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Is My Child Old Enough To Take Guitar / Ukulele Lessons?
Written by Dave Jordan
I often hear the question “how old should my child be before he/she can take lessons?” While there is no “one size fits all” answer to this question, here are a few important things to think about:
If you have any more questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at (573) 279-1811. We are in the business of creating lasting musical memories for you and your child, and will do everything possible to ensure they develop a life-long love and appreciation for music in all its forms.
Written by Dave Jordan
I often hear the question “how old should my child be before he/she can take lessons?” While there is no “one size fits all” answer to this question, here are a few important things to think about:
- Has your child shown interest in music? Do you have any musical instruments around the house that you sometimes see them trying to play? If so, this is a good sign that your child has the single most important trait when it comes to learning any musical instrument: ENTHUSIASM. One of the very first things I tell any parent is that if your child is having fun, they will stick with it, no matter what the instrument. The reason why I made it this far is because practicing my instrument is not a chore for me. It’s fun!
- Which instrument is better suited for a younger child—guitar or ukulele? Again, there is no one perfect answer for this, but generally, I try to push parents of younger children in the direction of the ukulele for the following reasons: It’s a much smaller instrument than the guitar. Children with smaller hands will have an easier time getting their hands around the neck of the instrument, which is critical for learning chords—the building blocks of music. In addition, the neck of the instrument is shorter, which also helps with chords. In addition, a ukulele only has four strings, compared with six on most guitars. One of the NUMBER ONE reasons why new players quit is because of pain in the fingertips. For this reason, I again would nudge a curious parent or child toward the ukulele, since the strings are nylon.
- Attention span:Typically, the younger a child is, the shorter their attention span. Learning ANY instrument, but especially a stringed instrument, requires focus and determination. This is where intentions and expectations come in. If your child has trouble with staying focused, it can be very difficult, if not impossible to truly make headway. Oftentimes, we as teachers simply want to keep our students engaged, which often turns the lesson into more of a “music appreciation” type environment. If this isn’t quite what you’re looking for, I would take a second look at some of the other classes we offer here at the academy. Our Musikgarten program is nationally recognized and offers a multi-year educational program that helps children ages 0-9 develop a deep love for music and the ability to express it. For more information on Musikgarten, check out our website at www.haynesmusicstudio.com.
If you have any more questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at (573) 279-1811. We are in the business of creating lasting musical memories for you and your child, and will do everything possible to ensure they develop a life-long love and appreciation for music in all its forms.