Free early music education

My husband and I are the opposite of musical. We enjoy listening to music, but we are laughably lacking in musical talent and rhythm.

Fortunately, I grew up with a best friend who is a self-taught brilliant pianist. Some of my happiest memories are of lying on the floor under her piano with my eyes closed, chewing on cinnamon bears and listening to her weave melodies for hours.

Having experienced first-hand the magic that music can bring to childhood, I knew that I wanted my kids to have an early introduction.

Always faithful to my philosophy of "monkey see, monkey do" I made sure that the few toys that I gave my girls included a tiny keyboard and a soprano ukelele.

Those little toys payed off. Today, the girls play multiple instruments and they even have their own Irish/bluegrass band called Raccoon Money (check them out here).

Here's the timeline of music education that worked for us:

• 0-3 years: listen to music, especially classical and other complex genres

• 4-5 years: have fun dancing and drumming

• 6 years: begin Hoffman Academy piano lessons (free on Youtube here)

• 7-8 years: begin private lessons in chosen instrument (here is why I recommend strings)

• 10+ years: join a youth or community orchestra or band

• 10+ years: begin learning new genres and experimenting with new instruments