Singing Lessons for Kids: What is a Good Age to Start Music Lessons?
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So, what do you do as a parent or guardian if you notice that your child is showing a particular penchant for music or singing? What is a good age for kids to learn music?
To answer this question, we need to look at the impact music has on children of different ages and how we can use this information to help with our choices about sending our kids for music lessons.
An Informal Introduction to Music
Before asking yourself, “what is a good age to start music lessons?” you need to determine what your goals are with introducing your kids to singing and musical instruments.
If you want children to engage meaningfully with music and singing, it is advisable to create a musical environment for them from the get-go. Loads of parents sing to their babies and play them music from the day they are born.
With that being said, however, before the age of three, this introduction works best as an informal means of piquing their curiosity.
In simple terms, babies and toddlers can be encouraged to play with musical instruments, listen to music and sounds, and practice vocalizing in tune with a melodic track or even a parent. This is a fun way for them to explore music and to discover their interest in it.
Embedding the love of music from a young age is a great way to set the scene for this passion to flourish as they grow older.
Exploring Music Meaningfully
From the age of three onwards, most children can recognize and engage with singing and music in a rudimentary way. They can, for example, begin to recognize the sounds that specific instruments make and identify different melodies.
From this age, parents or guardians can begin to add some structure and format to their child’s interaction with music, although not in a stringent or pressurizing way. Instead, the goal here is to start teaching kids the skills associated with making music, including listening, discovering, and playing.
An Introduction to Formal Lessons
If your child has been around music for their whole life, there is a possibility that they will be curious about it and want to learn more. This goes for both singing and musical instruments.
Between the ages of four and five, children become ready for formal musical training. They have the ability to garner a good understanding of music and the ability (and mobility) to start practicing on their chosen instrument.
They are also capable of focusing for more than 30 minutes at a time and able to practice outside of their lesson times.
Ideally, they should not feel strained to learn to master music or vocalization, but rather, they should feel the allure of learning and understanding their craft.
Performance Training
Children who have trained in music from a young age, for example, from four or five, should be relatively adept in their chosen field by age ten. From here on out, they are physically and mentally capable of enhancing their performance ability and branching out their skillsets.
Many children who have practiced music from a young age are incredibly proficient in their instruments by age ten. However, this will vary depending on the child, the teacher, and various other factors associated with normal development.
Singing Lessons for Kids
While children can explore musical instruments from an early age, the best age for formal singing training, in particular, is from six or seven onwards. This is because singing entails attention to detail and concentration that extends beyond play exploration.
Indeed, given that singing doesn’t require physical interaction with an object, it is also easier for children to become bored or tired of it.
Of course, there are no hard and fast rules about this, and some children may be ready earlier than others. An excellent way to determine if your child is ready for singing lessons is to ascertain if they are motivated to sing, ready to commit to practice, and open to working with a coach on a regular, disciplined basis.
What is a Good Age to Start Music Lessons?
If you are eager for your child to develop a love for music, introduce them to music, singing, and musical instruments from the day they are born. If they show curiosity, they’ll likely be ready to explore music lessons from as young as age three.
Begin with informal exploration and determine their desires and needs as they grow older and learn more about music.