What age is best for starting out on a musical instrument?

[NY Disney fan]

For a child, what is a good age to start them on a musical instrument? Also, what instruments are best?

 

[Kit'smommy]

Is the child interested in learning to play something? What do they want to play? I find it is very difficult to motivate someone to practice if they are not interested.

DS will be turning 6 shortly. He wants to play piano and violin. I am teaching him beginning piano and told him if he can stick with it for a year, I will pay for violin lessons. He isn't the most focused, so it has been interesting to say the least.

 

[lovesmurfs]

We waited until it was offered in the schools (5th grade).

DD10 took piano for a short time 2 years ago, but it wasn't a very positive experience (she wouldn't practice). She's now playing viola and practices a little more consistently (can't get her away from the piano now, though, LOL). She has lessons at school, plays with the orchestra and she has a private teacher once a week. It would have been nice if she had started earlier, but she hadn't displayed any interest and it wasn't a battle I chose to fight. The desire to play needs to be there.

 

[wilma-bride]

My DS has just started learning the drums. He turned 7 last month. He has been wanting to learn to play drums since he turned 6 but we couldn't find anyone who was willing to teach him until he was 7. The lessons are pretty expensive (£14 so about $22 per half hour) but I have been impressed so far with the amount of practice he is putting in at home and, as long as he continues to show commitment to it, we will continue to pay for lessons.

Not sure how true it is but I was once told (by an old music teacher of mine) that it is better to start learning music young as you retain more information. I would suggest guitar as a good starting instrument, unless your child has a particular instrument they are interested in.

 

[golfgal]

We had the kids to piano for a couple years starting in 3rd grade, they started their band instruments in 5th grade at school. I wouldn't start them much younger unless they REALLY want to do that. As for which instrument--what do they want to play? For band the kids had a day in school when they got to try all the different instruments and pick the ones they liked the best.

 

[disykat]

We had the kids to piano for a couple years starting in 3rd grade, they started their band instruments in 5th grade at school. I wouldn't start them much younger unless they REALLY want to do that. As for which instrument--what do they want to play? For band the kids had a day in school when they got to try all the different instruments and pick the ones they liked the best.

We did the same. I "homeschooled" piano lessons for two years starting in 3rd grade and then they chose an instrument at school in the 5th. I let them choose whether to continue after their two years. Neither chose to continue piano, but one still plays -improving on his own. Both chose to continue their band instruments.

 

[monkey68]

I started playing piano when I was 4. Was it the best age? I dunno, that's just when my mom signed me up for it. But all this about waiting until a kid shows interest, I never quite understood. How could a young child show interest in something until they've been exposed to it? And really, as parents, aren't you choosing what you expose your kids to in some regard? A little OT, but something I never quite understood.

Anyway, I can tell you that with my experience, playing at such a young age, I can't actually remember a time when I didn't play piano. Reading music is as easy to me as reading a book, and I can't actually remember a time when it wasn't that easy. And because it was something I just grew up with, I didn't find it odd having to practice, it's just what we did. Granted, as I got older and realized that not all my friends had to play piano for an hour a day, there were fights with my mom over it, and she did force me to still practice. At the time, I hated her for it, but now I'm really grateful that she made me stick with it. It's a great form of expression, and I personally love music, so if I hear a song I like, it's great just to be able to sit down and play that same song. Plus, it makes the holidays so much more fun.

Just my 2 cents, for what it's worth. But I would say the earlier, the better.

 

[NY Disney fan]

I started playing piano when I was 4. Was it the best age? I dunno, that's just when my mom signed me up for it. But all this about waiting until a kid shows interest, I never quite understood. How could a young child show interest in something until they've been exposed to it? And really, as parents, aren't you choosing what you expose your kids to in some regard? .

I wish I had a dollar for evertime I read (in an interview) a professional muscian say they were glad their parents forced them to practice their instrument. Children also express interest in something and then give it up out of boredom. That's when the parents have to force them to push through it for the rewards.

 

[HSMndLKfan92]

My dad signed me up for piano lessons when I was 5.
I wanted to play clarinet when I was 9, but my mom (finally) let me sign up for band when I was 10.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

I vote for age 6 and the piano.

 

[joyjoy]

I'd go with piano first, no younger than 6.

If it's a horn they want to play, I suggest clarinet for woodwinds or cornet (trumpet) for brass. Six is too young for either of those, though. In order to comfortably play a mouth instrument, correct embouchure is essential and little kids' faces and jaws are just not developed enough yet. 11 is a good age for that.

Have fun! I played oboe in orchestra for many happy years. Nobody ever made me practice, I practiced constantly. I think the fact that I begged my parents to let me play had something to do with it.

 

[Danauk]

I started learning the trumpet when I was 8 and studied this all the way through to uni level when I did my music degree. I started the piano when I was 11 and more serious about studying music. At 13 I started to learn the clarinet as well having got to the highest level possible on the trumpet. The only thing I regretted was not learning the piano 1st, although maybe it was a good thing I didn't as playing the piano doesn't come naturally to me. DH plays violin and piano, both to university level. He too began to learn both instruments when he was 7 or 8.

 

[Cindy B]

My son was in 4th grade and STARTED with the oboe. Usually oboe is an instrument that you graduate to-most start with clarinet, sax or flute and then go to oboe but he didn't .

Oboe is difficult to start with but he managed well and has been playing for 6 years now.

 

[minkydog]

My son was in 4th grade and STARTED with the oboe. Usually oboe is an instrument that you graduate to-most start with clarinet, sax or flute and then go to oboe but he didn't .

Oboe is difficult to start with but he managed well and has been playing for 6 years now.

My daughter started on piano around age 7 and later graduated to oboe, as well. She played for 5 years and then switched to voice. Her sight reading skills are excellent as a result of her early music lessons.

My oldest son begged for piano lessons at age 6. I had just bought a used piano for myself and he couldn't leave it alone. When he started putting chords together and playing with two hands I figured we better get him some lessons. I never had a problem getting him to practice--in fact, sometimes we had to take away the "privilege" of practicing when he acted up. He never did get good at reading music,but he played very well by ear. He stopped playing when he was in high school and switched to voice and guitar. Only after he got out of high school did he return to piano and now he writes music for piano and guitar.

 

[clovergirl5]

Kids were introduced to instruments at the end of 5th grade. They then rented or bought their instument to start in the 6th grade band.

 

[Tinijocaro]

Music teacher here No matter what instrument, please be sure your child practices at least 4-5 times between lessons. The lesson if meant to teach your child how to practice at home, correctly. If there is little to no at-home practice, there is little to no progress. And no, it won't always be fun and your child will fight you. Just put it in the same category as homework. It must be done.

For a very young child, look into the Suzuki music programs. The most common one is for the string instruments due to the fact that string instruments come in sizes for very young children. There is also Suzuki piano. I don't have time to describe the method except to say that parental involvement is a must. It is based on the mother tongue method of learning and is wonderful with the right teachers and program.