Music lessons are a fantastic way for children to express themselves and gain confidence, but what age should they begin?
There are two main schools of thought on the issue: get them started as early as possible, or wait until they are old enough to decide themselves.
Let’s have a look a both.
Music Lessons: Start As Early As Possible
We’ve all heard the story of Mozart composing his first symphony at 8, or Stevie Wonder singing with Motown at 11. These child prodigies must have been playing and singing for years.
Many parents believe that in order for their child to develop a meaningful, lifelong relationship with music, they must start lessons as early as possible. This is not entirely true.
Formal lessons do not need to begin at age 3 if the child does not enjoy the experience. However, exposure to music and instruments can. Babies and children who listen to music often, and play with musical toys will have a leg up in the future. These sorts of informal music lessons are a great way ease your child into their musical journey.
Music Lessons: Wait Until the Child Can Decide
If you wait for your child to decide they are ready to learn an instrument, you could be waiting forever. Every child has a unique personality and outlook on life, and will therefore gravitate toward different instruments, or no instrument at all.
Research suggests that there is a ‘window of opportunity’ between the ages of 3 and 9, in which the child’s musical sensibility is developed. In this age bracket, the cognitive functions associated with understanding musical elements are formed, and taking advantage of this natural stage of development can result in a richer, more rewarding lifelong music career.
Because of this, the ideal age to begin music lessons is between 3 and 9. This is a fairly broad range, allowing room for each individual child to mature enough to commit to formal lessons with a little encouragement from mum and dad.
Older Children and Adults
Of course, if you are older than 9, you can still learn to play an instrument. Teenagers and adults who attend music lessons experience many of the same benefits as younger children.
It’s never too late to learn. Don’t believe us? Check out our blog post, Adult Music Lessons: Is it too Late to Learn?
Sign Up for Music Lessons
Regardless of whether our student is 3, 13, or 73, we guarantee attending music lessons at the Liverpool Academy of Music is a valuable, character-building experience. It really is never too late, or too early to begin lessons if you or your child is enthusiastic and ready to learn. Give us a call on 02 9602 9774 or fill out the form on this page to learn more, or sign up for music lessons.
