What age is the earliest children can start at these instruments?

Question

flute
clarinet
trombone
cello
oboe
drums
violin

Answer 1

With the exception of the drum, kids can start learning to play any of the orchestra instruments at aged 2, but it is a waste of time and can do damage. It's quite popular in some areas to start violin at age 4 and other instruments at 5 or 6, but any honest music teacher will tell you that with very few exceptions, it is a mistake. A kid who is a true prodigy may benefit from very early training, but most American kids do not have the concentration or muscular development to play. Starting at age 8 is a much better idea and in a year, your kid will be at the same level at the poor souls who were forced to take lessons at 4. Early Suzuki training in the US is mostly a welfare plan for music teachers. It works in Japan where the culture dictates submissions, obedience and blind rote practicing. If you're interested in the long term .... wait a while.

As for drums, little tykes love banging on things and can start any time. But a good drummer is about control, patience and good musicianship..... those characteristics are best developed after the motor/hand skills are well developed...at age 10 or so.

If you doubt that this is the case, ask your friends with teenagers, how many of them started music lessons as pre-schoolers and how many of them are still playing.

Answer 2

I started at age 9 or 10 because I play the clarinet and I am 13

Answer 3

any age really, i would start a younger kid on drums or violin, something that doesn't require a lot of air or lung power (like the flute and trombone) but any age is good for an instrument

Answer 4

really young beleive it or not.... preschool with smaller instruments, but the Oboe and Trombone require more arm length....especially the trombone...many junior high boys don't have long enough arms for the trombone.