One of the most beneficial skills a parent can teach their children is the gift of learning how to play music. But when to start music lessons? 

Some parents may want to be more cost-effective and wait for their child to get older, and others may want to get started right away. The reality is it’s never “too soon” to introduce music to your child.

Whether you’re still pregnant with your first child or they are about to enter elementary school, keep reading to learn when it’s best to start learning music and how you can help support your child’s journey.

Benefits of Learning an Instrument

Music lessons aren’t cheap and can compete against other activities for your child. However, the studies on learning to play music shows exciting benefits for children. Some of these benefits include:

• Enhanced brain function
• Improved speech development and language skills
• Improved math skills and spatial intelligence
• Better working memory and concentration

These are just a few of many benefits, but it’s clear that starting earlier can help your child develop skills essential to their day-to-day lives. However, it is best to ensure they have a few basic skills down before sending them off to their first set of music lessons!

Basic Motor Skills

The first thing to watch for is developing basic motor skills. If they have difficulty coordinating their arms and fingers, they may end up struggling to start learning an instrument. 

For example, piano keys require a musician to have a moderate amount of finger strength and coordination. If your child keeps placing their fingers in the wrong position, it may be too early for them to start their first music lesson. 

However, still allowing them to play around on a piano or guitar may end up helping them to develop their hand-eye coordination and improved motor control quickly. 

Basic Counting Skills

In addition to basic motor skills, it’s also important that your child can count to ten or at the very least four. This is important because counting to four, especially when learning to play the piano, can help them develop a sense of rhythm and timing. Counting is also a basic requirement for a vast majority of beginner-level piano songs. 

Focus Time

Children are brimming with energy, and it’s often challenging to get them to sit still for an extended period. However, being able to focus for at least 30 minutes at a time is important before signing them up for music lessons. 

Most lessons range between 30 minutes to 1 hour, so they should be able to focus without being too distracted for a more effective lesson. However, every child learns differently, and you may want to speak with the instructor before requiring them to sit still for the duration of the lesson. 

Time to Practice

Unless your child is signed up to receive daily music lessons, they must have time to practice on their own to master an instrument. In most cases, young children will need at least 30 minutes of daily practice to see an improvement in their skills over time. 

If you can get your child to practice their preferred instrument for at least 30 minutes a day, it’s a sure sign they may be ready to take on music lessons from qualified instructors. 

When to Start Music Lessons

Learning to play an instrument is one of the greatest gifts a parent could give their child, but when to start music lessons? There’s no blanket answer to this question, except that there is no such thing as “too soon.” 

Simply watch out for the four factors listed above, and soon your child will be on their way to reap all the benefits that come with music! 

Is your child ready to learn? Sign up for your first lesson with our qualified instructors today!