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What is the best age to start Piano Lessons?
This is a very common question I get from almost everyone: When is my child old enough to take piano lessons? Can my 3 year old take lessons? Can my 2 year old take lessons?
I also get a lot of push back from older students (when I try to encourage them to take the leap and start up that hobby they’ve been “wanting to start for EVER” but they’ve “missed their chance.”
I would say I have a conversation surrounding this topic at least once a month, far more often when I am on-boarding a new slew of students. So I know that if you are looking for music lessons for your children, a family member, or even yourself, you’ve asked yourself if they (or you) are at a good age to start piano lessons.
Lucky for you, I have some thoughts locked and loaded – the same thoughts I share with parents who ask me this question face to face.
Children
This is the biggest concern I get when talking to parents – is my child old enough? And I’ll be honest, it’s a valid concern.
My typical answer is: start them as soon as possible!
There are so many benefits to taking piano lessons, or just music lessons in general, like increased memory and cognitive skills, reading comprehension, and fostering creativity (and far, far more) – and the when they take lessons during those formative years, they make a lasting impact on the way a child thinks.
However, there is no one size fits all answer to this one. Every child develops at a different pace, and some will reach an appropriate music lessons maturity earlier than others.
With that said, here are some important points I use to evaluate if a child is ready to start some private music lessons:
- Can the Child sit still and focus for the duration of a lesson?
I always, always start my students out at one half-hour lesson per week. Especially with beginners, the kind of repertoire and lesson content you cover is easily done in half an hour, without the potential for overwhelm (this can change as the student advances)
If your child cannot sit still for half an hour, that can indicate that they are not ready for piano lessons just yet. - Does the Child know the Alphabet?
Because our theory system is based on our English Alphabet (notes are named with the letters A through G), the child needs to be able to recognize those letters both by name and by sight. - Can the Child Write?
In a similar vein to the previous question, the child needs to be able to hold a pencil and draw or write with relative ease.
In Piano lessons, teachers typically assign theory homework, where the student will draw notes and musical figures, as well as write in note names – an essential part of the learning process.
The ability to write also indicates a level of fine motor skills essential to being able to play the piano. - Will the Child Practice?
The more accurate question of practice actually lies in the parents: can you hold your child accountable for practicing what they need to practice?
Parents hold a critical role in the piano learning process, just by committing to keeping their child accountable. If they are able to practice as much as the teacher recommends (this can differ from teacher to teacher!), and the parent is able to help facilitate that, then the child will have good odds for success in piano lessons!
Things beyond these questions I tend to evaluate on a case-by-case basis, and each teacher will have different requirements. If you are looking to book with a specific teacher, discuss with them what their criteria are, and if your child would be a good fit.
Toddler Considerations
If your child does not meet the requirements of the teacher, then they likely will not have much success in traditional piano or music lessons. However, some teachers offer lessons for younger children under the umbrella of “music appreciation.”
Singing songs, learning rhythms and dances, learning about different instruments, and other fundamental lessons can be done when the child is younger, it just won’t look like a traditional piano lesson. Sometimes they’re group lessons, sometimes the parents jump in and help their children, it will look different for every teacher!
Talk with your teacher about what kinds of lessons they offer, and what they would recommend for your specific child. Many are flexible and willing to work with you and your child!
Adults
If you are an adult wondering if piano lessons are all right for you at your age (or someone else at their age), I am here to tell you the most important thing I could ever tell anyone:
YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD TO START TO LEARN AN INSTRUMENT!
Science shows that retention is higher and you tend to learn faster when you start learning instruments at a young age, but it also poses some really great benefits to older minds:
- It changes brain structure – creating new pathways and making thought processes more efficient
- It improves long-term memory
- It quickens reaction times
- Because it is a multi-sensory experience (sight, sound, touch) and even utilizes both the analytical and emotional brain (right and left), it helps the musician integrate input from various senses more efficiently.
While music lessons undoubtedly help in the brain development of children, there are heaps of findings that posture similar benefits to older students as well.
All science aside, it is a great, productive way to spend your extra time, whether you’re retired or have found yourself with some excess time on your hands for some other reason. If you have a piano or guitar or some other instrument laying around collecting dust, there is no better time for the present!
Side Note: if you don’t want to invest in a new instrument, you can always start out with some voice lessons!
The bottom line here: there is no real “best age” to start piano lessons.
If you’re an adult, or looking for lessons for an adult, I’m going to quote Nike and say…
Just do it.
If you’re looking for a child, take some time to chat with the teacher to see if the child is ready. And if they aren’t ready for piano lessons in the traditional sense, talk with them about what other kinds of classes they offer!
If you are in the market for online music lessons, we have some openings in our lesson schedule for piano or voice students of any level! Let us know your interest below, and we can get you set up for an intro lesson:
