I've worked with numerous families over the past 15 years and have taught many children who start lessons when they are 5 or 6 years old. This seems to be the perfect age to start when school routines are developed and they are used to teacher-student interactions while in school. By this time, the student also knows the full alphabet and numbers which are very useful for starting out at the piano.
The "ideal" age is often focused on when starting lessons on the piano, however, I believe the motivation for signing up should be heavily considered before signing up in a new activity. Here are some situations I have encountered during my years of teaching:
The parent used to take lessons as a child, quit lessons early on, and wants his/her child to have the experience in hopes of making it stick.
A sibling is currently taking lessons and the parent wants another child to share the same activity.
The parent wants the child to be busy or stay busy with an activity such as piano to have a well-rounded education.
The child specifically asks to learn piano because he/she knows someone else who plays or heard piano music and feels inspired to learn.
Any of these situations listed above can result in a child really enjoying piano lessons with either pursuing it professionally later on, just as a hobby, or discontinue lessons altogether. Before committing to lessons, here are some factors to consider:
Does your child enjoy listening to music?
I remember as a child, my mom used to take me to recitals and concerts to expose me to classical music. We also listened to the radio stations quite a bit. Take your child to live music events to see what resonates the most. Turn on Spotify or the radio on car drives together to give your child's ears an eclectic listening experience.
Do you have the time?
If signing up for in-person lessons, you must consider the amount of time it takes to drive to and from the lesson. You also need to factor in the other activities your child might be involved in. Sports in particular require alot of time during the week with practices and games. I have worked with families in the past where the child was overloaded with activities and couldn't keep up with piano lessons due to schedule changes and burnout. Learning the piano is like learning a new language; there needs to be consistency in practice every week to get the most out of lessons. Beginner practicing should be at least 5-10 minutes most days of the week.
Do you have a digital piano/acoustic piano at home already?
If not, buying a piano is not a cheap purchase. However, there are piano stores that offer rentals, rent-to-own, or used pianos. Facebook marketplace is also a great place to find a used piano. The budget will range anywhere between $300-$1000s. If you need assistance in finding a good digital piano, please go to my other blog post which lists some options.
Do you as a parent want lessons for your child or does your child want lessons?
This is a sensitive one! With young children starting on piano, sometimes it is hard to tell if they will stick to it in the long run. It is always good to check in with your child multiple times to gauge his/her interest level. A child might have high interest in the beginning, then over time lose interest which is also okay! In the end, you are taking a chance once you commit to lessons. Taking the time to find a good quality instrument and teacher are important when taking this leap into a new activity. I cover both of these topics in my blog posts "Tips for Starting Out as a Beginner Adult" and "How to Pick the Right Piano Teacher for You."
Final Thoughts
The skills learned in taking piano lessons are so beneficial in the long run! Discipline, keeping goals, patience, as well as developing aural skills, internal rhythm, and musical creativity are just a few of the benefits in which children can take with them into their adult years. For a great lesson experience overall, considering the factors I mentioned above I find are important in addressing before diving in to lessons.
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