How old should a child be to start piano lessons

Best Age to Learn Piano

KEYBOARD

Many children are drawn to the piano from a young age. It’s easy to play, fun to explore, and depending on whether you have a piano vs a keyboard, it can make a lot of different sounds! All fun aside, many parents often wonder what age their child should start piano lessons, especially if they want their kid to get good.

At School of Rock, our instructors teach thousands of students how to play the piano every day, and know a thing or two about determining when a student is ready. And while it’s true students of almost any age can learn to play piano, the best age to learn depends on factors unique to each student.

The best age to start piano lessons is typically between the ages of 6 and 9-years-old. While older students may have an easier time learning to play, students as young as 6-years-old can also learn since the keys of the piano are easy to operate. Depending on the student, even very young children under the age of five can begin to explore the piano. After all, Mozart famously started to play piano at 3-years-old!

The best age to learn piano is between the ages of 6 and 9-years-old, but some students can learn earlier.

Is your child ready to start piano lessons?

There are a number of factors that may determine when your child is ready to start learning piano. These can include physical factors like hand size, coordination, dexterity, and finger independence. But for many students, this can also include social factors, such as the ability to focus, follow a practice plan, and effectively communicate with others.

7 signs your child is ready to learn the piano:

When deciding what age to start piano lessons for your child, look for the following signs.

Your child has basic motor skills. Students with motor control challenges may find it frustrating to play the keys on the piano, particularly if they need to reach between notes. The good news is playing piano can help these issues over time and give students newfound confidence. Piano requires only moderate finger and arm strength to push down the keys, and is easier to produce sound on than stringed instruments such as guitar or violin.
Your child knows the difference between left and right. Playing piano involves the use of both hands. Beginner piano students do not need a highly developed sense of direction or limb independence. However, knowing the difference between left and right is needed to play most songs.
Your child can count to 4. When starting piano lessons, knowing how to count to 4 will help your child with essential timing concepts that are required to play most songs.
Your child is a motivated learner. In general, students who are motivated to play the piano progress at a much faster rate than unmotivated students. If your child enjoys music, or seems excited to play new songs, this is a good indication that they are ready to start learning.
Your child can focus for 30 minutes. Consistent practice is the key to learning to play an instrument, and the piano is no different. If your child can focus on a task for 30 minutes, then they should be able to handle taking lessons.
Your child is ready to practice daily. If your child has at least 30 minutes to practice every day, then they may be ready to start playing the piano. To inspire your child to practice, it’s important for your child to have access to a piano or keyboard at home.
Your child is mature and can follow instructions. Children between the ages of 6 and 9-years-old can vary in terms of their social maturity. If your child is able to follow directions from instructors, they will have more success overcoming challenges.

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TIPS WHEN STARTING PIANO

When starting piano lessons, try out these tips to make your kid’s music journey a success.

Place the piano or keyboard in a busy part of your home. Keeping the piano or keyboard set-up and ready to play in a commonly-used room such as the living room, playroom, or student’s bedroom will make it convenient to play and remind your child to practice.
Keep the piano tuned, or buy a keyboard. Any instrument should be maintained in order to keep the student inspired. It’s hard to be motivated to practice on an instrument that sounds bad, or is overly difficult to play! For this reason, pianos should be tuned regularly, but an electronic keyboard is a great alternative to a piano - not only does it take up less space, it does not require any tuning.
Ensure that the piano stool is the right height. The piano bench or stool should always be set to a height that allows your child to play comfortably, or your child could develop poor technique – or even pain! To sit properly, your child’s arms (from wrist to elbow) should be approximately horizontal with the floor as their hands rest on the keys.
Focus on accuracy instead of speed. Students should always practice slowly at first, with a focus on accuracy, and then gradually increase speed. Young students often rush to learn things at fast tempos at the expense of learning properly.
Help your child manage better practice habits. When starting piano lessons, you can help your child maintain a practice schedule to make sure they’re applying what they learn from their instructors. As your child progresses and gets older, they will be able to manage their own practice time without assistance.
Play live music in-person with other students. In addition to regular practice, we see students who regularly play piano in a group or band setting tend to progress at a much faster rate than students who only practice piano lessons alone.

IS IT EVER TOO LATE TO START PIANO?

Of course not! At School of Rock, it is never too late to learn to play an instrument. That’s why we offer the School of Rock Adult Program, where adult students of any skill level can collaborate with their peers to form bands and rock out on stage.

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Best age to learn to play the piano

Music affects both children and adults and plays an important role in the mental and physical development of children if started at an early age. Music is already present in the lives of children in infancy, in the form of lullabies or poems that you sing or play for them. But this is only the beginning of a journey that will open up many advantages for them in the future. The study of any musical instrument stimulates creativity and a sense of pleasure in social activities in children. When kids start learning to play the piano, they will have many hidden benefits that will affect their body, mind and soul. The lack of feeling of loneliness and complete instant relief from any depression are just two of the many benefits that a person receives from learning to play the piano.

You might think that it is too early for your children to start playing the piano, but even if they can't learn to play, just being in class is also helpful. Listening to piano music can motivate them and expand their minds. This will give them a sense of happiness from socialization with other people.
Various studies have shown that children who learn to play the piano from an early age show impressive results in logical reasoning and problem solving. Learning to play any instrument (especially a complex one like the piano) stimulates the development of their nervous system and leads to improved brain function. Therefore, such children tend to get good grades and show better results in mathematical and cognitive tests compared to others.
Children who begin music education have fewer discipline problems than their classmates. Most of them strive to achieve results in everything they do, and thus they enter the chosen universities in the chosen specialty.
Children who can play the piano on their own do not feel lonely and are able to spend productive time alone.

In addition, there are many other benefits that children receive from an early age in music. Let's talk about them in more detail.

The Casio A-800 digital piano in a natural oak case was released in a limited edition
for the 10th anniversary of the company in the Russian market, but everyone liked it so much that it has been produced for a year already

As parents, you can give your child a lot:

Make music a part of everyday life at home.
Let children listen to different genres of music on different instruments. Take them to concerts or listen to the radio with them. Let them explore the magical world of music in a variety of ways.
If one of you is a singer or musician, you can pass on the gift of music to your children.
For preschoolers, make your own tool at home with jars, whisks, cups, etc. They will have lots of fun.
Encouragement is a necessary part of learning to play the piano or other instrument for your children. Show interest and praise them for their progress.
Be a role model for your child. If you don't know how to play the piano, study with your children to motivate them.

Because piano lessons offer so many developmental opportunities for children, it's never too early or too late to start learning to play. Why not give children the chance to develop and enrich their lives as soon as possible?

Estimate the right time to start studying

No one but you can better understand your children. Therefore, you need to evaluate for yourself whether it is time for your child to learn to play the piano or not. Just because you've seen a video of a four year old playing the piano doesn't mean you should start teaching your four year old (or younger). First introduce the child to the instrument, check if the child shows interest in it. At a social event, at a music store, or on TV, show your child the piano. Some children do not respond well to the normal learning structure and prefer to explore the instrument themselves. Introduce music, singing, dancing, and the like into your children's daily routine before you begin to prepare them for playing the piano.

Check readiness

Here we have outlined a few signs that your child is ready to learn to play the piano. Most children don't show these signs until age 5-8, so there's no need to rush.

Interest in learning music: Motivation is a significant factor in assessing a child's readiness for piano lessons. Parents should spend time with their children to instill in them an interest in music and to see if they have a desire to play this instrument.
Hand size: When starting piano lessons, make sure your child's hands and fingers fit comfortably on the keyboard. An acoustic grand piano may be too big for your little one, so it might be better to buy a small digital piano. Your child should be comfortable playing - this is the main part of learning.
Finger movements and independence: Your child should understand finger movements and be able to use each of them independently. It is necessary to play the piano. You can test finger movements and how many fingers your child is using by letting him or her explore the instrument. A child who plays the piano with one finger may not yet be ready for lessons.

Learning from books

If you are planning to teach your child to play from books, wait until he is fluent in reading. This means that you have to wait until 7-8 years. If you prefer to learn by ear, you can start at 5-6 years old.

Education with other children

Even if your child starts school at age 8 or later, it's not too late. While you will definitely see huge positive changes if you start early, with practice and desire you can develop an understanding of music regardless of age. It is true that lessons at an early age make the learning process easier than with older students. Younger children are less busy and stressed by other things, so they can concentrate more and spend more time exercising. Children who are serious about their studies at school may find it difficult to find time to rehearse amidst the large number of classes in and out of school. The older they get, the busier their life becomes.

Conclusion

If your child meets all the requirements (desire to learn, comfortable position of hands on the instrument, finger movements), you can start piano lessons as soon as possible. If you start at an early age, you increase the chance that music and piano will become part of your child's personality and mind. But remember the great truth that it is never too late to learn!

Eternal debate: at what age should children start learning music?

Disputes about the age at which one can start learning music have been going on for a long time, but by and large, an unequivocal truth has not been born in these disputes. The supporters of early (and also very early) development are also right - after all, a small child absorbs any available information like a sponge, laying a powerful foundation for further development.

Convincing arguments are also made by opponents of too early learning. These are emotional overload, and the psychological unpreparedness of children for systematic exercises, and the physiological immaturity of their gaming apparatus. Who is right?

Educational activities for the youngest children are not modern know-how at all. Back in the middle of the last century, Japanese professor Shinichi Suzuki successfully taught three-year-old children to play the violin. He believed, not without reason, that every child is potentially talented, it is important to develop his abilities from an early age.

Soviet musical pedagogy regulated the teaching of music in this way: from the age of 7, a child could enter the 1st grade of a music school (there were seven classes in total). For younger children, there was a preparatory group at the music school, which they took from the age of 6 (in exceptional cases - from five). Such a system existed for a very long time, surviving both the Soviet system and numerous reforms in general education schools.

But "nothing lasts forever under the moon." New standards have also come to the music school, where education is now regarded as pre-professional training. There are many innovations, including those that affect the age at which training begins.

A child can enter the first grade from the age of 6.5 to 9, while studying at a music school lasts 8 years. Preparatory groups with budget places are now abolished, so those who want to teach children from an earlier age will have to pay quite impressive money.

This is the official position in terms of starting music education. In reality, there are now a lot of alternative options (private lessons, studios, development centers). A parent, if desired, can introduce his child to music from any age.

When to start teaching music to a child is a very individual question, but in any case it must be decided from the position “the sooner the better”. After all, learning music does not necessarily mean playing an instrument, at an early age you can wait with this.

Music is a kind of art that children are able to perceive from the first days of life, and even before birth. Mom's lullabies, palms and other folk jokes, as well as classical music playing in the background - these are all "harbingers" of learning music.

Kindergarten children have music lessons twice a week. Although this is far from a professional level, there is undoubtedly a benefit. And if you are lucky with the music director, then you don’t have to worry about extra classes. It remains just to wait for the right age and go to a music school.

Usually parents think at what age to start music lessons, meaning how early it can be done. But there is also an upper age limit.