At What Age Should I Start Piano Lessons?

I started piano lessons at the age of 6. I started asking to take them at the age of 4 because my mom, brother and sister all took them but the teacher said that she would only start teaching me after I had learned how to read. I'm not sure if you know how to play, but even though piano music and the written english language are 2 different languages, the comprehension skills that are required to understand the relationships between the written representation and the actual sound are the same. There are plenty of people that start their kids off at a much younger age, like around 3, but the methods for really young kids are not based on reading music, but rather on ear training (they listen to the music to be performed and mimic it on the instrument.) This makes sense if you consider that you learn how to speak before you learn how to read. There are pro's and con's to doing it either way, but the best way to find out for sure is to expose your daughter to piano music as much as possible, go see concerts with people playing piano, etc. If she develops an appreciation for it, she may have an innate interest (like I did) that will make it easier for you to choose the path that suits her best. I was the first child in my kindergarten to learn how to read because I was motivated to take piano lessons! Now I have a degree in music and have written hundreds of songs . . . all because I was exposed to it at a very young age.

Good luck!
J.

She definitely needs to know how to read. I have talked to quite a few people about that when we were thinking of enrolling our son. I think a more realistic age is 6 or 7.

Btw, I have heard of an instructor in Hudsonville (in the condos next to Mr. Burger). Her name is Bonnie Johnson (I think that's right). I'm sure you can look her up. My friend has her daughter take lessons with her.

At three, I tried to put my son in sports, and it didn't work. He didn't have the attention span. So we tried again at 4, still didn't work. He just ran around doing whatever he felt like. It wasn't until after a year of preschool and regular instruction that he really started to understand organized sports and enjoy them. He's now five and can't get enough! Now it's much more about having fun and learning than work (for me anyway, trying to get him to focus!). We do most of our sports through the Y so he enjoys trying a different sport every 2 months or so. I'd say if your daughter is showing continued interest and you think she's ready, then maybe talk to an instructor about just starting out with 2 or 3 lessons. One thing I tell my son is that once he's made the commitment, he has to follow through, even if it's not his favorite sport. At the end of the 2 months, he can try something else if he wants. I know, I'm talking about sports, not music, but I think the philosophy is the same!

I would just say to find a teacher who understands where she is at so as to not overwhelm her and frustrate her. Some teachers might treat her like typical 7 year old students. I think it is awesome that you want to start her on music early. I think you will be amazed at how much a 4 year old can do.

You may want to introduce her to music first by going to something like kindermusik or something. It would help for her to be inspired and excited about making music to give her motivation and to encourage her to have fun with it.