Music Lessons, When to Start?
My sister (a musician) has reminded me on many occasions that I’m missing the prime window of opportunity to get my middle child started on violin using the Suzuki method. I’ve reminded her that I shouldn’t need to do that, seeing as how his aunt can teach him and his sibs all they need to know. :P
I took piano lessons when I was younger, maybe from the ages of 8-12? I gave it up for basketball practices, though I was also in the band by then. I hadn’t touched the piano in years, and have recently started playing around with it a bit. That got my sister and I talking about having taken lessons when we were younger, and wishing we had stuck with it longer. She was about 4 when we started lessons.
My oldest is now 6 and I’m wondering if it’s time to get her started on piano or something. I know it depends on the child as to whether or not they’re ready, but I’m just looking for your thoughts and opinions out there. Do your kids play any instruments? What age did they start?
photo credit: arquera
Tags: children, kids, music-lessons, parentingRelated Stories
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5 opinions for Music Lessons, When to Start?
Hsien Lei
Sep 29, 2007 at 9:13 am
Oh my gosh. I’ve been thinking about this a lot too seeing as how S is now 5 and I started piano at 4 and went on to play violin at ~8, flute at ~9, and string bass at 16 . I don’t think he’s ready but I don’t have a piano around the house to even expose him to the idea. Maybe I need to get serious about buying an electric piano.
Kerri Aldrich
Sep 30, 2007 at 1:24 am
Hsien: Let me know if you do start, and how it goes! The kids love plunking around on our piano here, but it’s waaayyy out of tune and we’ve been told it may never be able to stay in tune. Probably not what they should be learning on! I half-heartedly tried the recorder with S at the end of last school year. We might try that again, soon.
Daniel E. Friedman
Oct 25, 2007 at 4:43 am
I started at the age of seven and haven’t stopped for thirty-eight years… and counting. Kids should be comfortable with the English alphabet (at least until the letter G) and have the attention span and the ability to sit still for roughly half an hour. Also, your selected piano teacher should be FUN, as well as inspirational.
Julie
Oct 25, 2007 at 12:20 pm
Daniel: That’s amazing! I really want my kids to start music lessons. I’m trying to figure out where and when to fit it in. I have a good friend who teaches piano. I know my kids would enjoy it.
Is it Ever Too Late to Start Music Lessons?
Oct 25, 2007 at 12:43 pm
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