How young is too young?
For children, starting at the right age is a key element to the success of their lessons. Some people will tell you “the sooner the better” but this attitude can actually backfire and be a negative. If a child is put into lessons too soon they may fell overwhelmed and frustrated and want to stop lessons. The last thing you want to do is turn a child off music just because they had one unpleasant experience, which could have been prevented. Sometimes if the child waits a year to start lessons their progress can be much faster. Children who are older than the suggested earliest starting age usually do very well. The following are guidelines we have found to be successful in determining how young a child can start.
3-4 Years Old
If a pre-schooler has a keen desire and wants to start music, a group preschool music class will give them a good foundation in music basics which will be helpful in later private lessons. At this age, children learn more effectively through the game oriented preschool environment.
Piano/ Keyboard
At our school 5 years old is the youngest age that we start children in private piano lessons. At this age some children have begun to develop longer attention spans and can begin to retain material.
Guitar – Acoustic, Electric and Bass
7 years old is the earliest we recommend for guitar lessons. Guitar playing requires a fair amount of pressure on the fingertips from pressing on the strings. Children under 8 generally have small hands and may find playing uncomfortable. Bass guitar students generally are 10 years old and older.
Voice lessons
10 years old is recommended as the youngest age for private vocal lessons. Due to the physical nature of voice lessons (proper breathing techniques, development of the vocal chords and lung capacity, the younger body is generally not yet ready for the rigors of vocal technique. For children younger than 10, we can offer Children’s choir (ages 6-9) and preschool singing program (ages 3-5) that teaches them how to use their voices properly, in a fun, relaxed environment.
Drums
The average age of our youngest drum student is 8. This varies greatly depending on the size of the child. They have to be able to reach both the pedals and the cymbals.
Flute, Clarinet & Saxophone
Due to lung capacity (and in some cases, the size of the instrument), most woodwind beginners should be 9 and older.
Violin
We accept violin students from the age of 5. Some teachers will start children as young as 3, but experience has shown us the most productive learning occurs when the beginner is 5 or older.
Trumpet
The trumpet requires physical exertion and lungpower. 9 years and older is a good time to start the trumpet.
