As a musician and music teacher, I have been asked often what the best age is for a child to begin taking piano lessons. My answer is always something along the lines of, “it really depends on your child and when they’re ready.” Some kids can jump into music lessons very early: I started at age four myself, partly because the kindergarten cut-off date where I lived meant that I wouldn’t start school until later and would be on the older end of my class. Piano lessons gave me something to do that helped me learn fine-motor skills, literacy, and things along those lines. Some kids, however, aren’t ready to begin learning an instrument until first or second grade. This guide breaks down some things to consider when thinking about when to begin music lessons with your child—it’s not a hard and fast set of rules, but things to keep in mind. Read on!
Readiness Over Age
As mentioned before, readiness is the most important factor when deciding when to begin lessons. Age is a piece of that, of course. But, consider the items below as they play a large part in determining how a child will do in lessons.
Key signs your child might be ready:
Focus for 20–30 minutes without distraction. Lessons usually last at least 30 minutes. Your child’s teacher will know how to make lessons fun and exciting, but if your child isn’t ready to sit at a piano bench or hold an instrument for about that length of time, it might be a bit early to start.
Fine motor control (e.g., using fingers independently). This isn’t to say your child should already know how to or be able to play already. Your child’s teacher will know how to help develop finger strength and independence. However, it’s important that some sort of fine motor control exists to build off of. Children around age 2 or 3 still tend to be developing those skills, which makes taking up an instrument more challenging for them.
Can follow instructions and routines. These things depend on a child’s personality and home structure as well. Learning an instrument takes dedicated practice and a great deal of grown-up support. Practice is essential, as is following directions.
Shows enthusiasm for music or instruments. Teaching a student who is uninterested in learning an instrument makes the job near impossible. A child’s buy-in to learning makes all the difference! That isn’t to say a student who isn’t passionate about learning an instrument at first won’t grow to love it—music takes dedication and persistence. However, a student who is blatantly uninterested can make the teacher’s job much more difficult. If you want your student to be interested in music, ensure that you expose them to it early on. Sing with them at home, play your instrument (if you play one), be intentional with listening to music. Watching my dad play the piano as a little girl and singing along to the radio was a large part of why I wanted to learn!
Age Guidelines
This guide is based on my experience as a music teacher. I taught general elementary music, beginning band, and beginning choir for about 5 years after graduating with my music education degree. As a band instrument specialist, my knowledge of when to start string instruments is more based upon the experiences of my colleagues. Once again, this guide could change completely based upon your own child’s readiness.
Ages 3–4
Best for early childhood music classes rather than private lessons. I taught a preschool music class that focused on movement, rhythm, and singing. We didn’t do a lot of formal music literacy, and instead worked on developing kids’ senses of rhythm, beat, and singing.
Activities like rhythm games, movement, and singing build a strong foundation. These were the main facets of my classes for this age group. Children at this age tend to have an attention span of about 3-5 minutes per activity. For a 30 minute class, that meant at least 6 different songs, movement games, or rhythm activities. Focusing on learning the intricacies of a singular instrument might be a bit beyond the scope of kids in this age range, though some may be ready. The famous Suzuki method encourages children to begin learning the violin at about 3.5 years old. I’ve never used this method myself, and can’t speak to its efficacy. Should you elect to go this route, a half-size violin and an instructor proficient in this methodology are essential.
Ages 5–6
A good time to begin piano or violin lessons. Most of the beginning piano students I’ve taught were in this age group. Students at this age are ready to start school usually, and tend to be able to dedicate focus to both a weekly lesson and independent practice. The most common instruments to start at this age are piano and violin due to the physical capabilities of students at this age. Wind instruments are a bit on the large side and can’t really be altered, making them much more difficult to being this young.
Can start reading music, developing technique, and forming practice habits. Being able to read music is so important. Musical literacy is akin to learning a new language. Students at this age have usually begun learning to read. Music can help develop that skill, and vice versa. As I said previously, building and maintaining practice habits is so important. Students of this age are more equipped to start this than younger kids oftentimes.
Ages 7–9
Ideal for most instruments (guitar, voice, winds). This is the age most students begin instruments in school. Middle school or late elementary grade levels are oftentimes the first to offer band, orchestra, and choir classes. At this age, students are usually in the habit of independent work and discipline—learning an instrument can be a fun way to bolster those skills while also providing outlets for creativity, team building within ensembles, and artistry.
Stronger attention span and motor coordination. Although children’s bodies are definitely still changing and growing at this age, they’ve usually developed enough so that holding an instrument, creating an appropriate embouchure, and learning proper playing techniques are much easier.
Ages 10+
Great age to begin with deeper musical understanding. One is never too old to start an instrument or deepen one’s understanding! Although I had piano lessons starting very young, I didn’t take my first clarinet lesson until I got to high school. I’d played the instrument all throughout middle school, but had never taken a lesson. Starting lessons at that age allowed me to grow far more proficient in technique and skill—I’d always recommend taking private lessons if able!
Often more self-directed, leading to faster progress. Much of the work older students do comes from their own practice. Private lessons allow students to dig more deeply into solo repertoire and explore aspects of their instrument that might not be available during ensemble classes.
Matching Instrument to Age
Based on these guidelines, here is a snapshot view of potential instrument starting ages. Once again, your student’s own interest and readiness are the most important piece in selecting an instrument!
Piano: Versatile starter for nearly all ages.
Violin: Potentially appropriate for age 3.5 and up with smaller sized instruments
Winds and Guitar: Best at age 7+ due to finger strength
Voice: Formal lessons around age 8+, but early musical games are helpful. Due to vocal changes during puberty, formal lessons usually wait until the voice has developed more. However, the vast majority of general music I taught from preschool onwards included singing.
If you’re curious about starting your child out with an instrument, one of the best things you can do is schedule a trial lesson or consultation with a private music teacher. Here at Vibe Music Academy, we always offer free first lessons. These usually include a consultation regarding what your child is interested in learning, any previous skills or knowledge, and what your child would like to get out of lessons. Having a trial lesson can help establish your child’s readiness and the appropriateness of an instrument for your student. Remember, t’s never too early to explore—and never too late to start! Thanks for reading!
~ Charissa Garrigus, Instructor at Vibe Music Academy
