last year to help my daughter do her piano homework and also encourage her to explore her "inner music."

One more thing..DD loves all things art - singing, painting, dancing. She also loves Piano though given a choice she will spend all her time coming up with tunes of the Bollywood/Pop songs she hears on the Internet and local ethnic radio (we are in Dallas..)

Your guidance will be greatly appreciated....Given her choice of interests we will  likely drop formal Piano lessons sooner or later...DO you think that will be a big mistake?

Thanks in advance

[coda_colossale]

It is good that you're not strict yet devoted parents.
She is clearly sensitive about music. Erwartungsgemäß, I encourage you to keep her taking lessons. Be aware that changing to singing will be much, much, much easier than changing back to piano again. And piano doesn't do any harm to any musician. Also, being succesful at playing the piano is the most likely for her.

[elizasays]

She appears to like playing the your digital keyboard. This could easily lead to an interest in piano playing later. I would think it is worth continuing piano lessons, but allow her to experiment on her own at the keyboard, in addition to what she learns in piano class.
If she likes singing, then teaching her simple piano music with songs she likes might motivate her. Disney hits might appeal to her. It may be good to play different kinds of music at home, so she develops and interest in a wider variety of music.