When you have small children in the house, you’re constantly looking for ways to peak their creativity. You introduce art, keep them active, and share great music.
To keep their artistic talents budding, it’s only natural to put them in classes to express themselves freely. Sign them art for painting? Of course. How about piano lessons? Sure, it’s a great way to introduce them to music.
But when is the perfect time to start? What’s the best age for piano lessons? Is there such a thing as too soon?
Learning something new as a child can have a dramatic impact on their lives. They may fall in love with it and turn it into a career. Or they may just find something they love that will be impactful throughout their lives. Either way, it’s up to you to introduce different activities in the right way.
When a child is ready for piano lessons
While there isn’t an age too young for music, there is an appropriate time for starting piano lessons. It has more to do with the structure of their hands than what they’re capable of learning and retaining.
Piano lesson readiness varies, and isn’t necessarily dependent on age. Instead, you should look for:
Hand size – to play the piano, you need to stretch your fingers comfortably on the keys to be able to touch five white keys next to each other.
Dexterity – each finger will have to move independently of one another.
Interest in playing the piano – if a child wants nothing to do with sitting and playing, there’s little you can do to motivate them. They need a desire to create music to ensure they stick with piano lessons.
If you do a search on finding the best age to introduce piano lessons to your child, you’ll find advice ranging from age 2 to 7. Because children progress at different speeds and have interests in different subject matters, timing depends on when they’re ready cognitively and functionally.
Once they reach that point, it’s up to you to pique their interests and find the right teachers to help keep them committed to creating music for years to come.
