What Age Should My Child Start Music Lessons?
Concerns around knowing the right age to start lessons with your child are natural.
It’s an internal battle between the dream of your child confidently and happily engaging in music vs. the fear of pushing too hard, too late.
The reality is that there is no ‘perfect age’ to start. There are benefits and challenges associated with starting in all age ranges.
Our advice here is to be realistic about these pros and cons. Are any of them a deal breaker? How long do you want your child to engage in lessons for? Are you able to manage expectations in relation to the different challenges of each age-range?
To help you make an informed decision, we have includes some pros and cons for the most common ‘starting ages’ we’ve seen over the last 10 years.
2 - 6 YEARS OLD
FYI: This is generally the best age for children to engage in group music lessons and classes
BENEFITS:
EARLY EXPOSURE: Introducing music at a young age can foster a natural appreciation and love for music
BRAIN DEVELOPMENT: Musical activities can contribute to neural development in areas related to language and cognitive skills
MOTOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT: Activities involving rhythm and movement can support the development of fine and gross motor skills
SOCIAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT: Group music classes provide an early opportunity for social interaction and collaboration with peers.
BONDING: Music classes offer a bonding experience for parents and children through shared activities and exploration.
CHALLENGES:
ATTENTION SPAN: Young children may struggle with focused learning due to developing attention spans.
MORE HANDS-ON SUPPORT: Learning at this age requires significantly more involvement from parents - wether thats being in the class, or actively participating in practice (with 5-6 year olds).
MANAGING EXPECTATIONS: Parents need to manage expectations in this age range, understanding that consistency may be challenging for very young children.
PHYSICAL CONSTRAINTS: Some instruments may be too large or intricate for young children, impacting hands-on exploration.
VARYING RESPONSE: Children respond uniquely to musical stimuli, and their engagement levels may differ
7 - 11 YEARS OLD
FYI: This is generally the best age for children to start instrumental lessons
BENEFITS:
DEVELOPMENTALLY READY: Children in this age bracket are often more developmentally ready for focused instrumental learning.
INDEPENDENCE: Children aged 7-11 have developed more independence and allowing them to better engage with structured lessons.
MORE CONFIDENT: At this age, children are a little more confident, allowing for better connection with teachers and a willingness to take risks in their playing
PRIME TIME: This age range aligns with a prime period for acquiring musical skills, as their cognitive abilities support more complex learning tasks.
LIFE-LONG LOVE: Students who start playing in this age bracket are more likely to engage in lessons for longer
CHALLENGES:
HANDS-ON SUPPORT: While more independent, parental support is crucial, especially in the first few years.
TUGGING PRIORITIES: With increasing commitments, finding a balance between music lessons and other activities may require thoughtful scheduling
BEING REALISTIC: Managing your expectations as a parent becomes crucial, as progress may vary among children based on individual learning styles.
COMPARISON: As your child becomes more self- aware, they may start comparing their progress with peers, which can affect motivation
12 - 17 YEARS OLD
BENEFITS:
RESPONSIBILITY: Older children have the skills to take more responsibility for their learning, requiring less hands-on guidance by parents.
FASTER PROGRESS: Children in this age bracket have likely developed learning skills in school, facilitating quicker adaptation to music lessons.
CLEARER DIRECTION: Older children may have a clearer idea of their interests, aiding in instrument selection.
CHALLENGES:
DIFFICULTY ENGAGING: Students this age have a stronger level self-awareness, which can often lead to them feeling frustrated if they are not picking things up as quickly as they would like. They tend to be much harder on themselves and this can have a very negative impact on engagement.
TUGGING PRIORITIES: As children enter their teenage years, managing time between academic commitments, extracurricular activities, and social engagements becomes a common challenge.
SOCIAL INFLUENCE: The impact of peer perceptions and the desire to fit in may influence the child's commitment to music, potentially leading to fluctuations in interest.
So, as you can see there really is no ‘perfect age’. You know you child best, and you also know yourself and your family best. Weigh up the pros and cons before deciding when to get started. Consider if you have any deal breakers and be aware of any additional support you may need to implement to navigate the challenges. Any question? Sing out! We would love to help you work through this one.
