Music teachers get asked a lot of questions, and a lot of those questions are about age. What’s the best age to start music lessons? Is my child too old to start learning an instrument? In today’s episode of Music Notes, Stephanie offers some advice for determining when is the best age to start piano lessons!
Too Early or Too Late?
First of all, it’s never too late to start learning music! You aren’t too old, your grandmother isn’t too old, and your child isn’t too old. That said, if it’s never too late, is there a best age to start music lessons? We typically recommend six to eight as the best age to start piano. At this age, students pick up languages and build connections really quickly – it’s the perfect time for learning music. So how do you know if your 6-8 year old is ready to start?
3 Readiness Indicators
- Does the student want to play piano? The motivation to play has to come from the student. It will make everything easier, from daily practice to learning tricky sections of music.
- The size of a student’s hands: Can they easily place five fingers on five adjacent white keys? For some five- and six-year-olds, that’s a big stretch. If it’s a stretch for your student, consider waiting for those hands to grow just a little bit bigger.
- Finger dexterity: Can your student move each finger individually? Try having them tap each fingertip to their thumb.
If your answer is yes to all of the above – the desire to learn, hand size, and finger independence – then it’s a great time to try your first lesson!
Does age matter in learning piano?
At different stages of life, people learn things in different ways. A six-year-old piano student may be able to absorb new information and skills more readily than a sixty-year-old piano student, but the sixty-year-old piano student will have maturity, discipline, and self-motivation on their side. While young students usually need a lot of support from a good music teacher and their parents, adult piano students are much more likely to find success as independent learners. In general, the advantages and disadvantages of age balance out so that it takes about the same time to learn piano no matter what age you are.
There is one main advantage to starting piano at a young age. If you start at age six and keep going, by the time you’re sixteen you’ll be an amazing pianist! If you start at sixty, it could take until you’re seventy to see the same progress. So, whatever age you are, get started now!
Is a piano good for a toddler?
While toddlers do not have the hand strength and finger coordination to play the piano like an older child or adult, there are many things you can do to prepare them for success once they do start piano. Children learn best by example, so if you have a piano in your home and play regularly or even take lessons yourself, your toddler will see the joy of making music and eventually want to try it. Make sure you listen to music together with your toddler. Encourage dancing and clapping along. Sing together. Play clapping games. All of these activities will help develop the music centers in your toddler’s brain.
How to teach piano to a 2 year old
Most 2 year olds won’t be interested in doing much with a piano except for banging on the keys, but you can start introducing some basic concepts. If you’re a piano player, sit with your two-year old on your lap and let them watch you play. Have fun introducing them to the high notes, the low notes, and the middle notes on the piano. You can also point out the black keys and the white keys. Make sure there are lots of hugs and giggles. The most important thing to teach a 2 year old about the piano is that it’s fun and that making music is something fun to do together.
Is 3 too early for piano lessons?
3 year olds have an amazing capacity to learn, but their hand size and finger independence are still developing. That means a 3 year old will need special attention and consideration as a piano student. Many piano teachers will require students to be five or six years old before they begin formal lessons. That doesn’t mean 3 year old’s can’t start learning some things about the piano. Read “Getting Started Early: Piano Lessons for Toddlers & Preschoolers” for tips on how to help very young children learn the piano.
Can a 4 year old learn piano?
As a child reaches 4 years old, they may be ready for simple piano lessons. At this age, focus on learning music by ear and by rote. Most 4 year olds aren’t ready to read language, and the same goes for reading music. Instead of formal piano lessons, children at this age often respond best to some enjoyable time spent together with a parent at the piano. Doing this every day will help them be ready for a habit of daily piano practice once formal lessons begin. Let them place their hand over yours as you play a simple melody, then have them try to imitate your motions.
4 years can also be a great age to start watching Hoffman Academy’s piano video tutorials. Our fun and engaging lessons are the perfect length for young attention spans, and they’re free! Watch Lesson 1 now.
What if they want to, but aren’t ready?
If you think your student isn’t ready, or is just a little bit too young, you can still encourage that love of music! Singing, dancing, clapping along to the beat, and listening to music – these are all great ways to make music accessible without an instrument. Want to read more about the best time to start piano lessons? Check out this blog article from Mr. Hoffman: What is the Best Age to Begin Piano Lessons?