Six year old learning to play an instrument?

Question

What do you think of a six year old learning to play a musical instrument? In our district they offer lessons in fourth grade and above. Would a first grader be too young?

Answer 1

The earlier children begin an instrument the easier it is for them. I knew a child than began at 3, he is 14 now and is very good.

The one thing that is important is the teacher. Be sure you choose a teacher that works with children that age. You want the teacher to have age appropriate material. Be sure to get references and possible supervise the lessons for awhile(if done in a store, etc)

Music lessons are great for a child. Be sure to keep the practicing fun( ask him/her to play for you, I used to love playing for my mom and it made me feel as if I were performing and not practicing)

Answer 2

I'd say that it depends on two things: 1 - your means and goals as a parent 2 - the kid's interest level. If you have the means, piano is a great place to start. It's very simple. Anyone can hit a key or two. Chords are tricky with small hands and can easily intimidate a child though. A real piano is very large and can be quite expensive. My family had one when I was growing up and I have no idea what they paid for it, but they sold it for 800 bucks with all it's nicks and scratches from kids doing kid things to it for 15 years. It was nothing special, just a decent playing upright. If you don't have the means, I suggest a ukulele. Don't cheap out and get one that is just a toy, spend 70 bucks and get a half decent concert sized uke. Most concert sized ukes have excellent fret spacing for kid's hands and have a bit more work put into making their fretboards actually accurate. Regardless of what you choose, it's going to be up to the kid to find enjoyment in it. The uke is not intimidating and can be quite fun to play. I have also had a lot of fun making ukuleles from things around the house. They are great instruments for sharing, so good for social development as well. And if the kid gives up on it (like I did with cello when I was young), you haven't lost much. But the kid has learned some things that can stick with him for a long time. When I learned ukulele myself, I found that it was a great first step to introduce me to strumming, picking, scales and music theory without the complication and fear that I had of the guitar. Now I'm playing guitar too.

Answer 3

I've been playing music since I was four, and I have to say, it gives me a major leg up. I'm still with the same instrument after all these years(Mallet Instruments like Vibraphone, Marimba, Xylophone, Bells, etc. It runs in the family, so it was taught to me by my father, uncles, and cousins. I'm not sure about outer lessons, though.). But I know many kids have troubles deciding one, my best advice to you is pick an instrument like Piano, it helps with note reading and can give them a general view of what things sound like. I think it's great if children start earlier, it has actually proven to help improve kid's mental capabilities. So I'd start them on Piano out of all of them. They're the easiest lessons to find, a beautiful instrument, and a great introduction into music. It can also give them a chance to play keyboard and will help them in almost any instrument they go into.

Answer 4

There are special techniques for teaching children this age so be sure to get a teacher qualified in those methods.

Some children at 5-6 can learn to play an instrument just fine - others can't stay motivated to do so.

Most important, it has to be something the child wants to do.

Answer 5

My kids started group piano lessons at age 5 and enjoyed it and learned a lot. The critical thing is picking a teacher who understands little kids.

I'd recommend starting with piano, as it's a lot just to figure out how to read notes, learn about rhythym, etc., without also having to figure out fingering and breathing techniques.

Answer 6

My kids started piano at 6 - but one-to-one, with a teacher who was used to little ones. They wouldn't have coped learning in a group at that age.

Answer 7

no, i think thats very good, i started to play the flute when i was in 3rd grade, and then i played the clarinet then the saxaphone, I enjoyed my years playing when i was in school, i marched in the band when i went to high school, then, after foootball season was over, that did it for me, I was soo tired, when i was in 11th grade, I came home and told my parents i quit , i had enough, And i lost interest, And, But i still kept my clarinet, and when i became an adult i look back and said to myself boy was i a dummy, I should of kept my instruments and should of stayed at it, But Life goes on, and then my ex husband sold my instrument for drugs, As life went on, I now have a step daughter to be who wants to play in the band as well, Soo the moral to this story is, Tell her she can play, but dont quit, Dont stand there and cry the way i did, and said oh i hate this Keep it up, hint if she gets tired of playing one instrument they try the next o0ne, and so forth, I settled on the sax

Answer 8

it depends on the child. if the parent thinks the child can handle at the age, its fine. i started at a young age around 5-8 years and learned many important values at that age.

Answer 9

If the child wants to learn, then, of course, that would be great.

I don't think trying to force him or her would be wise.

Answer 10

I think it depends on the child. My sister started piano lessons when she was about 6.