What is the best age to start piano lessons?

It’s never too early to introduce your child to music. It’s long been known that music has many benefits to children’s development - language, listening skills, memory, concentration, confidence… the list goes on! One of the great things about the piano is that it is accessible to children of any age. As long as a child has the strength to press down a key, they can make music on the piano and have lots of fun experimenting.

When it comes to formal lessons though, there are a few things to consider to help you decide if your child is ready to start:

• Can your child read? It is extremely useful if your child can read at a basic level and knows the alphabet from A to G.
• Can they focus for around 30 minutes? This is the usual length of a beginner piano lesson.
• Can they count to at least four? This helps with learning about music time and rhythm.
• Do they have the time and motivation to practise each day? Do you have the time to sit down with them and help/listen while they practise?

If the answer to any of the above questions is “no” then it may be a little early for your child to begin formal lessons. From my own experience, the age of six is a great one to start having lessons and anything between six and nine is ideal. That said, there are many piano teachers who specialise in teaching techniques for younger children, such as the Suzuki Method, starting at around three years old. Find out what’s available in your area and speak to some teachers for their opinions - but also bear in mind that in some areas the piano is so popular that many teachers have waiting lists!