The Best Age for Music Lessons in Southampton

Perhaps you’re keen to get your child involved in a musical hobby. Or maybe you fancy taking up the piano, guitar or drums yourself. But what is a good age to learn an instrument?

The best age for music lessons in Southampton will vary according to the individual’s developmental stage and experience. A desire to play a particular instrument will also play a part in when the budding musician gets started.

The ability to play an instrument is a valuable skill. In this article, we’ll reveal when and how to get started with lessons.

The best age for music lessons

Did you know that learning to play an instrument is excellent for brain health and development? It builds dexterity both physical and mental and improves memory, helping to ward off dementia. And studying music enhances learning in academic fields, especially maths. It doesn’t have to be one-on-one – both group lessons and personal tuition are very effective.

When to start music lessons for toddlers

Providing your toddler with the opportunity to learn an instrument is an excellent gift as a parent. In a tech-focussed world, where reducing screen time is becoming increasingly crucial for young children, non-digital hobbies are more important than ever. So it’s more a case of when can a child start to learn a specific instrument, rather than when they should.

Should I make my child learn an instrument?

Encouragement is far more successful a method than coercion. Try to ignite a sense of excitement about playing and find a music teacher who will inspire and make the process fun. If you’ve already started them on lessons at a young age and they’ve started to show resistance, it can be helpful to give them a break for a few months before trying again. Or consider switching to a different instrument.

What is a good age to learn an instrument?

There are a few factors that will dictate what age a child can take music lessons and learn to play an instrument. These are:

The physical size of the child
Their current level of motor skills
The time they can currently focus and concentrate
Whether they can read
Your budget for instrument and lessons
The space you have to keep and store the practice instrument
The type of music genre and instrument they display an interest in

What age to start piano lessons?

The piano can be learned at any age, however, it’s much much easier to start with this one at a young age. Aim to start lessons between six and eight years if at all possible. Pianos are generally large and cumbersome, which won’t suit all home setups. However, a more portable keyboard option – while still relatively large – is more manageable. The piano is an excellent instrument for budding songwriters and singers wanting to self-accompany. And it will work for them whatever genre of music they decide to play in the future.

Best age to learn violin

The violin carries a great deal of kudos and class but is a challenging instrument that’s far from easy on the ear in the early stages of learning. Start your child young when learning potential is prime, but be sure that the pupil will be able to focus for at least ten minutes.

A violin requires the dexterity for both the bow and strings. A good test of suitability for this is whether they can write with a pencil yet. This may be as young as three. Larger stringed instruments such as the cello and double bass may come a little later, as their sheer size requires a certain level of physical development. While violin prices vary enormously, an entry-level violin model can be purchased for under £50 and won’t take up much cupboard space.

Check if your child can understand the movement of notes up and down and whether they can follow basic instructions with up to three steps. Usually, this will all be in place between seven and nine, meaning this is the ideal range to learn, certainly if they’re to have the possibility of a professional career playing the violin. This instrument can be used in some pop songs, but it is generally synonymous with classical genres.

Instruments for kids – when should my child learn an instrument?

Take a look at some of history’s most famous musicians and you’ll see that many of them began playing between the ages of five and ten. This success may be down to the fact that they displayed a strong work ethic and can-do attitude from a young age, as opposed to simply long-standing technical know-how. So it also follows that a child who learns half-heartedly from primary age, will probably not do as well as an older learner who has passion and drive. The ideal scenario is where the individual has both.

Perhaps you’d like your child to take up several instruments. Once they understand the principles of music, via their first instrument, adding more to their arsenal will be easier than starting from scratch.

What instrument can a 3-year-old play?

A three-year-old with reasonable motor skills can start to play a keyboard. However, the test for whether your child can begin lessons is whether they can place five fingers on five adjacent white keys. Additionally, they must be able to wiggle each finger individually and place three on three black keys at once. Usually, this is possible from around the age of five. However, you can still allow them to familiarise themselves with it and play around before this. It builds a sense of musicality and comfort with the instrument. An ability to read is also required for serious piano lessons.

Percussion is usually the first instrument a child will encounter. Drums, tambourines and bongos are all frequently found in pre-school environments. Many kids will pick upbeat and rhythm naturally, by ear and may not even need lessons. If you’d like to start them on some coaching super young, a drum or tabla is a possibility from the age of just two. Opting for a group class or workshop is much easier with percussion and cuts down on fee costs. A formal one-hour group class will be ideally suitable for those from five upwards.

While it’s great to learn drums young, this is an instrumental genre that is frequently not explored until later on into teens or adulthood. And a late start is unlikely to preclude you from a professional career. Dave Grohl, frontman for the Foo Fighters taught himself to play the drums in the latter part of high school, having already taught himself guitar as a kid. Karen Carpenter, perhaps history’s most famous female singer-drummer, also learned to play while at high school. So often, teens can be the most exciting and relevant time to begin working with a full drum kit – especially if you have aspirations to join a band.

What is a good instrument for a 7-year-old?

By age 7, your child should be able to learn any and every instrument. It’s an optimum time to introduce piano and violin in particular.

If you’re unsure if they’ll stick at it and so are looking for something easy to pick up and inexpensive, the recorder is a good option. It is, however, less rewarding than more dynamic instruments. But it’ll provide a grounding in woodwind so they can move onto a flute, clarinet, or alto saxophone from the age of around 10.

Can you learn an instrument at any age?

Learning an instrument is a fantastic life choice. Did you know it makes you more intelligent, happier, and even healthier? This is because it requires a level of cognition and multi-tasking, simultaneously developing planning, mathematical and language skills while reducing anxiety and boosting memory function.

These benefits apply at any age or stage of life, young or old. Musical instruments are used in nurseries and schools, but also in nursing homes. However, there are some parameters to work within when it comes to deciding what and when you should play. Your purpose for learning is also relevant. If it’s just for fun, almost any instrument at any stage is a possibility.

Can you learn guitar at any age?

Yes. Strings prove hugely popular with all ages and it’s common for people to take them up later in life. Like the piano, this is a great choice for singers and songwriters. While the guitar is better suited to rock, indie and pop, classical guitars are an option too. The uke has seen a resurgence in popularity, with adult classes popping up in cities and towns across the country. Guitars have an enduring ‘cool’ factor – be they acoustic, electric or bass. For this reason, it is a fantastic instrument for teens. As basic chords can be learned quickly, there’s also a quick sense of satisfaction, which suits those who may struggle to stay focussed and committed.

To start, you (or your child if they’re the learner) will need to be able to comfortably hold and operate a guitar – be it full, half or thee quarter-sized. Strings can be painful on younger, soft skin, so a plectrum is recommended. In terms of dexterity, if they can tie a bow, they should be able to manage the fret. Guitars and ukeleles are portable, require limited storage (you can mount them on walls if space is at a premium) and versatile. Entry-level models can be purchased very cheaply. If you don’t fancy the guitar or uke, you might like to start with a banjo or mandolin.

Nothing is ever lost when learning an instrument (other than any fees for tuition and instruments and remember that the latter can always be sold on). If you’re worried about how you’ll pay for your child to learn, do check out the available music education funding schemes. And if you’re looking for a tutor, speak to your local recording studio or music school for advice and recommendations.