is my child ready to learn the piano?

Parents that care:

Modern parents are more likely to buy educational and development toys for their children, including ‘lets pretend’ toys and musical instrument toys because parents believe that the toys help with creativity and imagination. According to the Mintel report on Toy Retailing in 2006:  Based: 1,258 adults aged 15+  who have bought toys for children. 28% of 5 year old children received a toy musical instrument. 

Parents don’t want to spend money on just anything. They are very aware of the need to help kids in their early stages, help them develop. They want to be actively involved in bringing up kids so they are thinking about the toys they buy more. Some 20 years ago the attitude was more just buying something to keep the kids occupied.” (Mintel)

There is a greater demand for educational toys. There is plenty of media hype about education and exam results. Children are tested and monitored at an earlier age and throughout their school careers. Many parents will invest in the right toys and other goods if they consider that it will be helpful in improving the child. This is helping to drive demand for educational toys or toys that are perceived to help a child learn and develop. (Mintel)

Is My Child Ready to start learning to play the piano?

The Mimi the musical clown: learn to play the piano series was created as a tool to slowly introduce the language of music to children in a non-pressured environment. The idea is to teach the basics before starting actual lessons. Children will gain a basic understand without realising they are actually participating in a lesson.

You can see if your child is interested in music by exposing them to different styles. Mimi’s musical teachings can be applied to any style of music and most instruments. Mimi also introduces young children to the colours of the rainbow and the alphabet up to letter G, because the letters A – G are used to identify the 8 white notes.

Children will probably learn the recorder in school. The note reading techniques Mimi applies for piano are exactly the same for as playing the recorder. Children can start to learn the piano as soon as their fingers are big enough to cover the notes.

Mimi advises that a child could start learning on a small two-octave keyboard. It is as simple as that.

Once your child has learnt the joys of piano playing they will never forget them!

• 'With the help of this DVD your child could become the next Jaime Cullum, Jools Holland or even Mozart!'
• 'Make your child brilliant' and learn to play the piano with Mimi the musical clown.