Ethel - I don't know really. DD2 hasn't started her lessons yet. I'm still waiting for the teacher to pass her T&C through my friend's son, then I must accept, then she will confirm slot with me.
She said something along the lines of very young ones who can speak very well and are not very active (the hyper type) can sometimes do well even though they are very young, so she's willing to try, because DD2 is quite advanced for her age, has good fine motor skills and has the concentration span for it. So her godma suggested trying her out, then who knew that the violin teacher would want to try her before she turns 3. I was actually thinking let her start at 3yo, but since the violin teacher say let her try at 2.5, so ok lor.
Most children's music lessons start at at least age 3... plenty out there... I think Yamaha has one where they take in 3yos... 6mth program, must be accompanied by parent. Also the Suzuki piano and violin classes also take them in at 3yo.
I guess it really depends on what type of nature your boy has lor... although 26mths does sound a little young... *shrugs* dunno. I wouldn't have dreamt of starting DD2 so young... only because the teacher wants to try. So see how lor.
hippo - The MPM teachers say a good entry age is between K1 and K2... not too early... they don't take them in that early. 3 is definitely too young to start lah. I think they recommend between K2 and P3, but I know my centre takes them in at K1 level too.
The MPM program has quite a few "tools" that they use... every month, the children get some new tools which excite them, and my son looks forward to getting his new tools... they are actually manipulatives, for them to use when doing their work... so some manipulative work, some just pure brain work, without aids.
fz - the lessons are actually not fixed. If your child happens to find the book they do that day easy, then they might finish in 30 mins or less... if they find it hard, then they might take up to 2 hours... so it goes purely at the pace of the child.
The MPM "lessons" are not really lessons. The children all go in at staggered times, and they are all different ages and stages (which is great for a parent who needs more flexibility in arranging lessons). Then they go to the front to "hand in" the homework, look for their file and take out the book that they do for that day. Then they sit down and get on with it.
Each book has 14 pages, and they do 7 there. Each page covers a different concept. The front 7 pages will either reinforce what they've learnt, build on something they've already learnt or teach something new (in which case the teacher will guide them along lor)... then after they finish the first 7 pages, they get it marked, do their corrections, then they are free to go. They go home to complete the last 7 pages, which are basically the same as the first 7 pages in terms of concept, but different sums, of course. So, if as a parent, you are lost when guiding them, you can turn to the front 7 pages and see what it's all about. But in MPM, you are encouraged not to help them too much, since that will give the teachers a false impression of what the child really knows.
So if you space your two lessons 3/4 days apart (it's 2 lessons a week, total of 8 lessons in a month... so 8 books... if you miss a lesson for whatever reason, you can either make up, or on the next lesson, the child will do 1.5 or 2 books at a go, to complete the 8 for the month), then the child can do like maybe 2 pages a day, so that's like maybe 10-15 minutes of work tops a day... good for those who cannot sit still lah.
Wah, long story... sorry, must explain, because it's so different from other types of lesson lah.
But I must say it has worked well for my son, though I have heard from other parents that MPM didn't do anything for their children. Also, it varies from centre to centre since it also depends on how well the teachers are able to explain and guide the kids, and how much patience they have.
My kids attend the one in Pasir Ris East... not the one at Elias Mall... the teachers are OK, though one of them can be a little bit impatient I feel... but since there are 3 of them, and they take turns helping the kids, it's not like your kid is stuck with one particular teacher... also I like the fact that it's entirely at their own pace... so my son has had to learn that if he plays a fool and doesn't concentrate, it means that he must stay longer and have less time to play at home... so that has taught him to focus more and reap the benefit of more playtime.