Are you ready for formal music instrument lessons?
Here are some points to consider to help you decide if the time is right.
So, what is the right age to start private music lessons?
- Playing musical instruments makes physical demands on kids. Does your child have the appropriate physical development and fine motor control to play an instrument or sing?
- Does your child regularly engage in musical games, in pre-school or another group setting?
- Can your child focus on one thing for at least 20 minutes?
- Does he or she understand and comprehend letters and numbers?
- Has your child had adequate musical exposure? Can he or she keep a steady beat, identify wrong notes in a familiar song, and repeat basic rhythm and pitch patterns? (If not, we suggest working on these concepts before beginning formal lessons.)
- Are you able to commit to taking your child to lessons on a regular basis?
- Are you willing to ensure that your child does his or her music homework and practices on a regular basis?
Every child is different. But generally speaking, private lessons on an instrument are best started at age 7 (age 9 or 10 for brass or woodwinds). If your child is showing an interest in music and under 7, you might consider a group class that includes lots singing, movement, and listening. These classes are a great way to set a solid foundation of musical concepts (high/low, loud/soft, timbre, steady beat) for when he or she is ready to begin private lessons. But if you're really anxious to start, take a half-hour lesson and we'll let you know if the time is right. Instrument Specific Considerations: String, and guitar
students can rent instruments appropriate for their size until they reach a full size instrument. They will also need to be able to press down individual strings with single fingers and will develop calluses on their finger tips. Drum students
will start using a practice pad to learn basic right and left stick patterns. Often some bell set (xylophone) work is included so students develop a basic understanding of pitch and melody, in addition to their rhythm studies. Woodwind and brass
instruments are only made in full size, so it's important that the student can handle the physical demands the instrument will require to produce sound. Developing a solid embouchure (formation of the mouth) and breath control are important from the very start. Piano
students will want to be able to reach a stretch of at least 5 white keys from thumb to pinky - reaching the foot pedal will come later. They will start reading both treble and bass clefs at the same time and get used to their left and right hands operating independently of one another. Voice
students are encouraged to study an instrument first (such as piano) to aid in music literacy and develop relative pitch memory.