03/28/2018 10:15 PM
As music teachers, we get asked this question all the time. Is 3 years old too young? Will a 5-year-old be able to make any real progress on an instrument?
The answer is, it depends.
If you're wondering if your child is too young to start lessons, here are a few things to consider:
THEIR ATTENTION SPAN
This is the most important indicator of success for a young student. Can they listen and follow directions for a 30-minute lesson? Of course, most children will be a little squirmy and that's understandable, but will they be able to focus when their teacher asks them to play a song or do an exercise?
I've had some really great 4-year-old students who were excited to learn, motivated to practice, and followed directions really well. I've also had some 4-year-olds who couldn't pay attention for longer than 30 seconds!
So rather than put a definitive age to when a child should start lessons, I normally assess students on a case-by-case basis.
THEY WILL NEED GUIDANCE FROM YOU
For young students, their success is often dependent on their parents' involvement.
Young students will need a parent to sit in the room during the lesson. If the child gets distracted during the lesson, sometimes a parent reminding them to pay attention or stay on track is all they need.
The child will also need guidance during their practice during the week (and reminders to practice!), so it's important for the parent to know and understand what they need to practice.
THEIR READING ABILITY
The only prerequisite to learning an instrument is knowing the letters of the alphabet, since the notes in music use the first 7 letters of the alphabet.
If your child can read, however, that's a huge plus! They will be better able to associated notes or words on the pages with the notes they are playing. Plus, they'll be able to read their teacher's notes and practice assignments instead of needing a parent to interpret them.
But reading really isn't essential for starting out on an instrument. A beginner will mostly be learning technique, muscle coordination, and really simple songs, so children who can't read yet will still be able to learn a lot.
The best way to know if your child is ready is to try it out! If you're unsure if your child is old enough to take lessons, contact us and we can set up lessons on a trial basis. After a few lessons, our teachers will help you assess if you should continue or wait a year or so.