How Early Can My Child Learn an Instrument?

I have seen some remarkably gifted musical children in the course of my teaching career. I think of Thomas, who, one day after learning to pick out the melody for “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,” was able to play a majestic rendition of  Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor with both hands.

I’d never seen that before!  

I also remember Alan. He was 6 years old and able to immediately play anything he heard or saw. Pretty impressive.  There are a few others but there is no question they are rare. Maybe you’ve seen a few on YouTube. Some of them are still in diapers. That’s just crazy! All that without lessons.

Most kids, though — most likely, yours included — require lessons and plain old practice to master anything, including playing an instrument.

Most kids, though — most likely, yours included — require lessons and plain old practice to master anything, including playing an instrument. My youngest student to date was three and a half. Normally, I don’t teach children younger than five.

Parents often ask me how they can tell if it’s time for their child to start music lessons. These are some of the questions I ask parents to ascertain the child’s readiness.

Is Your Child Ready To Play an Instrument? 6 Questions to Ask

Do you have an instrument for the child to practice on?

Can your child count to ten?

Does your child recognize the the first seven letters of the alphabet? (A-G)

Is your child shy?

Can your child concentrate on one thing for five minutes?

Can they wiggle their fingers independently?

When It’s Time For Music Lessons

It is generally unwise to start a child on piano before they have some degree of mastery over fine motor skills*, lest the frustration wears down his/her self esteem. Also, in some cases it causes actual physical pain. Who could blame them, then, if they turn away from the piano the first chance they get?

To create a positive, encouraging musical environment, it’s much better to wait until they are physically ready to play, and that truly depends on the individual child.

For one child it may be three.  For another it may be eight.

Even so, beginning when your child is just a toddler, there is a lot you can to prepare them for their first music lesson, even if they are not quite ready to actually get started. In fact, I am developing a course devoted to that one purpose. (Mini music lessons for Toddlers will be available soon — to find out when, be sure to sign up for my newsletter below).

Once they are ready, especially if they are not yet five lessons short be short and sweet.  I recommend no more than 15 minutes. Many teachers do not offer less than ½ hour but it is worth asking for even if that means paying for the ½ hour.  Your child will grow into it in time and a slow start provides a much better foundation to build on.

*For more information and suggestions on how you can help your child develop their fine-motor skills, click here.

Marie-france MacDonald teaches piano, voice and drama lessons in her home studio in Waldwick, New Jersey.