Hi Mommies,
Sorry this is so long, but please help me if you think that you can...
I have a four year old son (4 years 3months) who has always loved music. We did Kindermusik for 2 years (from 10 months to almost 3 years) when he was younger and while he was really a MAJOR introvert in terms of interaction with other kids and even the teacher, he loved the music. He is still very much so the introvert, not overly involved with his friends, although he does have several that he talks about from school, he just doesn't talk to them or the other kids much (and really only a little more to the teacher). He has always loved music so much so that he could sit for long periods of time listening to cd's. That always concerned me a bit because he would then and still does now stop everything that he was doing and simply stare off into space while he listened to music. I can't play music while he eats because he will simply just stop eating and stare off listening to it, Even at Kindermusik, if we were meant to just be listening, he would stare like that while the other kids did other toddler type things while being "quiet".
One other thing, he is quite advanced mathematically... adding and subtracting on his own at age 2 1/2 small numbers, multiplying and dividing now and counting by 2, 5, 10, simple geometry... understnads place, etc etc etc
About 6 months ago, he started being much more verbal with me and I began to realize that he was memorizing songs. At first, I realized it was the lyrics, then I realized he was getting the melodies down too. Lots of songs... I also realized that all of that time that he was listening to cd's he seemed to be memorizing the order of the songs. Then I realized that he was able to tell me in what order the songs came in (not necessarily numerical, but which song cam after or before another. He could tell me the names of songs (or at least the names that he had for each song) as they came up on the cd.
When his 4th b-day rolled around about 3 months ago, he REALLY wanted a piano, so we bought a 44 key keyboard that has a digital display to show the notes as they are played and will allow him to push keys for his own music or just listen to the keyboard play precanned music. He will spend all day on it if I let him. No real interest in any other toy except for the mobigo and some interest in blocks and the geotrax train set. And MATH... loves math... will do math stuff all day long too...
So here is what I am wondering about. He has learned the names of each key and I think can identify them on the computer screen sheet music when they pop up (I taught him the names, he matched them to the computer screen). He has started picking out a couple of songs on his own. The one that comes to mind is Mary Had a Little Lamb. He also has created his own VERY short (like 3 or 4 notes) songs that he goes back to and plays regularly. He calls one of them "I love my Daddy, Daddy, Daddy". :-) But the crazy part is that this week i am realizing that as he is picking around on the keyboard, he is actually trying to pick out some of the precanned songs that the keyboard plays on automatic mode. He started playing "Ode to Joy" today. Seriously. Got probably 15 notes or so of it right. He was able to pick it out again when I asked him to. I really started listening to what he was doing this afternoon and realized that he lets the precanned music play for a few notes and then switches to regular mode and experiments with keys and then goes back to listen to it again (I've actually gotten after him for doing this recently as it was driving me crazy, but I didn't know what he was doing until today).
Mommies, is this normal, abnormal, advanced, something to worry about? Any of you with musical kids out there seen this at his age (4 years 3 months presently)? Daddy was a percussionist throughout his childhood and actually majored in it in college until he realized he wouldn't make any money at it. But he doesn't know if this is normal or not...
Math and music is tied together, related.
Your son has a gift/talent/prodigy BUT... you need to talk to your Pediatrician....
Nurture your child...
it does not seem like a problem!
This sounds advanced compared to other children his age, atleast to me. My daughter was in Music Together at his age and I taught for awhile. She started picking things out on the piano in about 1st or second grade but she's been exposed to it a lot and from what it sounds like not to the extent as your little guy is able to. I've also heard that Music and Math aptitude are related. I'd say, if it makes him happy, cool! It sounds like it wouldn't be a problem but be careful about pushing him though. Even though his little brain seems to have wrapped itself around Music, his fingers might not be able to keep up so make sure anything you do is developmentally appropriate. I think he would benefit from Music Together. Their songs cover a range of cultures and Keys and rhythms which he would not only enjoy but this will only expand his knowledge and ear. In most areas that offer Music Together classes you can preview a class. Anyway, enjoy your little guy! What fun and I can only imagine where he will go with this. Even if it's just to jam with friends when he's older, it is still so enriching and fun!
Congratulations, you seem to have a child interested in the arts, please nurture this but do not be overbearing. I am a singer and daddy is a musician and we would love it if our child were musical as well. He loves to sing along in the car and he even busted out "you are my sunshine" on the karaoke machine at Thanksmas! Really I would take note of it and be aware, talk to the pedi to see what steps may or should be taken. If he is not behind in anything but doing well in this then I would give all areas equal attention but note that this is ENJOYABLE and can help build life skills. Oh and if he is a prodigy please, please, please keep him a secret for as long as you can! Many children who are as such that are exposed early are dumped on the side of the music railroad around 14 and they can not handle it well ... that's when problems occur.
I was one of those kids- on the music part. Not the math . :) I ended up getting my degree in music (which I am not using at all now...lol). Sounds like you have a little Mozart on your hands. I say get him a piano teacher. Speaking from experience, they are going to tell you he is too young. Insist that they assess him first before dismissing him. He will need to be able to count in rhythm and do basic adding and subtracting, which is sounds like he can already do. He sounds like a very special and gifted little boy (and normal).
I applaud you for exposing your son to music. I suggest that not many children his age have had this much exposure. I also suggest that he's gifted in music and math which are related. I would continue to provide him with music and allow him to experiment. I strongly believe this is a good thing for him and for you.
First, let's forget the word "normal".
There are ranges of behaviors and abilities in many areas.
You've probably seen the Bell Curve.
Take any characteristic and take enough (100s or more) people
and measure them for that characteristic.
Most of the people will fall in the middle of the bell curve,
the number of those people will make the highest point on the graph.
Everyone else will fall closer to the ends of the graph,
making a pretty evenly-shaped curve
to show the frequency of the characteristic.
Of course your child is "normal".
But, is he musically gifted?
Yes. Quite likely.
Also mathematically gifted, as well.
If you're near a university, you might want to talk
to some early child development experts
and/or some music department professors.
I think the best thing to do would be to give your child
as much opportunity as possible to be exposed to a lot of music,
especially classical music, by which I don't mean
only 18th and 19th century, but 20th century music as well.
Also, you might want to look at what options there are
in your community for gifted children at such a young age . . . .
so that he doesn't get bored in regular classrooms
while kids are learning things he already knows.
You mentioned playing CDs for him.
Any Mozart? Brahms?
I wonder if you were to play some Chopin piano pieces
if he would attempt to copy those.
If there's a Mensa chapter in your area,
you might inquire if they have any gifted children's activities.
THANK YOU for asking about this here.
I am really excited thinking about your son and his abilities.
I wasn't nearly as talented/precocious when I was young.
But I was musically creative and enthusiastic.
A good deal of my musical talent and enthusiasm were stifled . . . .
they didn't know any better.
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During the night I thought of suggesting, when he's a bit older,
getting CDs of Art Tatum, Keith Jarrett, Martha Argerich,
Daniel Baremboim, etc., for him to listen to and perhaps be influenced by.
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some kids are just born with a gift like that and some arent and it sounds to me like he has it.
