What Instrument Should a Child Learn First?

Does it matter which instrument your child plays first, or is it beneficial to just get started with music in any capacity? Can your child play different instruments to pick a favorite? And will it set your child’s development back if they change instruments after a year or two?

As one of the leading destinations for piano lessons in Fairfax, VA and the surrounding area, we often help parents answer these questions around music lessons for their children. Keep reading to learn more, and please get in touch if you would like to enroll in a free piano lesson trial.

What Instrument Should Your Child Learn First?

If you are enrolling your 3-5 year old child in music classes, they will probably experience a variety of musical activities and instruments – this is for the best. Especially at the younger end of that spectrum, kids should be having fun, discovering musical concepts, dancing, and preferably using rhythm instruments like hand drums. It’s unlikely that your 3-4 year old will be able to have an effective piano lesson unless the teacher leads a significant amount of away-from-the-keyboard activities.

Things like bells, drums, and other percussion instruments can really help a child learn rhythm, and the voice can be used to train the ear and learn how to recall and reproduce tunes.

If your child is starting lessons after the age of 5, they probably have enough fine motor skills and discipline to jump right into piano or violin (or something else) lessons – although the lessons will still need to be specifically tailored for children.

Once Ready, Should Your Child Learn Piano First?

The piano is an excellent choice because it requires such a fundamental understanding of music and theory. It’s a foundation for a future in music, and whether your child decides to maintain piano studies or pursue a different instrument in the future, a solid understanding of the keyboard is very helpful.

The piano teaches both the bass and the treble clef, your child’s reading ability will be much better than non-pianists at that age, and compared to the piano, most other instruments will seem much easier. For instance, if you can play the piano, you can basically know how to  play the xylophone already, and you already know how to read music and recognize chords.

Many great instrumentalists started with the piano and picked up their brass, woodwind, or string instrument in middle school or high school (violin is usually the exception here), so starting on the piano does not mean they can’t learn other instruments later.

All Things Considered, What Is The Right Age To Start Music Lessons?

This varies from child to child, but you can start as early as you’d like – just realize that they won’t become a great pianist faster just because you enrolled them in lessons when they are three years old.

The earliest years should be spent galvanizing a love of music – if you can lead them to a discovery of the piano or another instrument, they will be happy to take lessons and practice without it becoming another chore. If they are handed a violin when they turn five and told to practice, it won’t be something they enjoy.

Our music classes for young children involve movement, rhythm instruments, teamwork, pre-recorded music, and more – we are trying to inspire kids and make them love music (while also learning!).

Unless your child is especially gifted and disciplined, starting them at the piano at age 4 won’t really increase the likelihood of them becoming an advanced pianist compared to a 6-7 year old who starts piano lessons. Even a child who starts piano as late as age 10 can catch up to the level of his or her peers by high school. It all comes down to practice and discipline.

Are Music Lessons Really Good For Kids?

Yes – music lessons strengthen the same part of the brain used for linguistic development, so one of the advantages of group piano class is that your young child will be more skilled at discerning language and communicating.

Music class also reinforces counting and logic, and it builds self confidence as students start to see that the work they are putting into music is resulting in greater ability at the piano or another instrument.

The social aspect of group music class should also be taken into consideration, and if you commit to practicing with your child, then it becomes a powerful bonding experience as well.

If you’d like to learn more about piano lessons in Alexandria, piano lessons in Washington D.C., or anything else, please don’t hesitate to get in touch – we would love to hear from you.