Is There Such a Thing As Too Young For Music Lessons?

It’s truly a special role that music teachers play as they develop lifelong musical passions for their students.

However, when it comes to young children, it can often be quite difficult to decipher the difference between passion and enthusiasm. Of course, while enthusiasm for an instrument can certainly blossom into a lifelong passion, providing the perseverance and motivation that are all too necessary to master an instrument, you must ask yourself a few questions before enrolling your little ones in music lessons.

Is It Too Soon?

In reality, there is no such thing as “too soon” to begin your child’s musical education. Just think of mothers who play music for their child while they are pregnant with them. They’ve got to be onto something, right?

Music is one of the most beneficial neural development tools no matter what age you are. However, it can be exceptionally beneficial for those who are young and in the early stages of development.

Of course, the true question is,

Are you able to place a guitar into the hands of a two-year-old and expect them to know how to play it?

Well, one thing to note is that you don’t need to provide children this young with a formal music education for it to be beneficial. Simply teaching your toddler music through banging out rhythms on a drum or playing simple chords with them on a piano can be enough.

Home lessons are the best way to introduce music to your little one. This is the same reason why there are so many music-based toys for babies and tots. They help to build a foundation that can eventually introduce them to more formal music education.

What Is The Right Age For Music Lessons?

People often ask us if there is some “golden” age that is perfect for starting music lessons.

The answer is yes and no.

All children are different, developing differently at different ages. Some children will develop cognitive skills, higher EQs, advanced motor skills, and improved concentration ability much faster than others.

The “gains” in regard to these skills are highest between the ages of 2 and 9.

More often than not, your child’s brain will have the developmental capacity for music lessons by the time they turn 3.

However, it’s worth noting that while they might have brain circuits ready to digest information, they may not be emotionally mature enough to focus and concentrate during a music lesson. Plus, depending on the instrument they want to play, they may not be ready for it.

In the case that you believe your little one is ready for music lessons by the time they turn 3, you’ll probably be able to find small guitars or violins for them to try out. Drums and singing are good places to begin, as children aren’t limited to size with these instruments.

Though his instrument was slightly smaller than the pianos of today, Mozart began his Pianoforte journey when he was only three!

Ask the majority of piano teachers, however, and they’ll probably tell you that it’s best to start teaching kids when they can fit their hands over the keys, an age that usually falls somewhere between 4 to 6 years old.

Will My Child Like Music Lessons?

You might also be thinking,

What about all the people I know that have disdain for their parents for making them endure arduous weekly piano lessons throughout their younger years?

It’s important to note that lessons will be difficult if a student has no interest in the instrument, regardless of their age. If you have a child that wants to play guitar, though you force them to play piano instead, they might end up resenting the experience.

Your best bet is to expose your little one to a wide range of instruments and see which one they gravitate toward. Doing so will increase the “excitement” factor and remove any potential resentment they may have later down the line.
Final Thoughts – Should I Put My Child In Music Lessons?

Music lessons are great for improving neural development, especially from ages 2 to 9. Just make sure that you allow your child to select the instrument they want to learn to make sure they are having a good time learning.

It’s also crucial to pick a music teacher who is engaging and has experience teaching young children, as the wrong teacher can make for a negative experience.

Want to get your child started with music lessons? Contact the California Conservatory of Music to inquire about guitar, piano, violin, and/or voice lessons in both Sunnyvale and Redwood City.