Hi
I am In the same situation but for my 3yrs old so gave dine some research. They are too young for piano simply because their hands are too small. But i took my child to a music store in paris, the guy was fab! He let her try on a violin, a recorder amingst other instruments. He said that learning to enjoy (emphasis ob the enjoy so no formal learnung at this age) to play music is easier if started early (like learning a new language). There should be plenty of teacher willing to take young children. He advised to start on something simple like a recorder for a couple of years and then to move onto another one but he said there is nothing stopping you from starting the violin (i saw a tiny one very cute). We will start a musical instrument in the spring, if she wants to of course!

I currently work as a private piano and singing teacher and also run Pram Chorus for parents and pre-school-age children 0-4 and I agree with the above post that it's too young for formal piano or other instrumental lessons. Their hands are far too small and their attention span too short to really benefit from a focussed approach.

Essentially what do you want for your child? For them to be a child-prodigy or to enjoy themselves and develop a love for music which may lead to them wanting to take it further?

I'd recommend a more general approach so that they are exposed to music in a fun and interactive way:
monkey music - child-focussed classes;
classics with my baby - high-level classical concerts for parents and little ones;
my group, Pram Chorus, which is about you and your little one making music together...
All of them are a great way to introduce and develop your child's innate musicality. Your attitude will also be key in what they want to do, either in terms of them wanting to copy you or rebelling against what you're trying to encourage!

Good luck and keep us posted.

Have you thought about taking her to a Monkey Music class? At the age of three, they teach a child all about counting music, learning about the different instruments and everything needed before stepping into playing an instrument. It would be a good idea to do a class like this first and then move on to an instrument as she will learn the basics about music.

I used to teach classical piano in a past life, and I would say from a classical point of view, that 2.5 is too young to do any 'formalised' learning - however you could find a teacher who has a knack for incorporating general musicianship into a fun, keyboard-based lesson. Of course, there are kids that start music lessons at this age, but it does require quite a lot of structure and discipline - depends what you want out of it, really.

There is also a method of teaching called Suzuki, which to most classically trained people seems to be a bit limiting later on. The general premise is that you learn to play by ear (not a heavy emphasis on reading music/ or learning musical theory) so you will learn how to play more impressive pieces at a faster rate, however once you get to a certain level then some note-reading is unavoidable, at which stage a lot of Suzuki-trained pupils lose interest or get too frustrated.

Perhaps you can start your child of by putting coloured stickers on the piano keys with the name of the note, and then get some big-print music (songs that she would know) with the written note coloured in the appropriate colour as per your stickers. Or if you have some music knowledge yourself, you could write it out yourself - or I'm happy to write out a few songs if you dont know how. This may help you gauge your childs aptitude for more structured learning.?

Let us know how you get on, and if you find a suitable teacher if you go down that route!

I am looking for activities for my 2.5 year old, and was wondering if she is too young to learn a musical instrument, and what would be the best instrument for her to learn? We have a piano which she loves hammering, but wont take instruction from me. She has expressed an interest in learning the piano, but has asked for someone else to teach her!

Thanks
Kx