How Old Should Children Start Music Lessons?
I’ve heard the earlier you start music, the more chance they have in becoming “talented”. Is it too early to start formal music classes with my preschooler?
The minute your baby is born, he is interacting and learning in his New World. Sound and voices are all much louder in the outside world and there is nothing more pleasurable to him than the sound of his parents voices, especially his mothers in the beginning weeks.
In our society, there
seems to be so many demands placed on parents for educating their children early and giving our children a “good start in life “. It is often thought that the earlier we can start, the more chance we have of developing a “Musical Prodigy” or a child with “Musical Talent”. However, while it’s a good idea to start music at an early stage, you don’t need to be extreme about it. Moderation and positive experiences are the key at any stage in a child’s life. It will not give your child an extra advantage in music if you decide to join a music group or class and he cries the entire time every single week. You won’t enjoy it, your child won’t enjoy it and your teacher most definitely won’t enjoy it!
To start with your preschooler will enjoy spending time with you and hearing you sing. You don’t have to go to any special classes to do this, just have a collection of songs or nursery rhymes ready that you enjoy. Ensure that you add lots of expression and animation as you sing it. Your child may not understand what you are singing at in the early days, but he will see that you are having fun and are including him in it. How many times have you heard from a friend that their child just loves an old 70’s or 80’s song. That is because they love it!
As your child becomes more active and you feel that extra stimulation is needed, find a music group and take into account a few crucial factors at this stage in your child’s development.
Being part of a class of any age is a learned experience. Don’t expect that your child will become involved in activities instantly and that they will learn more quickly as a result of the class. Instead use the class as a way of meeting other parents with similarly aged children and as a different form of exposure for your child. Check to see if the children and parents currently enrolled are happy and that your teacher is well educated and experienced in working with preschoolers specific to your child’s age. As children will still get the most stimulation from you as the parent, make sure you do the session with your child and don’t just leave them there.
As a parent you can help this by asking your teacher what the most appropriate class is for your child is and making it a priority to get to the class most suitable to the learning age and ability of your child. If you choose a reputable music school or group, your teacher will know most of the children in the school and will give you a great recommendation. Trust this and make sure you can get to that class.
Even if you’ve made the decision to start music with your preschooler don’t expect that you’ll be playing the piano, guitar or drums straight away or even within years. Children need to gain the necessary motor skills with age in order to do this successfully. If you have chosen a reputable music school or group the emphasis will be fun, a nurturing environment and game play. What music will do at this stage is build the foundations for all learning as your child grows and will expose your child to all kinds of music, especially classical.
Research is showing regular exposure to certain types of classical music helps develop a child’s brain because of the structure and form behind it.
There is plenty of time for your child to expand into the instrument of their choice, so in the preschool years just concentrate on making a positive start in a group environment, and giving maximum exposure to music.