When should we start piano lessons?

Being a piano teacher, I hear this question a lot. Children may begin to show an interest in the piano at a very early age. So many activities for children are starting younger and younger. Preschoolers are now reading before they enter Kindergarten. Two year old girls dressed up like ballerinas are attending dance classes. Soccer and t-ball starts at three.

So if your toddler begins to show an interest in piano, its time to sign them up right? We wouldn't want to miss that window of opportunity when they are interested, right? There are many activities than can be started at a very young age, however, I believe that piano is not one of them.

There are so many aspects of development that need to be in place before formal piano study begins. There is no harm in waiting to start piano. Most children are not at a disadvantage for starting as late as first or second grade. In fact, I believe that in many cases, starting to early can lead to burn out and frustration from slow progression. In order for piano lessons to be successful, it is important that the child has the attention span to sit through a 30 minute lesson or class. They will also need to be disciplined enough to practice at home as well. They also need to be able to follow multi-step directions whether by listening to verbal instruction or by reading symbols. In piano, we start by learning the letter names of the notes of the keys. It is important that they already know their alphabet and their numbers for this. I also prefer that the child has at least begun to read.

Also, an important aspect to remember is that even though sometimes the cognitive signs of readiness are there, and the interest in piano may be there, the physical readiness may not yet be developed. Fine motor skills are important before beginning lessons or classes. The children need to be able to play independent fingers of their hands. Use of the non-dominant hand must also be developed. If these aspects are not present, practice will be difficult.

If you child is interested in music, but not quite ready for formal piano lessons or classes, we have a few options. I highly suggest starting with a Kindermusik class. You can find more information about our Kindermusik classes here, http://imaginationsmusic.com. Kindermusik nurtures a love for music, develops fine motor skills, and prepares the child for a classroom learning environment. We also offer music for Little Mozarts which is a pre-piano class for preschoolers. In this class, we learn the names of the notes on the keyboard, learn to read very simple rhythmic notation, and play VERY simple songs to prepare for piano lessons without pushing the child too hard. If your child is younger than Kindergarten age, I require that they take Music for Little Mozarts before beginning my EZKeys piano class.

EZKeys piano class is for Kindergarteners. The method is written so that the child does not need to be a proficient reader to complete the written work. This class is longer in length than the Music for Little Mozarts and is more in depth. More information about this class, as well as my other piano classes can be found here, http://imaginationsmusic.musicteachershelper.com