My son is 4 years old. Since he was small, he could hum tones and pieces of music. When we got a piano he was very small, not even 2, and would hum the tone as the tuner worked. I know my tuner and he said, "that's not normal you know, right?" This continued and we bought him an ipod which we locked except for music. He sings and hums to no end. Loves video game music but also classical, rock and dance.
He reads on a first grade level and is about kinder to first in math. Since we live in NJ the district is being stubborn and will not allow him into kindergarten next year. So, this was his first year at a local Montessori school. He taught himself the alphabet at 20 months and while I let him have a lot of opportunities to learn, I don't push him especially right now.
My husband and his teacher are both certified music instructions. Apparently he picked up Sol feggio quickly and the bells at school. He knew what quarter notes, eighth notes and quarter rests were so his teacher suggested working on rhythms. I printed and laminated the first set from laytonmusic.com. He did them for his teacher in 10 minutes or less....a large stack of combinations...
So I gave him cards with a key highlighted on the piano and he had to choose the correct note. He did that and then put them in order as he went apparently...
Question: Should we have him start an instrument? I'm at a loss as what to do with him. If things are easy he gets silly or starts yawning. We've found out the hard way that he blows by tasks and hasn't needed practice to grasp many things....he can hide in school but he's not fooling me at home....
Suzuki is for kids that normally cannot read yet...He can read, and I'm even surprised he isn't just reading music yet.... Would you choose violin or piano? Would you go Suzuki, conservative or a mixed approach? We live in NJ near Philadelphia. Is there someone who specializes in kids like this?