How young is too young to teach a child?

[DanielleMuscato]

Youngest student I've had was 5. I started piano when I was 3. I recommend starting on piano to get an ear for music and an understanding of tonality and working in bass gradually over the next year or two as her fine motor skills and dexterity develop.

 

[lonestarwings]

I'm no expert by any means but I think it'd be okay to encourage a kid to learn the instrument as soon as they are big enough to hold it and their fingers are long/strong enough to reach/press the frets.

I remember when I was 8 or 9 my dad tested my interest in the guitar but I didn't really enjoy it because I couldn't reach the frets that well. Maybe I just didn't try that hard, but I took to piano a little better....but eventually gave that up too when I became frustrated with the comlexity of playing totally different rhythms with the left and right hand (santa lucia).

Then I played the clarinet for 7 years in the public school system but never really became exceptionally good....I just wasn't that passionate about it because, well, it's the clarinet. When I turned 18 and graduated I never picked up the instrument again.

I think the key to give the kid an instrument that they're enthusiastic about and have the physical capabilities to play on.

 

[bopeuph]

This is a very interesting topic. I have taught 4 and 5 year olds in my time, and they were either piano or violin. Of course, at their age, 30 minutes is way too long, but the parents want their kid to be the next child prodigy and complain if I come out of the room 3 minutes early. I teach kids that young for 15 minutes and play with them for the remainder of the lesson. I don't know about age three, but four can only handle 15 minutes tops.

I don't know if many will grasp technique at that age, but constantly being around the language of music will most definitely be enough. I think giving them an instrument to toy around on is a good idea. Vic Wooten would say let them make any noise they want to out of it shy of destroying the instrument (hitting, plucking, whatever). It's like a kid experimenting with their voice and the sounds it makes before they can make any comprehensive words. If you've never heard Vic's beliefs on how music as a language compares to any spoken language, check it out. Most of his clinics I've heard will touch on this.

This reminds me of something that my ethnomusicology teacher talked about in class. His infant son ran up to one of his hand drums, beat around on them for a while, and then played four even eighth notes. As soon as he heard that, he said YES! to the kid. It's much like the same way we praise a kid for saying a real word after all his gibberish.

Nick

 

[Lelander]

I started violin lessons when I was 3 (pretty much par for the Suzuki course). I'm not sure how much good it really did me on the violin, but I've played many different instruments since then and have always been served by having a good ear, good time, and musical listening skills. As I recall, while there were times I was pretty ornery, on the whole I enjoyed those lessons a great deal.

 

[Turock]

I think you should be at least 15 to teach a child.

 

[eldoctorbass]

I've been thinking about teaching my three-year-old son music and was wondering what others thought of it at such a young age. I see him absorbing concepts like a sponge and wonder, what's wrong with trying to include learning music while he learns how to spell and count?

 

[shirky]

I think you should be at least 15 to teach a child.

ha ha - that's what I was thinking when I read the title of this post.

I also agree that kids should start on piano. It's got that huge range, is the best way to learn about harmony, and develops coordination when using both hands.

While I may get blasted for saying this, I'll list another reason why bass may not be the best first instrument. I think kids should wait until much later (probably teens) to start on bass. I think of bass as a social instrument - it is best played in a group (whether it's 2 people, 12 people, or 100 people). While solo bass can be fun, it can also get boring during the many years until the kid gets to jam out with a drummer or guitarist, etc.

Just my 2 cents.

Cheers.

 

[bopeuph]

I also agree that kids should start on piano. It's got that huge range, is the best way to learn about harmony, and develops coordination when using both hands.

Also, the piano offers a visual aid for the kids to see. The notes are right there, rather than seeming a little less concrete on other instruments. This can work with fretted instruments to a lesser degree, as well.

While I may get blasted for saying this, I'll list another reason why bass may not be the best first instrument. I think kids should wait until much later (probably teens) to start on bass. I think of bass as a social instrument - it is best played in a group (whether it's 2 people, 12 people, or 100 people). While solo bass can be fun, it can also get boring during the many years until the kid gets to jam out with a drummer or guitarist, etc.

Not a blasting, but I do disagree here. The important thing is to get the kid to play what they want to play, or the interest in music will disappear. That tends to be a problem with parents of my students, because they either have their heart set on a particular instrument because Uncle Fred plays it too, or, more commonly, they don't want to spend the money on what the kid wants if they already have this Casio keyboard for $20. In my opinion, it's more up to the kid than the parent. Then again, Vic was cornholed into bass because that's what his brothers needed. He started at age 5, too.

Also, I think it's important to get the kid to play with other people as soon as possible, due to the conversational aspect of music. If they don't get used to it, they won't be able to communicate with others musically. You can be a technical fiend on whatever instrument, but if you don't play well with others, well then...

Nick

 

[cowsgomoo]

My daughter will be 3 next month and has been showing an interest in my basses.. wanting to hold and 'play' them.. and I was considering getting her a child sized bass and get her started learning... but is she too young??

maybe too young to do the boring dusty dry music theory stuff, but not too young to get used to making some sounds and having fun... the serious stuff can start at 5 or 6

 

[pedroims]

no, is not too young. Mozart started yonger, so good ahead. I would like my father introduce me on music any time but for him music is a wast of time. I have two kids and they love to play in my studio with my basses, my daughter is 3 and she will start to study music soon, not bass but piano.