View Full Version : at what age - music and ballet class
Jean
August 1st 03, 09:34 AM
Hi,
For those with experience, at what age did you send your child to
music and ballet class? Did she benefit from it or you think you could
have waited for another year. Thanks.
Regards
Jo
Mary Ann Tuli
August 1st 03, 10:39 AM
Jean wrote:
> Hi,
> For those with experience, at what age did you send your child to
> music and ballet class? Did she benefit from it or you think you could
> have waited for another year. Thanks.
>
> Regards
> Jo
Hello Jo,
My son started ballet class at 3 1/2 years old.
He attends a 1/2hr class once a week.
He enjoys going to the class and can skip very nicely :-)
This Sept. he'll be 4 1/2 and will go for 3/4hr a week and when he is 5
he might start tap or disco.
I like that he is part of a club and feels a sense of belonging.
He also loved dressing up as a spider for their show this year.
At this age I think you'll soon be able to tell whether a child enjoys a
class or not and I believe it's important not to push them.
Mary Ann
TheOtherMe
August 1st 03, 10:48 AM
My SIL is a pre-school ballet teacher, and she strongly suggests waiting
until kids are 4. She says that at 3 their concentration span is just too
short still.
My daughter is 3, and just dying to take "balance" classes :-)
Jean wrote:
> Hi,
> For those with experience, at what age did you send your child to
> music and ballet class? Did she benefit from it or you think you could
> have waited for another year. Thanks.
>
> Regards
> Jo
Donna Metler
August 1st 03, 01:06 PM
"Jean" > wrote in message
m...
> Hi,
> For those with experience, at what age did you send your child to
> music and ballet class? Did she benefit from it or you think you could
> have waited for another year. Thanks.
>
> Regards
> Jo
As a music teacher, I suggest classes like creative movement/music or
kindermusik/musikgarten, starting about age 4 or so (or younger if it is a
lap-class). Any class for this age level should be relatively short, involve
a lot of moving around, and have frequent changes in activity (Orff, which
KinderMusik is based on, prescribes a 7 minute lesson even for elementary
children-that is, SOMETHING in what the children are doing should change
every 7 minutes, even if it's just adding gestures, standing up instead of
sitting down, singing in a different voice, adding instruments, etc).
I would not suggest serious music study on a single instrument until age 6
or 7, and most of the Suzuki teachers I know prefer to start students at
that age.
Regardless, the teacher should have training in music education and
experience with young children. Kindermusik and Musicgarten teachers are
certified in this through their own programs. Other good certification
programs in music are Orff, Kodaly, Dalcroze (wonderful if you can find it,
but there are only 2 training centers for teachers in the US), and Labian.
Teachers of the latter 4 will have a Bachelor's or higher in music
education, plus additional coursework and supervised experience in their
area.
toto
August 1st 03, 02:05 PM
On 1 Aug 2003 01:34:37 -0700, (Jean) wrote:
>Hi,
>For those with experience, at what age did you send your child to
>music and ballet class? Did she benefit from it or you think you could
>have waited for another year. Thanks.
>
>Regards
>Jo
Do you really mean ballet? Or do you mean any dance classes?
My dd went to movement classes at 3 or so and to dance classes
at 4, but she never went to any classical ballet classes.
She loved to dance and she still does as an adult. She was in
show choir in high school and also took dance as an alternative
to gym for a year in high school. I think she benefited from the
early classes because she loved them. I don't know what you mean
by benefit at this age. If your child enjoys the class than she
benefits. If not, then she doesn't.
--
Dorothy
There is no sound, no cry in all the world
that can be heard unless someone listens ..
Outer Limits
Kari
August 1st 03, 02:15 PM
My daughter started ballet just shy of 4 yrs. She is now almost 8 and
dancing is a big part in her life. She goes 3 nights a week and takes
Ballet, Jazz, Irish Step and she's on the mini dance team for Jazz. When she
began, I thought she needed the extra socialization and it was 30min once a
week. It was perfect for her and there were younger 3 yr olds in there as
well, all of them did well.
Now, we are at a new studio - the same one since 2000 actually, and it
offers creative movement classes to those under 5. No ballet until 6. New
policy just this year due to an overwhelming amt of little girls, and a few
boys I might add :) wanting to take classes. Really, my daughter didnt learn
many ballet skills until last year and this year I saw a big jump. I would
first look at something more along the lines of a creative movement class
and then I'd check with local places to see if your children are even old
enough.
My son takes a martial arts class and he's 4 but he had to wait until he was
4 to start it and even now, he seems a little young. The only reason we went
ahead and let him is because his father is one of the teachers and he would
go along each class and watch the other kids and he was begging to
participate. As far as music goes, we dont have time though we are trying to
fit piano into the schedule this fall during after school hours for Kaylie,
she seems very interested and its only once a week :)
Good luck!
Kari
mom to Kaylie (7) Noah (4) and #3 due in 9 weeks
"Jean" > wrote in message
m...
> Hi,
> For those with experience, at what age did you send your child to
> music and ballet class? Did she benefit from it or you think you could
> have waited for another year. Thanks.
>
> Regards
> Jo
Astromum
August 1st 03, 03:22 PM
Jean wrote:
> Hi,
> For those with experience, at what age did you send your child to
> music and ballet class? Did she benefit from it or you think you could
> have waited for another year. Thanks.
>
I started ballet and piano lessons at the age of 6 and 8 respectively
(we didn't have a piano before). IMO music is something that you can
start with any time, as long as you can find a teacher who know how
to work with very young children. Some famous musicians have started
at the age of 3.
Most important aspect IMO is that the child enjoys the classes. And
if not, there should be an easy way out. Even if they don't learn
anything, music and ballet (as sports) are a good way to teach a
child discipline, have it exercise and socialize. However, not all
kids will be ready for such discipline at the same age.
--
-- Ilse
mom to Olaf (07/15/2002)
TTC #2
"What's the use of brains if you are a girl?"
Aletta Jacobs, first Dutch woman to receive a PhD
Cathy Kearns
August 1st 03, 03:28 PM
My oldest took a 8 week "ballet" (mostly creative movement) class she was 3.
She fell asleep during the dance they show parents on the last day.
Apparently the class time was during nap time. Then she didn't take dance
again
until she was 7, in second grade. She started at 7 with 45 minute
combo class. And loved it. Now, as she is going into 9th
grade she takes 8 to 10 hours of dance a week, plus rehearsals.
She'll be dancing on pointe in the upcoming Nutcracker, three
good parts, for the first time this year. She is a wonderful
dancer, one of the better ones for her age. She competes
in tap, jazz, lyrical, and hip hop on her dance school's dance
team, and made her high school dance team as an incoming
Freshman. You don't need to start them at 3 or 4, for dance
7 isn't too late.
My younger daughter started dancing when she was 3. She
took a year off when she was 5, but wanted to go back. She
will be in her 4th Nutcracker this year, as a soldier, and loves
performing, but she doesn't love dance near as much as her
sister, she has other interests (soccer, tennis, golf, horse back
riding, choir) so she doesn't put in the time her sister does. And
that's just fine too.
"Jean" > wrote in message
m...
> Hi,
> For those with experience, at what age did you send your child to
> music and ballet class? Did she benefit from it or you think you could
> have waited for another year. Thanks.
>
> Regards
> Jo
Ericka Kammerer
August 1st 03, 04:14 PM
Jean wrote:
> Hi,
> For those with experience, at what age did you send your child to
> music and ballet class? Did she benefit from it or you think you could
> have waited for another year. Thanks.
What kind of classes do you mean? I don't think there's
any need for "serious" ballet until girls are 6yo or more (and
boys even later) or for "serious" music (e.g., private lessons)
until kids are old enough to read (unless you do Suzuki, which
can start younger, but I'm not a huge fan). And with the music,
that applies to piano and violin, but wind instruments don't
usually start until 10yo or later. The child also needs the
attention span to pay attention durin the lesson and commit
to daily practice.
On the other hand, if you're talking pre-ballet or
movement sorts of classes that are geared to younger children,
then they can start earlier. If they have fun, they're benefiting
from those, but there's no *need* to start at that age. Same
with music and music classes that are geared toward little
kids. Younger children should certainly be exposed to
music, but a class isn't *required* for that. It might be fun,
though.
For what it's worth, we've had a lot of informal
music exposure at home practically from birth--lots of
listening to music (recorded and live), musical games, etc.--
but my 8yo son just started piano lessons. He could probably
have started a year earlier, but I don't think there was
any harm in him delaying until now.
WRT dance, the boys started ballet at 5yo and 3yo in
pre-ballet classes that were geared towards younger children.
I had actually only intended to start the 5yo at that time,
but his brother desperately wanted to tag along. Both have
enjoyed the classes (and performances), but only recently
has the 8yo been doing more serious classes. Girls get
coordinated a bit earlier, but my oldest son has only
recently gotten to the point where he can really cope with
serious technique issues.
In all likelihood, our third (a girl) will start
dancing when she's somewhere between two and three years old,
but only because I think it likely that after seeing her
brothers dance for all that time, she'll be clamoring to
do *something* for herself at the studio (and if she's not,
we won't do it). If she wants, we'll do a mommy-and-me sort
of class and see how it goes. Musically, we'll probably
do things at home until she's in first or second grade,
at which time she can start on piano if she likes (I think
it's best to start with piano--just my personal bias).
Best wishes,
Ericka
Marnie
August 1st 03, 04:18 PM
"Jean" > wrote in message
m...
> Hi,
> For those with experience, at what age did you send your child to
> music and ballet class? Did she benefit from it or you think you could
> have waited for another year. Thanks.
We've had great fun and positive experiences starting our girls in
gymnastics classes, which for the very little ones (under 3 years old) is
much more about movement and play than about balance beams and bars. I will
be starting my older DD in ballet in the fall. She will be 4.5 and is asking
for ballet lessons. My preference for her was ballet classes, as opposed to
general dance, and I found a studio that does *not* tart up the children in
skimpy (altho expensive) outfits and tons of makeup for the end-of-term
show. I've never met anyone under 12 who looks better with make-up, even on
stage!
(sorry for the editorializing, it's a new peeve)
I am hoping to start my daughters with piano lessons when they are about
six, but it will depend on their level of interest and, um, if I can find my
piano. :)
--
Marnie
--
dragonlady
August 1st 03, 04:41 PM
In article >,
"Marnie" > wrote:
> "Jean" > wrote in message
> m...
> > Hi,
> > For those with experience, at what age did you send your child to
> > music and ballet class? Did she benefit from it or you think you could
> > have waited for another year. Thanks.
>
> We've had great fun and positive experiences starting our girls in
> gymnastics classes, which for the very little ones (under 3 years old) is
> much more about movement and play than about balance beams and bars. I will
> be starting my older DD in ballet in the fall. She will be 4.5 and is asking
> for ballet lessons. My preference for her was ballet classes, as opposed to
> general dance, and I found a studio that does *not* tart up the children in
> skimpy (altho expensive) outfits and tons of makeup for the end-of-term
> show. I've never met anyone under 12 who looks better with make-up, even on
> stage!
>
I just feel compelled to point out that even children may need STAGE
makeup (NOT tarted up crap) if they are going to be under real stage
lighting and seen from a distance. My kids have been involved in a
children's theater since they were 8; there's nothing wrong with stage
makeup, and they've learned to use it properly; without it, under real
stage lighting, faces just kind of wash out -- they do look better with
it.
meh
--
Children won't care how much you know until they know how much you care
Mary Ann Tuli
August 1st 03, 04:53 PM
> and I found a studio that does *not* tart up the children in
> skimpy (altho expensive) outfits and tons of makeup for the end-of-term
> show. I've never met anyone under 12 who looks better with make-up, even on
> stage!
>
> (sorry for the editorializing, it's a new peeve)
>
That's an interesting point of view. I think if I had a child who wanted
to experiment with make-up, doing so when performing in a dance show
would be ideal...unless they really are tarting them up as you say.
I'd be saying that make-up is great for special occassions and dressing
up. I suppose if the little girls are seeing themselves are mini adults
when made up then I see your point, but if they feel that it makes their
outfit complete and that its part of the performance then I would not
have a problem at all.
Mary Ann
Michelle J. Haines
August 1st 03, 05:51 PM
In article >,
says...
>
> For those with experience, at what age did you send your child to
> music and ballet class? Did she benefit from it or you think you could
> have waited for another year. Thanks.
Our Suzuki piano teacher will take children at three, and our
daughter started when she was about three and a half. Our son just
turned three, but we don't think he's quite ready yet.
Our dance school takes children for pre-dance when they are four.
We did do parent/tot swimming and gymnastics classes for both of them
at the YMCA, and they both got a lot out of it. Swimming goes from
4mo to 36 mo. Gymnastics from 18-36 months.
Michelle
Flutist
--
In my heart. By my side.
Never apart. AP with Pride!
Katrina Marie (10/19/96)
Xander Ryan (09/22/98 - 02/23/99)
Gareth Xander (07/17/00) Zachary Mitchell
Theona Alexis (06/03/03) (01/12/94, fostered 09/05/01 - 07/23/03)
Tracey
August 1st 03, 06:47 PM
Astromum wrote:
> Jean wrote:
>> Hi,
>> For those with experience, at what age did you send your child to
>> music and ballet class? Did she benefit from it or you think you could
>> have waited for another year. Thanks.
>>
>
> I started ballet and piano lessons at the age of 6 and 8 respectively
> (we didn't have a piano before). IMO music is something that you can
> start with any time, as long as you can find a teacher who know how
> to work with very young children. Some famous musicians have started
> at the age of 3.
>
> Most important aspect IMO is that the child enjoys the classes. And
> if not, there should be an easy way out. Even if they don't learn
> anything, music and ballet (as sports) are a good way to teach a
> child discipline, have it exercise and socialize. However, not all
> kids will be ready for such discipline at the same age.
>
`
My DD started dance class (tap and ballet) one month before her 3rd
birthday. She is now almost 7 and will be starting her 5th year in a few
weeks, and she takes tap, ballet, jazz and tumbling at this point.
In retrospect, I wish that I had known about the dance studio where she
studies earlier, then she could have started a year earlier which would
have been great for her. (This particular studio starts new students only
in September, and they have to be at least 15 months old. This 'diaper
darlings' class is only 1/2 hour long and they only do intro to ballet)
She loves the dance classes and always has from day one...she was never one
of the kids that minded being separated from Mom and going to an activity.
I do think she benefited from it because they are very strict (I chose the
studio that everyone I asked said "oh, they are so strict there" on
purpose) and it was good for her to learn to listen to someone other than
Mom & Dad. It also has helped her to become a bit more graceful (she
doesn't trip over her own feet quite as much now), and it has given her a
nice stable group of friends that she has frequent playdates/birthday
parties etc. with...the same grou of 15 students has danced together for
every year and they are all great friends now even though they all go to
different schools and live in several different neighboring towns.
Tracey in CT
Cathy Kearns
August 1st 03, 06:59 PM
I find the other interesting thing is that in my daughter's
dance class they are required to wear makeup (but thank
goodness not rhinestones and fake eyelashes, those look
way to hard to put on) for competitions and dance shows.
These girls, all in junior high or high school, never wear
makeup to school. My daughter is going to high school
this year, and is the only one of her non-dance friends that
doesn't even want to try makeup for the school dances or
parties. She's done makeup before, knows what a pain
it is, just isn't interested.
"Mary Ann Tuli" > wrote in message
...
>
> > and I found a studio that does *not* tart up the children in
> > skimpy (altho expensive) outfits and tons of makeup for the end-of-term
> > show. I've never met anyone under 12 who looks better with make-up, even
on
> > stage!
> >
> > (sorry for the editorializing, it's a new peeve)
> >
>
> That's an interesting point of view. I think if I had a child who wanted
> to experiment with make-up, doing so when performing in a dance show
> would be ideal...unless they really are tarting them up as you say.
> I'd be saying that make-up is great for special occassions and dressing
> up. I suppose if the little girls are seeing themselves are mini adults
> when made up then I see your point, but if they feel that it makes their
> outfit complete and that its part of the performance then I would not
> have a problem at all.
>
> Mary Ann
>
Rosalie B.
August 1st 03, 09:02 PM
x-no-archive:yes
"Donna Metler" > wrote:
>"dragonlady" > wrote in message
...
>> In article >,
>> "Marnie" > wrote:
>>
>> > "Jean" > wrote in message
>> > m...
>> > > Hi,
>> > > For those with experience, at what age did you send your child to
>> > > music and ballet class? Did she benefit from it or you think you could
>> > > have waited for another year. Thanks.
>> >
My sister and I had piano and ballet as children - not sure exactly
when we started. Ballet was much more my sister's thing than mine -
she had toe shoes and the whole bit. I didn't mind the classes but
hated the recitals, and it just wasn't anything that I was really
interested in. My sister did modern dance all through college and
afterwards and has been to various dance seminars with people like
Martha Graham. She was a dance critic for a local newspaper for a
bit.
For my own kids it was hit or miss because we moved around a lot with
their dad being in the Navy.
The oldest ones didn't have any lessons like that until I started
teaching them piano when they were about 6 or 7. My sister was
teaching piano in Philadelphia at the time, and she sent me the stuff
to do it with. We were in Key West FL then.
When we moved to Philadelphia for 8 months they didn't have any kind
of lessons being short timers. Then when I lived with my mom in
Baltimore for two years while dh was mostly gone, they had ballet
(very low key), ballroom dancing, and piano with my old teacher.
We continued with piano for the girls (although with another teacher)
until we moved back to Maryland when they were 5 (kindergarten), 5th
and 7th grades.
In Maryland, they started the kids on band instruments when they were
in 3rd or 4th grade. Then we moved to Rhode Island, and they didn't
do band instruments until 7th grade at which time we moved back to
Maryland, and the older girls picked up band instruments again. The
two older ones did that through the end of HS, altho the middle two
dropped piano much earlier and dd#3 quit playing clarinet when she
went to hs.
My son resisted music lessons of any type except for voice lessons,
which I gave him when he was in his early teens.
The RI schools had ballet classes and gymnastics classes after school,
but when we moved to Maryland, those things were not available. In RI
we also did ice skating, but in MD we were 50 miles or more from the
nearest rink.
My dd#1's children have had music from an early age - about 6 or so.
She still plays the piano and occasionally takes lessons. I don't
know about dance.
DD#2's children are much more sports minded and she's had her little
girl in gymbaree type things since she was 2. She did the same with
her son, but he wasn't as interested in that type of sports activity
and does other sports.
DS's oldest son is saving his money and taking guitar lessons (he's
10) and they are talking about his sister taking piano lessons. I
don't think they do any type of dance.
I don't think dd#3's kids have done anything like that (they are 5.5
and 2).
>> > We've had great fun and positive experiences starting our girls in
>> > gymnastics classes, which for the very little ones (under 3 years old) is
>> > much more about movement and play than about balance beams and bars. I will
>> > be starting my older DD in ballet in the fall. She will be 4.5 and is asking
>> > for ballet lessons. My preference for her was ballet classes, as opposed to
>> > general dance, and I found a studio that does *not* tart up the children in
>> > skimpy (altho expensive) outfits and tons of makeup for the end-of-term
>> > show. I've never met anyone under 12 who looks better with make-up, even on
>> > stage!
>> >
>>
>> I just feel compelled to point out that even children may need STAGE
>> makeup (NOT tarted up crap) if they are going to be under real stage
>> lighting and seen from a distance. My kids have been involved in a
>> children's theater since they were 8; there's nothing wrong with stage
>> makeup, and they've learned to use it properly; without it, under real
>> stage lighting, faces just kind of wash out -- they do look better with
>> it.
>
>I agree on this--I do makeup for All-City choir each year for this reason.
>Without at least minimal stage makeup, kids with light skin tones look green
>or yellow under stage lights, which doesn't look good. Even the boys--who
>always think it's strange to be wearing makeup.
>
>Darker compexioned people come out better, and usually don't need much.
Even my mom, who wouldn't let me wear any makeup until high school,
and even then would only let me wear pale pink (when everyone else was
wearing dark red and NOBODY wore pink) knew that we had to wear stage
makeup when on stage.
My sister at about age 7 played an old witch and had quite horrible
green/grey makeup (and they made her hair - which was waist length
blonde) into grey hair. Quite effective. But I'm sure that's not
what you are talking about.
Mom to 4
(dd#1 age 41, dd#2 age 39, dd#3 age 34, ds age 31)
grandmom to 10
(dgs age 22, dgd age 20, dgs would be 12 if still living,
dgs age 10, dgs age 9, dgs age 8, dgd age 7, dgs age 5,
dgd age 3, and dgd age 2
Daye
August 1st 03, 10:16 PM
On Fri, 01 Aug 2003 16:15:35 GMT, "Marnie" > wrote:
>It's the inappropriate stuff that there seems to be a preponderance of in my
>little corner of suburbia.
The scariest thing I have ever witnessed was a videotape of my then 8
year old niece's dance recital. She had on very heavy makeup and a
skimpy outfit. The dance they did was basically bumping and grinding.
I was horrified that my sister let her do that.
Now that I have a daughter of my own. I want her to take dance
lessons, but I am scared of a repeat of my niece's dance recital.
--
Daye
Momma to Jayan
EDD 11 Jan 2004
Ericka Kammerer
August 1st 03, 11:19 PM
Daye wrote:
> The scariest thing I have ever witnessed was a videotape of my then 8
> year old niece's dance recital. She had on very heavy makeup and a
> skimpy outfit. The dance they did was basically bumping and grinding.
> I was horrified that my sister let her do that.
>
> Now that I have a daughter of my own. I want her to take dance
> lessons, but I am scared of a repeat of my niece's dance recital.
Stick to classical ballet studios with a good reputation
and you shouldn't have that problem. (I'm sure somewhere out
there there's a classical ballet studio with a good reputation
that nevertheless has this sort of egregious behavior, let's
just call that the exception that proves the rule ;-) The
studio the boys go to does use stage makeup, but it's not too
much and entirely age appropriate and I think the costuming
is also just fine. Things seem to get more dicey with some
other forms of dance, and since ballet is a great introduction
to just about any form of dance, why not start there in the
early years while everyone gets their footing?
Best wishes,
Ericka
toto
August 2nd 03, 03:34 AM
On Sat, 02 Aug 2003 07:16:46 +1000, Daye > wrote:
>Now that I have a daughter of my own. I want her to take dance
>lessons, but I am scared of a repeat of my niece's dance recital.
Go to dance recitals for the schools you are considering. They
will probably be happy to have a prospective parent come and
see what these are like.
--
Dorothy
There is no sound, no cry in all the world
that can be heard unless someone listens ..
Outer Limits
Daye
August 4th 03, 10:35 PM
On Fri, 01 Aug 2003 21:34:01 -0500, toto >
wrote:
>Go to dance recitals for the schools you are considering. They
>will probably be happy to have a prospective parent come and
>see what these are like.
A very good idea, as was Ericka suggestion of a ballet school with a
good rep. I still have, at least, a year or so to think about this.
So maybe I should start checking out schools now.
--
Daye
Momma to Jayan
EDD 11 Jan 2004
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