Hi all!

I want to know how old a kid should begin to play with an instrument? I think it is a great gift if you can play and brings such of wonderful skills.

My toddler is obviously too young but I would like to know when we could introduce her to an instrument.

I think all young kids should have instruments available and be encouraged to play and practice, I started guitar when I was about 11 with formal lessons that lasted about 4 years this was me last year -



I think it is important that kids do not develop the 'I can't possibly do that' complex. Guitar playing is such a big part of my life and has always provided me with joy and developed my musical skills and patience.

Go for it! All kids should be able to have the choice of playing. With keyboards and computers being cheaply available and a variety of second hand options on the internet, what do you have to lose (apart from friendly neighbors?).

A rockin' child is a happy small person.

Nil, do you mean like lessons?

According to my mum, I love music when I was a kid too and I remember banging out the odd cartoon tunes on my toy piano. But I was only given formal lessons at 7. She felt that it was a good age as I was old enough to sit still for lessons, study and practice.

I think its not the age that matters. The key is for the child to express the interest rather than forcing them for lessons. A good example will be my sister - my mum made her take lessons to fully utilise the piano at home when I left to the UK for studies (and the piano was collecting dust). She would cry, scream and kick before going for lessons. Did that for 3 years before mum gave up on her, whilst I stuck it out and completed all the exams and even wanted it as a career.

Learning to play an instrument should primarily be enjoyable. If you just want her to be exposed to musical instruments, any time is good! Introducing children to music, like introducing them to reading, should not wait for formal classes to start. Just as you read to your very young children, you should sing to them (whether you consider yourself a decent singer or not), dance with them, teach them singing games and share with them the music that you like. Exposing them to classical music, (check out amazon for resources like Mozart for kids etc) can't hurt, either, but at a very young age they will be most engaged by what engages you. If a member of the family plays any instrument, expose her to them more - all the better to pique her curiousity!

Lessons should only begin when the child understands the full implication of them and has shown interest.

The music school here in Vaud thinks that a child is ready for playing an instrument at the age of 8 as they are allowed to 'choose' instrument only after completing the first class. Some kids are gifted and I think they can work beautifully with their little fingers well before you know-basically it all depends on child's interest !

Thanks for your answers!

I wish she would want to learn violin in the futur! I will not force her but I will certainly push her to develop her skills whatever they are.

She loves music, like probably all kids. She sings, dances...

In my town, the musicshule offers a 2 year introduction course from the age of 5. They try many different instruments . I wanted to sign up my 6th year old for the second year but could not as she had not completed the first year . Instead they suggested my daughter to do a bamboo flute klass. In this lesson, she will learn to make her own instrument. Maybe later she will show an interest in a particular instrument but for the moment, it is more than enough for her. I hope she will enjoy it. It 's just a shame it is so expensive.

I started my violin lessons when I was 7 year old. They lasted 4 years till we moved to other city and my mom was a bit slow in finding other convenient teacher for me, as the nearest Music School was a bit far away and there was nobody to bring me there couple of times a week.
Boy I was happy
Then I told her I never really liked it..(she was very disapointed)
I love music, nevertheless.

I started violin lessons when I was seven, I think. I begged my parents to let me learn the clarinet or the flute . . . I just liked the way they looked with all the buttons and stuff. They insisted though and I repaid them with years of scratchy, headache inducing practise. In the end though, I did pretty well and was leader of my school orchestra and played in the county youth orchestra. I'm glad my parents pressed me and that I learnt the violin.

Zurich City children are invited in their second primary school year to an open day organised by the Jugendmusikschule Zurich. They can try out all musical instruments and look in on theater, dance, ensemble groups etc. that are taught. Music is also a very highly regarded part of the curriculum in primary school. Before then, there's obviously a lot of music in Kindergarten and pre-school nursery groups: singing, dancing, xylophone, rhythmic instruments play the most important roles. There used to be a course called "Musikalische Früherziehung" for Kindergarten-aged children, but I don't know if the programme still exists. This is all specific for Zurich, don't know how other cantons, cities differ in this respect.

I'd say take it as it comes. My son wanted desperately to learn to play the violin after seeing a school friend perform. So we asked if he could take lessons - at 6 1/2 years. He was accepted by the Jugendmusikschule - an exception really, and I don't know why they said it was a good idea. It was really too early for him - he realised how hard it was and gave up again quite quickly. At least we didn't buy the violin! He has now taken 1 1/2 years of rhythm school (?), playing Djembé drums once a week and practicing whenever he feels like it at home. He'll be starting theatre group this year after the school holidays, which is definitely more his kind of thing.
My eldest son (12) spends most of his time on Garage Band and itunes and will be taking part in a Music Creator course offered by the Jugendmusikschule this year too. He took the rythm lessons for a couple of years too. We'll probably invest in a keyboard for them all to tinkle around on, but not lessons unless they are really prepared to practice on a regular basis.

If you are musical, your children will most likely latch on straight away - go with the flow. And if you're not (like me - I just sing in the shower), then they'll let you know too if they're musical or not.

Well, my younger son is 3 and we have been doing Kindermusik (www.kidsmusic.ch) for about a year now. This is obviously not learning an instrument but it's a great way to spend some quality time and learn about tempo and loudness and stuff like that. My son absolutely adores it.

I think I started to play guitar when I was about 6 or 7 but I gave it up in my teens as I was more interested in reading and studying (bit of a nerd back then!) wish I had kept it up to be honest - I still have a guitar at home and could thrash out a few chords but that's it really. When I was at school I think everyone did lessons in guitar / piano / flute / violin or sang in the choir. Most kids learnt something.

I think it's worth buying even young kids things like keyboards and musical toys - they love them even if they can't play properly. At 3 a lot of kids can bang out a rhythm on a tambourine or drum.

I think kids as young as 4 could do lessons provided that they actually want to - at that age though it has to be about fun and not about actually being good at it. Also a musical instrument is usually an expensive thing and not something you want them to just throw round like a toy. They have to be able to be careful with a violin or guitar.

Music is something I'll never force on my kids, but I'd also love it if they played an instrument. Especially piano - I always wanted to play piano....

My older son actually chose to go to music camp this summer instead of football which I was amazed about. The highlight of this was apparently when the teacher asked them what kind of music or bands they listened to. My son (age 6) replied "I like ACDC" .

Please, parents, do not wish that your child would like to do something. Introduce them to things, see if they catch, encourage them if they do, move on if they don't. If your kid hates the violin lessons, forcing them to go are not going to make them like it more.

If the music lessons don't catch, try a different instrument, or a drawing class, or robotics, or whatever. It has to be fun in order to be interesting for them.

Actually it made me like it more. The violin's so darned difficult for a kid I defy any of them to really like it straight away.

I had to drink beer a few times before I liked it too as well.

Waow really ?? I would not never thought about that.

I just want to give my daughter the chance to try other things than only sport activities. We are a lucky enough family to be able to give them opportunities to try things out. And it will be a good exercise for her to learn to listen and concentrate before she FINALLY start primary school next year. If she does not like it, it will actually be cheaper for us!

@ OP: I could even have arranged a meeting with someone in my Gemeinde to talk to my daughter and see if she was ready or not to take on an instrument "for real". I did not do it as I know she is not ready.

Waow really ?? Taking it personal much?

Speaking out of experience, as a music teacher, I can tell you that there are way too many parents whose desire to see their kids like music makes them blind to the reality that their kids hate being forced to go to music lessons. Believe me, there is nothing fun for the teachers either about trying to "teach" a crying, screaming 6 year old.

I had my first lessons in the age of 3-4. "Lessons" is maybe a bit too strong, it was more "playing involving music". Definitely before primary school.

In Germany it was organized by the Musikschulen mentioned before, I do not know if they offer it here as well, but a short google of "musikalische Früherziehung" brought up: http://www.kindermusizieren.ch/

So:
Instruments starting at 3.
Singing with parents starting at 2.

Like the need to practice, do scales etc.

If the child isn't prepared/capable to put the work in, you're wasting your money. When our kids balked at the work, we told them to work at it to get the next grade (abrsm). If they still wanted to give up after that, then they were allowed to.

My middle child is the only one who gave up.

I found that doing the ABRSM syllabus gave them goals - gaining a grade per year - but also ensured they had an overall musical education. Theory, sight reading, sight singing, etc. + 3 different pieces, of different types for each grade.

This is what I said when I mentioned I will not force her but push her to develop skills in whatever she wants.

I thought my post was useful, but I have received no useful points from any one , I even showed a video of myself to show what is possible . Which addresses a useful point that you should pursue things that satisfy you and not crave the attention of others.

I'm a teacher myself and having to teach French to a bunch of pupils who hate is not fun either..I have taught down to KG kids so I totally understand what you mean.. The only way is to deliver as lesson which as much fun as possible at this level and even up to 17 year old, !. This is exactly why I am quite happy with the bamboo flute. it is just a pity, the teacher is not offering a trial lesson. I have had to commit for the year since 2 other kids are involved. Now both him and the kids will have to put with it for a year even if they don't enjoy it.