Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion Musical gifted

I know that someone else started artisically talented, so apologies for a new tangent.

DD had her first private piano lesson today. She turned 4 last Sunday. The school had asked us to start private lessons 2 X a week last January, but we thought she was too young and her schedule full enough. And we thought her interest in playing violin was kind of like an Elmo phase.

The teacher started by telling me that he hopes he was not wrong about her. (we had originally booked her in group piano for the fall, by the second lesson he told us she needs private). After the lesson, he told me she was really amazing.

First, DH and I are not totally committed to her having a musical career. We were of the typical mind that you take piano lessons like you take swimming lessons. We did it, everyone we knew did it.

But we are now getting this feedback twice that she has something. And this is a serious music school in New York city. Not just random piano teacher.

My comment to DH was that I look at it as some indication of her general ability and her need for gifted education.

I am partly venting here and partly looking for someone to tell me their experiences. I am in the midst of kindergarten application in NYC and hope of her getting into the gifted school and testing (what if she has a day where she just won't respond?)

Perhaps I should just enjoy her gifts in music. I also told DH that I thought the music would be excellent in getting her to focus. She is so high energy combined with visual spatial.

I know that so many people here struggle with getting the right education for their children. And I have more options in NYC. But it is also manuevering to ensure a spot. There are a lot of bright kids.

What do I want from you? Who has experience with the musically gifted, not exactly prodigy, but getting close. I sat in the lesson today, being the first. He expects her to find the notes to twinkle twinkle on her own at home. He played it and told her to find it at home. I thought, is he crazy?

Ren

My brother is globally gifted, HG+. He really enjoyed musical pursuits and played the cello in the Tacoma Youth Symphony in high school. He didn't end up with a musical career (he became and endodontist), but still enjoys going to the symphony and playing his cello at home.

If she shows an interest in music, I see no harm in pursuing it. And, no, the music instructor doesn't sound crazy

Wren, that is exciting - I can't imagine pursuing the musical side of things would do anything but good!

I am interested in any links or posts you have seen on visual arts-giftedness, that seems to be ds8's major strength but I havent seen much on the subject.
I wish there were educational opportunities for kids his age which would allow for daily/intense work; is that what the music school is like? I think ds would benefit from some adult direction outside of myself and dh (mentor?).

I am editing, because I didn't even address your concern! For me, finding that my child seems perhaps destined for a life in art is just sort of ...scary. Frankly, I wonder about money, especially for a man. But, in the end I come back to the idea of letting him have his time with this - I just have to meet him at least half way on it. Maybe all that's too far in the future compared with what you're asking..
For the present, we offer ds a good amount of time to just doodle, draw, make comic books, read comic books, check out illustrators on line, etc. And of course decent supplies for drawing, etc.

I don't feel pushy because we never ever ask him to draw, we have to keep pads tucked just about everywhere so he'll have one easily to hand. I would be very interested in something more formal for him, I think it's totally appropriate, however I don't know of any such program, at least around d.c.
I have tried a couple of times to get in touch with illustrators whom he particularly enjoys however, no luck so far.

I just listened to a radio interview with the famous Oliver Sachs and he mentioned how a brain that is exposed to music actually develops differently, in a good way. They can compare 2 brain patterns (or something similar) and tell which brain has been exposed to music. He said that it is evident even in children as young as 1y. You might want to get this book. Anyway, music is a good thing! Do expose her! And as Cathy A stated, it doesn't lock her into a musical career... Good luck and don't deny her gifts! Enjoy!!!

Ren,

Congrats on the first lesson! I come from a musical family and I have mentioned here that my brother is/was a child prodigy in music . He now enjoys a wonderful career in classical music( he was supposed to work at the MET in NY last month, but was ill unfortunately). I have family members of various levels of giftedness when it comes to IQ and musicality.

Music lessons are great to help with focus, you are correct. But there also needs to be a desire and interest in music. Otherwise those lessons can be quite inefficient. Also the selection of which instrument to play has to come from the musician. Some teachers can recommend an instrument based on natural ability, but to ultimately reach success, it has to click with the musician. I chose piano, my brother violin and DD flute. I tried to convince DD to start with piano, but she wanted to wait until she was old enough to play her instrument. She can now play both instruments (self taught in piano)and reads music. DD is math oriented and reading music was incredibly easy for her.

If your DD is enjoying her experience, I would stick with it and keep it fun/ no-pressure. Only time will tell how her talent develops and if this is "her thing". With my brother, by 6 or 7 it was obvious he was going to make a career in music. But even then, he went a different route than we thought. He switched from violin to conductor/composer.

I agree!

Both my kids play music. They may or may not make a career out of it. It doesn't bother me. My wish is that making/playing music will always be part of their lives as I know of many children who gave up playing when they reach adulthood.

DS has perfect pitch but he doesn't like to practise! There was a period when he played the piano non-stop (really! first thing in the morning still in his PJs) for 3 months. After that, he was back to "normal". It was his first piano teacher (who is trained in special education) who mentioned that he has a gift. His current teacher teaches music theory too which is what he likes now. Few months ago, I was almost ready to stop his piano lesson but we came to a compromise that the lesson will focus more on theory and he will have lesser pieces to practise. I know I am probably not doing "enough" to develop his music talent but the last thing I want is to kill the interest as there are so many things which interest him now (Lego, Math) which takes up his time too.

So I will say go ahead because learning music cannot be wrong unless the child shows great resistance.

edit to add:
I would like to recommend this book "Raising Musical Kids: A Guide for Parents by Robert A. Cutietta." It has some wonderful tips on how to choose the first instrument / teacher, good practise methods and how school can help etc.

Thanks S-T for the book referral.

We are not so keen to encourage a career in music but thinking now that a music school gifted program might be the best training for her mind. Since she seems to reallly love music. Just watching her and how she responded to her instructor.

She has "chosen" her instrument. She has said violin for a year now and when she tries the children's violins after the Philharmonic concerts we go to for children, she doesn't want to let it go. And the violinst always turns to us and says she should play the violin, she has an instinct.

But you know how we talk about GT denial, I keep thinking, well you know how we get. Yes, she is smart, but how smart. So yes, she loves music, but gifted. And now the message is repeated, and repeated by people who are suppose to know. But I have no guide within me to trust.

There is part of me that is a little afraid, not sure what of, but afraid.

Ren

So

Have you watched this?
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1955232874558919934

(the part on Genie breaks my heart )

Trust the experts. The well known teachers have enough students already and only pursue those they know to have talent. I remember my brother being pursued by many well known teachers (violin) and he studied in NYC, Israel and in our hometown. His main teacher was not well known, but could take him further than anyone else. There was a great chemistry btw. them.

I think what I'm trying to say is don't over analyze it yet. Now you know she has talent and she enjoys music. When it comes time to take more lessons, maybe even find a new teacher etc. take it one step at a time. This may be a great advantage she will have in the school application process that will set her apart from others.

Jen

If she has an interest in it, it's fine to do it even if she's not musically gifted. In fact, I would encourage music for kids who are interested in it even if they have no natural talent for it at all.

Are you concerned about choosing a path for her so early by choosing the music school?