RIGHT AGE TO START?

People can start learning music at any age.  You may hear people say that you shouldn’t start your child in music lessons too young or that older adults will have a more difficult time learning.  Both of these statements can be true, to a degree, but they deserve some qualifying statements.

Starting a child in private music lessons too early can be a mistake because young children generally learn best from “playing” with their peers.  Learning music in a fun and energetic group atmosphere can spark young learners to develop a life-long love of music and build a solid foundation for future private study.  Each child develops the skills to learn independently at a different age; but, on average, children develop this ability between 5 and 7 years old. 

Some adults may have a more difficult time learning music, but most of the time it is because adults seem to have higher expectations of themselves and want to be able to play right now.  Playing music, even for enjoyment, rarely comes easily to anyone at any age, and takes patience and perseverance to be successful.  Not everyone will be a virtuoso, but with a little patience, some dedication and time, virtually anyone can learn music.