Question for the musically inclined

[matgb]

How normal is it for a 7 year old girl to pick up a set of cheap plastic pan pipes she got with an Easter egg and, within an hour, with no tuition, music, or help, be playing a recognisable version of Ode To Joy amongst other tunes?

Seriously, we've never taught her to play anything and she's taught herself Beethoven on something she only got given this afternoon.

This isn't normal, right?

Comments

[andrewhickey.info]

It definitely suggests she has some musical talent. Ode To Joy is a relatively simple tune to pick up - it's one of the first things I got taught in music lessons, because the intervals are easy ones - but it's still impressive for someone of her age to pick up by ear. It might well be worth getting her a proper musical instrument.

[karohemd]

Not necessarily normal but this is Shrublette we're talking about. ;o) Now if it had been the Doctor Who theme tune...

[ginasketch]

Some people can do it easily. I know Lotte can hear something once and play it on guitar in a few minutes. I on the other hand, have trouble tuning the bloody guitar.

[karohemd]

but probably not without learning the guitar first.

[ginasketch]

Well I can play the guitar but not tune it. But yeah...a guitar is a more complicated instrument than a plastic pan pipe and you have to break your fingers in first too.

[innerbrat]

Who cares? Does she like music? Then maybe she'd enjoy more musical exploration.

Please don't assign 'talents' to chldren. Inclinations and interests are better fostered without throwing around words like 'normal' ;)

[azurelunatic]

Sounds like she's having fun!

Given that the pipes are simple to operate and that her note distinction hasn't been wrecked by a dreadfully out-of-tune instrument (I am vexed with the parents of one of my YA lit club, who have not tuned the piano their daughter is expected to use for *10 years*, which has permanently damaged her sense of pitch, and she may never get that back) it's perfectly natural. Playing by ear something you've heard hundreds of times is what one does with new instruments, right?

I was the sister of a Suzuki method student, so this does not surprise me at all.

[watervole]

What it does mean is that she enjoys music enough to have the patience to pick out the tune.

If she wants to, encourage her to learn any musical instrument that she likes the sound of.

Or, if she wants to experiment herself, buy her a tin whistle which she can work out tunes by trial and error on as the fingering is pretty intuitive. (albeit only in one key per whistle)

Concertinas are also great, but tin whistles are vastly cheaper!

[freddiefraggles]

Some musicians learn by listening, some learn by reading. I think learning the recorder is still in the national curriculum, unless they've quietly slipped that one out, so the basics may already be there. If she wants to learn an instrument other than plastic pan pipes, may I suggest anything other than a flute? There are lots of flautists. Now, the bassoon on the other hand. That's an awesome instrument that there aren't many of.

[shewhostaples]

I think I may make a post about this sort of thing - what instrument does it make the most sense to take up? I definitely agree with you on flute.

[doccy]

I'd recommend singing. It's an awesomely powerful and flexible instrument that you can take anywhere.

[shewhostaples]

Oh, indeed - I do :-)

[miss_s_b]

She gets guitar lessons at school starting next year; she already has a recorder, but hasn't taken it out of it's packet more than once AFAIK

[katieastrophe]

Does she have a guitar? Would she like one? I have one sitting next to my desk which I haven't picked up since I got it over a year ago.

ETA: obviously it would be A Bit Much to post, but if she doesn't start til next school year, I can bring it to Brum.

[matgb]

We have guitars, but thank you--never been used, but there were some guitars and an amp in a car boot a few years back, one of the guitars is apparently quite good.

[webofevil]

It's not necessarily world-beating prodigy abnormal, but it's pleasantly unusual to find a child with quite such instant aptitude and, as others have pointed out, it definitely indicates that she should start tootling away on an entry-level instrument very soon.

[caseytalk.livejournal.com]

It's not ABnormal. I used to teach myself instruments all the time, too. Take it as a sign that she should be encouraged to learn an instrument.

[susanne-est-moi.livejournal.com]

Agreed. Seven is a bit precocious, but it's fun for smart kids to pick out tunes on noisemaking devices of all sorts. My piano teacher would have loved her!

[missedith01.livejournal.com]

Blimey, buy her a trumpet or something. :-)

[danieldwilliam.livejournal.com]

That sounds like an atptitude that is worth nurturing.