Starting Piano Class at age 6

I wasn't sure what is a good age to start a kid on piano classes but since there is a piano in the house and she shows keen interest, we've started my girl on piano classes. Before this I heard from some people that its no good to start them off too young because their fingers may still be developing. So of course I started worrying about damaging young fingers etc. Hehe.

I asked my piano teacher to have a look at her fingers and her verdict was she is ready. And so that is why we're starting her now at age 6. My girl was very excited and happy about her class. After her first class she had this to say....

"Mummy, now that I have 2 classes (she means kindy and piano), I don't know if I can manage it."

I asked her what she meant and she said....

"Because now I don't have time to play at all. The whole day already I still don't have time to play!"

Hahaha. I was surprised on her usage of the word "manage" but she is absolutely right of course and that is why both hubby and I have agreed from the start that we will not be sending our kids to all the extra curriculum classes like swimming, taekwando, ballet, art, gym, speech and drama etc etc. At the most, piano. That is all. Where will they have the time to fit it all in? Oh and not forgetting tuition. We will only send for tuition if it is absolutely necessary for example if she can't catch up on the Chinese classes (that is if we are sending her to Chinese school which we still have not decided).

My piano classes is at music as well as a tuition center. I cringe everytime I see the little kids lugging their big heavy "luggages" up and down the stairs for their tuition at about 7.00pm. Most of them are still in their school uniforms. What? I'm thinking to myself? Don't they at least get to go home to have a bath, a proper meal and a rest? Their parents will come to pick them up from the tuition center after work in the evening. And the poor kids are still in their uniforms and carrying their heavy school bags. Gosh. Thats awful! So, no. No extra curriculum or tuition unless absolutely necessary for my kids. Maybe my kids won't be all rounded individuals who are good in the arts and crafts and physical activities like gym and swimming etc but at least they'll have some time to play.