When should children begin taking piano lessons?

Question:My daughter just celebrated her 4th birthday. She has shown an apttitude for music and an interest in playing instruments, especially the piano. My wife took dance lessons as a child and I have sung with various musical groups all my life, but neither of us plays an instrument. When should we look to enroll her in piano lessons?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: My daughter just celebrated her 4th birthday. She has shown an apttitude for music and an interest in playing instruments, especially the piano. My wife took dance lessons as a child and I have sung with various musical groups all my life, but neither of us plays an instrument. When should we look to enroll her in piano lessons?

When a child begins piano lessons really depends individually. Some are not ready at 4, some are at 3, some aren't until 6 or 7.
For sure if you choose to begin now, you have to make a commitment on your own part, since you will be helping and making sure she practices. She'll need lessons year round, because if you stop for too long she'll forget and have to start over.
I personally think piano is a great instrument to start learning on. Piano teaches you overall music so well, and it really develops pitch and skills that are very transferable in music later. Growing up my siblings and I were required to play piano until middle school, at which point we could choose to continue or we could learn a band instrument.
Know that your daughter can always learn something else if it isn't working.
So, is she mature? Bright? Focused? Interested?
Are you ready?
Then yes.
Get a good piano (not a keyboard, please!) and look around for a good teacher.

Don't just enroll her in piano. If she shows real interest in instruments take her to an instrument store (one that doesn't mind kids touching the instruments) and let her try the ones she wants. If you put her in piano and she doesn't like it she wont stick with it when she can get away from it. Let her choose the instrument.

I would say whenever the child wants to. I play bass and drums. I wanted to play drums since, I was born almost, but my parents only let me since I was 6. The earlier, the better. The younger a child is, the easier it is to pick things up. That rule applies for anything from languages to martial arts.

Tell her good luck ;)

As soon as she wants to.

If a child is stuck in lessons they don't like, it will not be productive. They won't pay attention and won't learn anything. There really isn't an age where it is suddenly "OK" to start learning- just as long as your daughter shows enough focus and interest in the instrument it should be fine.

Well,basically....if your daughter has shown her interest in the field of music...you shouldn't wait...grab this opportunity!...but,the right instrument must be selected...i would suggest you to show her some musical instruments(as you've worked with musical groups..they can be helpful to you)...just leave her alone with the instrument for atleast 10 minutes...watch her facial expressions...observe her reactions...like..when children get involved in something interesting..they usually blink their eyes with innocence or they give a cute nice smile...some children also touch their heads with their hands and act as if they were thinking some thing...this behaviour shows their interest in various fields..try it out..

Age doesn't matter at all...even when i was 3 and a half,i used to play my papa's piano....and my father then took the decision to make me go to the classes....now,i can play many instruments only due to the instant beneficial decisions of my parents...

right now, i started piano when i was four, go right ahead!

8 is a good age.

Go to her with the idea. If she wants to, go for it as soon as possible! Or maybe have a try out lesson and see if she likes it. If she doesn't pull her out and let her explore more instruments or other activities such as dance. The earlier the learning the better they become. Young minds are great for forming and often times it gets harder with age to learn even mere years. Also broaden her horizons by introducing her to other instruments as well. Who knows? She might be the next Mozart!

There are a couple things a piano teachers would want to know first. This is a good check list and I use it myself when I interview students.

Are they vocal?
It is important for the child to be talking and singing. Piano lessons are interactive and a child will be required to sing notes and to count beats out loud. The child doesn't have to have a big voice, but comfortable with theirs.

Maturity/Behavior
Some kids at 3,4, 5, and 6 may not be mature enough. The child will have to be able to stay focused for 30 minutes. Now the lessons will have a number of activities so your child won't be seated in one place for the entire time, but a hyperactive child or one who is aloof will have a difficult time.

Parents
For children to learn at an early age, the parents must be involved. First, the parents need to be at the lesson to encourage their child but also to learn beside them. No child will be able to remember everything in a lesson by themselves. At home, the parents should practice with the child every day. Many parents leave their young children to sort it out by themselves. That just won't work. Parents need to be actively involved in the practice time so what is taught in the lesson can be reinforced at home. Your child will only be as interested in music as you are. If you do not demonstrate interest, your child will not either. You have to be excited for them to be excited. The more involved you are the more your child will enjoy music. It is a commitment and you have to schedule with your child at least 30 minutes a day to practice. Make it routine! A child must develop the discipline and habit and that is up to the parents at home. I have taught many students, and those whose parents are actively involved do the best. Children with parents who don't sit with them to practice or provide encouragement do not succeed. Remember, it is a financial and time commitment.

Finger Strength
Children interested in piano would show signs of finger development. A good way to see this is observe your children doing daily routines. Can they grip a crayon, squeeze toy, lift up a their plastic drinking cups. Do they carry a toy with one hand or both? A child demonstrating natural finger development would be able to carry a toy with one hand, squeeze a crayon and be able to lift up a plastic cup by age 3. If a child has weak fingers then piano lessons will be very difficult but a good teacher would be able to work with it.

Knowledge
How well does your child know their ABC's and 123's. Its vital that they are comfortable with these two elementary topics. As well, do they have good memory. A good way to know is can they sing back a nursery rhyme with out cueing from you. If they can then they are cognitively ready.

A good teacher will be able to excite your child and develop their skills. Spend time interviewing teachers. Don't just go with the cheapest. You get what you pay for. Look for someone with experience! There are many high school aged kids teaching who are not qualified at all. Look for teachers with University degrees. Again, it is a financial commitment and you do not want to give your money to someone with no experience. Ask them if they have a method book of choice and why they use it. Ask them if they have a curriculum for your child. And then, ask to speak to some of their students. If the teacher doesn't allow this, then they have something to hide. A good teacher will have nothing to hide and share everything with you. Look for teachers who are registered music teachers. I highly discourage the high school kid or the University student. It is so important to have experience, especially at the early stage. This is the most important stage when it comes to music. If you have a bad teacher, you child will only learn bad habits and your money will be wasted. Pay for a good teacher who will know exactly what is in the best interest of your child.