When Is the Best Time to Start...

I would guess you could start anytime - whenever she is showing interest.

I started my 41/2 year old just this Sept @ Bobbies Performing art studio off Borchard directly across from Amgen. Jackie is Jainas teacher, Bobbie who owns the studio is fantastic I highly recommend her.

I started my second child at two and she was ready to do the whole recidel stage performance now I waited this year to put Jaina my four year old only because she wasn't ready until now."She's not the listening type of child and yes she loves the class.

A tip, second hand stores have tap shoes and leatards, but buy some really good tights because the cheap ones do snag easily. Payless has ballet slippers. Good Luck!!
I do have size 10 Tap shoes. Your welcome to have them.
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ReNae of R. Originals--Single mom of three Lady's.

Hi G.,

I think you can put your daughter in dance class much sooner than piano. I learned how to play beginning @ 8 yrs. old. My mom also had me learn the accordion! Ask your Dr. if your child is physically and mentally ready to learn to do these activities. Otherwise, if it's all in good fun and you want to expose her early to these activities then go for it. I'd probably wait another year for piano classes though.

Hello G.,

I don't know what is a good age to start piano classes, although I started at 7.

But, I do know for dance classes, I started dancing when I was about 3-4. I just took general dance classes through the YMCA. When I was in 4th grade I joined an Elite Traveling Team. From that point on I was on dance teams all the way through my senior year in college.

Hope that helps,
M.

Hello, my husband and I are professional musicians so naturally our children started in music very young. We didn't push it though and we let them come to us with requests for musical training on their own, making certain that the instruments they chose to learn were what they really wanted to do (harp and oboe!). Make sure your daughter wants to learn the piano and/or dance and that it's not just something you think she should do.

For music lessons, it's not generally recommended to start as young as four because cognitively and phsycially, they're not quite ready (age 7 is better). Every child is different though so it's possible with the right teacher, although it's very unlikely that your daughter will be ready for at least another year or two. Most importantly, your she needs to know her alphabet, know her left from right, be able to sit still and concentrate for extended periods of time, and also in the case of the piano, be able to move her fingers independently and purposefully with strength. You also need to be able to read/understand music yourself as well because with a child this young, you have to be able to sit with her and teach her yourself every day between lessons.

As for dance, there are "creative movement" classes out there that are perfect for this age, especially when she gets closer to turning 5. They teach easy body movements and control along with learning colors, taking turns etc. Just make sure she is with other children of the same age/ability so she doesn't become frustrated because everyone else can do something that she can't quite do yet.

Hi there,
My Mom put me in dance (ballet and tap) when I was 3 and I remember it was so much fun. Of course it was more about learning to follow the teachers directions - and I remember trying to be just like her...I had older cousins that danced so I wanted to be like them also...I think as long as she wants to try it, you can't go wrong. I would just worry about burning her out with too much scheduling and practicing - that can take all the fun out of it!