At the Creative Guitar Learning Studios in Carrollton (we have lessons on a number of instruments, including piano, voice and violin), we are often asked when is the right time to start a child on an instrument? Well that can depend on several factors. Music has been demonstrated to help even infants with cognitive development, rhythmic feel and just generally facilitating a good mood. However when switching from listening to actually playing, there are a few guidelines you might want to consider.
Very small children - birth to 3 - The best instruments for birth to 3 year olds are generally rhythmic instruments, such as shaker eggs, wrist bands with bells, triangles, wood blocks, etc. Children can play along with a track or can play instruments solo to just explore sounds and rhythms.
3-5 year olds - A great instrument for beginning 3 to 5 year olds is the piano. Any small child can walk up to a piano and hit a key and get a really cool piano sound. A kind and patient instructor can start a chid with simple melodies in the right hand, and progress to adding both hands at a later date. Why not guitar or violin at this age? Well, guitar requires quite a bit more eye and motor coordination to make a sound. One must push down with quite a bit of pressure in the left hand and still coordinate the right hand at the same time. Whether using a pick or playing fingerstyle, that is a lot to take on for a 3-5 year old. Violin requires both holding the instrument correctly and using the bow to make a sound. While it is not impossible to teach a 3-5 year old guitar or violin, most kids do better on these instruments when a little older. And piano is a wonderful instrument in which for everyone to have a foundation, because everything is laid out in a symmetrical way on the keyboard.
6-10 year olds - This is a great age for starting a child on a stringed instrument such as guitar or violin. Starting guitar wil give them a great head start on their teenage years, when there will be lots of opportunites to play guitar with friends, at school events, church youth groups, etc. Of course starting an orchestra instrument such as violin or a band instrument such as trumpet at this age will give your child a great head start on middle school band or orchestra. They could be playing quite well upon entering sixth grade when most band programs start, and this will give them quite an advantage over kids who are just starting at that time.
11 and up - At this point the child's interest level starts to really become a determining factor. Kids who are passionately wanting to play the guitar may not be as motivated to practice on another instrument and vice versa, although some kids will enjoy any instrument. A great strategy is to book a time with a music school or instructor for a consultation before starting lessons. A patient and qualified instructor should be willing to discuss possibilities with your child or student, ask questions about the style of music they are interested in, and answer any questions your child may have.
Choosing an instrument with your child and the right time to start is an important decision, which could wind up affecting your child's musical experience for many many years. There are many "big" kids in their seventies, eighties or even nineties who still play an instrument they began as a young child!
Randy Stone, the author of this article, is the Owner and Senior Guitar Instructor at Creative Guitar Learning of Carrollton. Creative Guitar Learning offers guitar lessons in a variety of guitar styles, as well as lessons on piano, voice and violin.