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My son is 6, and his guitar teacher wants me to buy him a 4/4 guitar!
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My six year old has been taking guitar lessons in a small group of his age (3-4 kids, 5-7 year olds). The teacher is considered very good and is famous in my city. He has been working for many years with small children, and also himself is an accomplished musician.
Anyway he told me it's a good idea for me to buy my 6 year old son his first guitar. He suggested a full size (4/4) classical guitar of a good Spanish brand (around 300 euros new).
At the music store they told me, and also as I read on the internet, for such a small child smaller guitars are suggested, like 3/4 or even 2/4. However our teacher insists on a 4/4.
His reasoning is that he should learn the correct size from the beginning, and anyway more complicated notes that required bigger hands he will not play anyway the first years. When time comes for him to play chords that need bigger hands, then he will already have grown enough.
I've also seen another very little girl bring her 4/4 guitar to the lessons! Of course her mom carries it for her, but that's what she uses.
I'm trying to figure out what to do here... Any thoughts? Note that I would really like not to change the teacher, basically because my son likes him, and when starting out, the stress of going to a different teacher and seeing new faces might make him not want any lessons at all.
guitar lessons
asked 3 hours ago
Harry
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up vote
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down vote
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My six year old has been taking guitar lessons in a small group of his age (3-4 kids, 5-7 year olds). The teacher is considered very good and is famous in my city. He has been working for many years with small children, and also himself is an accomplished musician.
Anyway he told me it's a good idea for me to buy my 6 year old son his first guitar. He suggested a full size (4/4) classical guitar of a good Spanish brand (around 300 euros new).
At the music store they told me, and also as I read on the internet, for such a small child smaller guitars are suggested, like 3/4 or even 2/4. However our teacher insists on a 4/4.
His reasoning is that he should learn the correct size from the beginning, and anyway more complicated notes that required bigger hands he will not play anyway the first years. When time comes for him to play chords that need bigger hands, then he will already have grown enough.
I've also seen another very little girl bring her 4/4 guitar to the lessons! Of course her mom carries it for her, but that's what she uses.
I'm trying to figure out what to do here... Any thoughts? Note that I would really like not to change the teacher, basically because my son likes him, and when starting out, the stress of going to a different teacher and seeing new faces might make him not want any lessons at all.
guitar lessons
asked 3 hours ago
Harry
262
New contributor
Harry is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
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up vote
5
down vote
favorite
up vote
5
down vote
favorite
My six year old has been taking guitar lessons in a small group of his age (3-4 kids, 5-7 year olds). The teacher is considered very good and is famous in my city. He has been working for many years with small children, and also himself is an accomplished musician.
Anyway he told me it's a good idea for me to buy my 6 year old son his first guitar. He suggested a full size (4/4) classical guitar of a good Spanish brand (around 300 euros new).
At the music store they told me, and also as I read on the internet, for such a small child smaller guitars are suggested, like 3/4 or even 2/4. However our teacher insists on a 4/4.
His reasoning is that he should learn the correct size from the beginning, and anyway more complicated notes that required bigger hands he will not play anyway the first years. When time comes for him to play chords that need bigger hands, then he will already have grown enough.
I've also seen another very little girl bring her 4/4 guitar to the lessons! Of course her mom carries it for her, but that's what she uses.
I'm trying to figure out what to do here... Any thoughts? Note that I would really like not to change the teacher, basically because my son likes him, and when starting out, the stress of going to a different teacher and seeing new faces might make him not want any lessons at all.
guitar lessons
asked 3 hours ago
Harry
262
New contributor
Harry is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
My six year old has been taking guitar lessons in a small group of his age (3-4 kids, 5-7 year olds). The teacher is considered very good and is famous in my city. He has been working for many years with small children, and also himself is an accomplished musician.
Anyway he told me it's a good idea for me to buy my 6 year old son his first guitar. He suggested a full size (4/4) classical guitar of a good Spanish brand (around 300 euros new).
At the music store they told me, and also as I read on the internet, for such a small child smaller guitars are suggested, like 3/4 or even 2/4. However our teacher insists on a 4/4.
His reasoning is that he should learn the correct size from the beginning, and anyway more complicated notes that required bigger hands he will not play anyway the first years. When time comes for him to play chords that need bigger hands, then he will already have grown enough.
I've also seen another very little girl bring her 4/4 guitar to the lessons! Of course her mom carries it for her, but that's what she uses.
I'm trying to figure out what to do here... Any thoughts? Note that I would really like not to change the teacher, basically because my son likes him, and when starting out, the stress of going to a different teacher and seeing new faces might make him not want any lessons at all.
guitar lessons
guitar lessons
asked 3 hours ago
Harry
262
New contributor
Harry is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 3 hours ago
Harry
262
New contributor
Harry is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 3 hours ago
asked 3 hours ago
Harry
262
New contributor
Harry is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 3 hours ago
Harry
262
asked 3 hours ago
Harry
262
262
New contributor
Harry is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Harry is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Harry is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
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2 Answers
2
active
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up vote
1
down vote
Seems like the teacher has a good reputation. That doesn't come easily. The argument that son will have grown big enough after a while sounds like he could make slow progress, or be stuck on basic pieces for a long while. It also depends on how big your son is. 6yr olds come in many different shapes and sizes. Also E300 seems like a lot for a beginner guitar.
From my experience, a small child wielding a big guitar can invoke the feeling that it's all too much, and he'll be put off by the physical struggle that a larger person wouldn't. Going out and spending that sort of money is a bit of a gamble either way. Personally, I'd go initially with teacher, after having a protracted heart to heart with him, buy a pre-loved guitar, or borrow one, full size, for 2 or 3 months, and suck it and see. If teacher is proved right, get a decent starter guitar, or at that point, get an appropriate sized one for son. Teacher may reserve the right not to include your son in lessons without the prescribed guitar, of course!
Good question - should get some answers from experienced teachers.
answered 2 hours ago
Tim
91.9k1094231
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Interesting. Well, here you have a bit of a test between ego and technique, it seems.
First and foremost should be correct technique. The teacher’s approach might work for some kids, but a good teacher modifies instruction for each student to get the desired result. Playing on an instrument that’s too large could result in your son learning odd techniques to compensate for the size. He’ll then spend many years unlearning them as an adult.
Further, improper technique can yield hand / wrist / muscle problems later on in life, things that won’t bother your son for 30-40 years but will be exacerbated by a lifetime of imposer guitar playing.
We have a saying: you fit the instrument to the person, not the person to the instrument.
Multiple sizes are common for all string instruments (violin / cello / etc) and with brass, sometimes kids even learn entirely different instruments until they’re the proper size (tuba for example).
Using different instrument size in the music world is very common. Shoe-horning kids into adult size instruments is not.
If your son really is big enough for 4/4, have him sit with both and tell you which one he’s more comfortable with - you don’t want him learning in an instrument that makes him uncomfortable.
All the reputation in the world is meaningless if pointed in the wrong direction.
answered 2 hours ago
jjmusicnotes
20k12589
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
1
down vote
Seems like the teacher has a good reputation. That doesn't come easily. The argument that son will have grown big enough after a while sounds like he could make slow progress, or be stuck on basic pieces for a long while. It also depends on how big your son is. 6yr olds come in many different shapes and sizes. Also E300 seems like a lot for a beginner guitar.
From my experience, a small child wielding a big guitar can invoke the feeling that it's all too much, and he'll be put off by the physical struggle that a larger person wouldn't. Going out and spending that sort of money is a bit of a gamble either way. Personally, I'd go initially with teacher, after having a protracted heart to heart with him, buy a pre-loved guitar, or borrow one, full size, for 2 or 3 months, and suck it and see. If teacher is proved right, get a decent starter guitar, or at that point, get an appropriate sized one for son. Teacher may reserve the right not to include your son in lessons without the prescribed guitar, of course!
Good question - should get some answers from experienced teachers.
answered 2 hours ago
Tim
91.9k1094231
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Seems like the teacher has a good reputation. That doesn't come easily. The argument that son will have grown big enough after a while sounds like he could make slow progress, or be stuck on basic pieces for a long while. It also depends on how big your son is. 6yr olds come in many different shapes and sizes. Also E300 seems like a lot for a beginner guitar.
From my experience, a small child wielding a big guitar can invoke the feeling that it's all too much, and he'll be put off by the physical struggle that a larger person wouldn't. Going out and spending that sort of money is a bit of a gamble either way. Personally, I'd go initially with teacher, after having a protracted heart to heart with him, buy a pre-loved guitar, or borrow one, full size, for 2 or 3 months, and suck it and see. If teacher is proved right, get a decent starter guitar, or at that point, get an appropriate sized one for son. Teacher may reserve the right not to include your son in lessons without the prescribed guitar, of course!
Good question - should get some answers from experienced teachers.
answered 2 hours ago
Tim
91.9k1094231
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
Seems like the teacher has a good reputation. That doesn't come easily. The argument that son will have grown big enough after a while sounds like he could make slow progress, or be stuck on basic pieces for a long while. It also depends on how big your son is. 6yr olds come in many different shapes and sizes. Also E300 seems like a lot for a beginner guitar.
From my experience, a small child wielding a big guitar can invoke the feeling that it's all too much, and he'll be put off by the physical struggle that a larger person wouldn't. Going out and spending that sort of money is a bit of a gamble either way. Personally, I'd go initially with teacher, after having a protracted heart to heart with him, buy a pre-loved guitar, or borrow one, full size, for 2 or 3 months, and suck it and see. If teacher is proved right, get a decent starter guitar, or at that point, get an appropriate sized one for son. Teacher may reserve the right not to include your son in lessons without the prescribed guitar, of course!
Good question - should get some answers from experienced teachers.
answered 2 hours ago
Tim
91.9k1094231
Seems like the teacher has a good reputation. That doesn't come easily. The argument that son will have grown big enough after a while sounds like he could make slow progress, or be stuck on basic pieces for a long while. It also depends on how big your son is. 6yr olds come in many different shapes and sizes. Also E300 seems like a lot for a beginner guitar.
From my experience, a small child wielding a big guitar can invoke the feeling that it's all too much, and he'll be put off by the physical struggle that a larger person wouldn't. Going out and spending that sort of money is a bit of a gamble either way. Personally, I'd go initially with teacher, after having a protracted heart to heart with him, buy a pre-loved guitar, or borrow one, full size, for 2 or 3 months, and suck it and see. If teacher is proved right, get a decent starter guitar, or at that point, get an appropriate sized one for son. Teacher may reserve the right not to include your son in lessons without the prescribed guitar, of course!
Good question - should get some answers from experienced teachers.
answered 2 hours ago
Tim
91.9k1094231
answered 2 hours ago
Tim
91.9k1094231
answered 2 hours ago
Tim
91.9k1094231
answered 2 hours ago
Tim
91.9k1094231
91.9k1094231
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Interesting. Well, here you have a bit of a test between ego and technique, it seems.
First and foremost should be correct technique. The teacher’s approach might work for some kids, but a good teacher modifies instruction for each student to get the desired result. Playing on an instrument that’s too large could result in your son learning odd techniques to compensate for the size. He’ll then spend many years unlearning them as an adult.
Further, improper technique can yield hand / wrist / muscle problems later on in life, things that won’t bother your son for 30-40 years but will be exacerbated by a lifetime of imposer guitar playing.
We have a saying: you fit the instrument to the person, not the person to the instrument.
Multiple sizes are common for all string instruments (violin / cello / etc) and with brass, sometimes kids even learn entirely different instruments until they’re the proper size (tuba for example).
Using different instrument size in the music world is very common. Shoe-horning kids into adult size instruments is not.
If your son really is big enough for 4/4, have him sit with both and tell you which one he’s more comfortable with - you don’t want him learning in an instrument that makes him uncomfortable.
All the reputation in the world is meaningless if pointed in the wrong direction.
answered 2 hours ago
jjmusicnotes
20k12589
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Interesting. Well, here you have a bit of a test between ego and technique, it seems.
First and foremost should be correct technique. The teacher’s approach might work for some kids, but a good teacher modifies instruction for each student to get the desired result. Playing on an instrument that’s too large could result in your son learning odd techniques to compensate for the size. He’ll then spend many years unlearning them as an adult.
Further, improper technique can yield hand / wrist / muscle problems later on in life, things that won’t bother your son for 30-40 years but will be exacerbated by a lifetime of imposer guitar playing.
We have a saying: you fit the instrument to the person, not the person to the instrument.
Multiple sizes are common for all string instruments (violin / cello / etc) and with brass, sometimes kids even learn entirely different instruments until they’re the proper size (tuba for example).
Using different instrument size in the music world is very common. Shoe-horning kids into adult size instruments is not.
If your son really is big enough for 4/4, have him sit with both and tell you which one he’s more comfortable with - you don’t want him learning in an instrument that makes him uncomfortable.
All the reputation in the world is meaningless if pointed in the wrong direction.
answered 2 hours ago
jjmusicnotes
20k12589
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
Interesting. Well, here you have a bit of a test between ego and technique, it seems.
First and foremost should be correct technique. The teacher’s approach might work for some kids, but a good teacher modifies instruction for each student to get the desired result. Playing on an instrument that’s too large could result in your son learning odd techniques to compensate for the size. He’ll then spend many years unlearning them as an adult.
Further, improper technique can yield hand / wrist / muscle problems later on in life, things that won’t bother your son for 30-40 years but will be exacerbated by a lifetime of imposer guitar playing.
We have a saying: you fit the instrument to the person, not the person to the instrument.
Multiple sizes are common for all string instruments (violin / cello / etc) and with brass, sometimes kids even learn entirely different instruments until they’re the proper size (tuba for example).
Using different instrument size in the music world is very common. Shoe-horning kids into adult size instruments is not.
If your son really is big enough for 4/4, have him sit with both and tell you which one he’s more comfortable with - you don’t want him learning in an instrument that makes him uncomfortable.
All the reputation in the world is meaningless if pointed in the wrong direction.
answered 2 hours ago
jjmusicnotes
20k12589
Interesting. Well, here you have a bit of a test between ego and technique, it seems.
First and foremost should be correct technique. The teacher’s approach might work for some kids, but a good teacher modifies instruction for each student to get the desired result. Playing on an instrument that’s too large could result in your son learning odd techniques to compensate for the size. He’ll then spend many years unlearning them as an adult.
Further, improper technique can yield hand / wrist / muscle problems later on in life, things that won’t bother your son for 30-40 years but will be exacerbated by a lifetime of imposer guitar playing.
We have a saying: you fit the instrument to the person, not the person to the instrument.
Multiple sizes are common for all string instruments (violin / cello / etc) and with brass, sometimes kids even learn entirely different instruments until they’re the proper size (tuba for example).
Using different instrument size in the music world is very common. Shoe-horning kids into adult size instruments is not.
If your son really is big enough for 4/4, have him sit with both and tell you which one he’s more comfortable with - you don’t want him learning in an instrument that makes him uncomfortable.
All the reputation in the world is meaningless if pointed in the wrong direction.
answered 2 hours ago
jjmusicnotes
20k12589
answered 2 hours ago
jjmusicnotes
20k12589
answered 2 hours ago
jjmusicnotes
20k12589
answered 2 hours ago
jjmusicnotes
20k12589
20k12589
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
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Harry is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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