Showing off (2003) Attribution Some rights reserved by Stevie Lee

One question I am frequently asked by parents inquiring about piano lessons is “What age should they start?” This is a tricky question to answer as all children are completely different – they learn differently, they develop physically and mentally at different rates and they have unique personalities, temperaments, interests and goals. One has to consider whether the child is ready to take on extra curricula activities and the responsibility of a new practice regime, whether they have the attention span, and whether they have the desire to learn a musical instrument. On the other hand, even if a child does not demonstrate readiness or interest, a sensitive and inspiring teacher can help him/her to develop discipline and enthusiasm over time through developmental and age appropriate activities.

Personally, I believe that age seven is an excellent time to start formal lessons. Generally, children at this stage have become accustomed to school routines, they are reading (more or less), they are old enough to take on extra responsibility but young enough to be not too ‘set in their ways’, and their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination are more refined. However, this does not mean that children before this age should have no exposure to music and instruments. On the contrary, the more exposure the better! Even babies and toddlers respond to music and can develop musical appreciation and awareness through singing, clapping, dancing and listening to all kinds of musical styles. I find, too, that children who have been immersed in a musical environment from a very young age generally have more success once formal music lessons commence.

In the end, there is no right or wrong age to begin piano. It is ultimately at the discretion of the teacher, the parents and depends upon the individual readiness of the child. I can guarantee, however, that learning piano can bring tremendous satisfaction and pleasure to people of any age.

References
Showing off. (2003). [Image]. Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevielee/97904945/sizes/z/in/photostream/