What age is a good age to start your child with Piano Lessons?

Question

My son will turn four in October, and he already shows signs interest in the piano. I would love to give him piano lessons. For me, I play by ear. I've always wanted piano lessons, and I would love to do this for my son. At what age is a good age to start? How do piano teachers handle teaching youngsters like mine? I also play guitar...by ear of course, and what ever anyone teaches me. I would also love for my son to learn Guitar. At what age should I start him on that? Or should I do one thing at a time???

Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!

Answer 1

I started piano lessons when I was 3.5 years old. I'm 14 now and still continue on with them. I love them and would never dream of giving them up, unless something dire happened. I was already messing around with the piano we have at home when I had just turned 2 so my mom knew I was serious about it. She did have to look around for a while, but eventually she found a teacher who was willing to take me at such a young age.

He made sure that I could sit still for a certain period of time and listen carefully to instructions before he agreed to teach me. I'm glad my mom found the right guy because he's taught me ever since. He did have a higher pay until I got to the age of 6 then he lowered it, but my parents were fine with this as they realized that it is tougher keeping the attention of a younger child.

Some people say girls are able to concentrate better than boys but as I write this my younger brother- who turns 5 in a couple of weeks- is down the hall practicing his heart out for his recital.

I have also taken gymnastics classes since I was 4 as I have always had the passion for them.

If you son really wants to do this then I'm sure you will be able to find a good teacher who will take him, if you offer him a slight raise as a sign of good faith and that your son really wants to do this.

Sorry for the huge reply, and good luck to your son!

Answer 2

We have group lessons in our area that start at 4.  Unless he's really interested and an unusually focused kind of kid, though, I'd hold off till he's in kindergarten.  Succeeding at piano does take regular practice, hard work, persistence, concentration, and the ability to read (or at least learn to read) music.  A few kids are ready for that at 4 but most aren't (plus you don't want him to burn out).  Look for a kid-friendly teacher in your area, perhaps even group lessons (lower pressure), and talk to some parents who have enrolled their kids to make sure it's developmentally appropriate.

I'd hold off on guitar.  Piano is a great starting instrument; the notes are very intuitive and you can concentrate just on learning to read music, after which it will be easier to transition to other instruments that require learning fingering, blowing, etc.

Answer 3

I was 5 when I started lessons and was performing Minor Recitals by 6...I would have loved it but I had the TRUNCHBULL (from the movie Matilda) of Piana Teachers...so I stopped at 10, NEVER to Return...If you start him now I believe he will pick it up quickly..just make sure his piano Teacher isn't a TRUNCHBULL...LOL...I am Traumatized to this VERY day!!!  

Answer 4

Especially for a boy, I think five or six might be a better age to start, but you could check around and see if a teacher would take him. My piano teacher would not take any child under first grade. In kindergarten I learned the basics from one of that teacher's students who was a senior in high school.

I think one thing at a time is also a good idea. Is there a guitar that will fit him?

On a much earlier question I answered about Kindermusic, I said I saw it as a waste of time as when my son (now 15) and I went, it was a lot of stuff I thought I could teach him at home, having a musical background myself. However, they have more than the mommy and me classes and maybe some music-and-movement type of classes would get him started on a musical path.

I'm not sure if there are teachers who would take 3-4 year olds in piano. Their hands might be too small to do much and they might have trouble concentrating. But look into it and more power to you if you can find a teacher.

How nice that your boy is interested already. Make sure the lessons and songs he's learning are fun. The best musicians did start out young and thought of music as play, not work.

Answer 5

If he's showing an interest, then call around to music teachers and see if any of them will take your son.  Let them know that he is expressing an interest in learning.

If none of them will take him yet because of his young age, then perhaps you can look for some kind of toy piano and books that he can learn with for now.  I remember little books that used colors to represent the notes, and the keyboard itself had the colors on it to represent which key was for which written note.

Answer 6

The piano Teacher that has been teaching around here for over 20 years doesn't take her students until 8 years old. They have to be able to sit still, listen to directions, and be able to read.  

Answer 7

if he is showing interests, right now is the time. They younger they start the better they will learn.  You learn alot quicker at younger age than you do when older. Some dont take in smaller kids, but like if you go to church you may like to ask the pianoist if she has 20 mintues once week to teach him.  Then gradually move the time up more.  Once or twice a week is enough to teach for small ones.  That is who i have  to teach my daughter at church.  She was wonderful and my daughter sings and play electric gitar now.  Shes 12.... Its amaze how time flies by and how much she had learn just 20 minutes twice a week for 6 months. Of course there were times she will stay at church and practice more when her teacher was not persent.  He will need access to piano when he does not have a teacher around to practice.    Practice, practice and practice is all it takes.  

Answer 8

my husband was 5 when he had lessons.

Answer 9

go for it

Answer 10

my mom put me in when i was 6 and i stopped when i was 11 and started playing guitar and bass

Answer 11

I started piano lessons when I was 7.  It really is an attention thing...and i think anything before 2nd or third grade may be a waste of your money.  Remember, he will be expected to practice every day, and believe me when i tell you it is hard work to get a kid to do this when they are old enough to understand why they need to practice.  But at age 4?  He would understand the concept.  Personally, I would keep encouraging him, but I would wait a bit.

Answer 12

He has to learn how to read music and to be able to concentrate on a task at hand for at least 30 minutes-if he can do both, then go for it!

Answer 13

okay.i guess the fine age is 6 cause she/he will know what he/she will learn....so that you will able to teach he/she discipline...

Answer 14

Well, I started taking voice at the age of 7 or 8, then I took piano and voice at 10, but I had to start late because my mom couldn't afford it when I was any younger. (My brother started voice at 5 or 6). However, I know people who have been involved in music as young as three years of age, and where I use to take my lessons (I quit due to changes in school, my lifestyle, etc.), children, young children, use to play shakers, the piano, sing, and do little skits at the local play theater. I would actually recommend starting him (on music in general) as young as possible, because it's proven that students in the art excel more academically. But I wouldn't put him in two things at once, because he has to learn to read music first, and I'm sure you don't want to pay for something twice whenever he's only going to learn it at a certain spedd. Talk to the lesson director and see what they have to say, though.

Good luck :)