Parents ask us about the best age to start piano lessons almost every week, usually followed by “have we left it too late?” The short answer is that there is no single right age. However, there is a best kind of lesson for each age. For example, start a four-year-old on formal half-hour lessons and you may put them off for life. Instead, start the same child in a playful group and they will be more than ready for the real thing at six or seven. Here is how we think about it at AS Music School, after more than 30 years of teaching piano in Sheffield.
Is 3 to 6 the best age to start piano lessons? Music first
At this age most children do not yet have the hand size, finger independence or concentration for one-to-one piano lessons. However, what they can do, brilliantly, is absorb rhythm, pitch and the idea that music is fun. In addition, singing, clapping, moving and simple percussion build the foundations that make an instrument far easier later on. Our Early Learning music classes are 30-minute group sessions designed for exactly this stage.
Ages 6 to 8: the classic starting point
This is when most children are ready to sit at a piano, so many teachers call it the best age to start piano lessons. For example, they can tell left from right, recognise letters and numbers, and focus on one thing for ten minutes or more. In addition, hands are big enough to rest five fingers on five neighbouring keys. However, the catch is stamina. Half an hour is a long time for a six-year-old. Therefore, we offer 15-minute one-to-one mini-lessons for this age group. After all, short, focused and frequent beats long and tiring.
Ages 8 and up: full lessons
From around eight, children are ready for weekly 30-minute piano lessons. In addition, progress at this age can be surprisingly quick. For example, an eight-year-old beginner will often catch up within a year or two with a child who started at five, because they understand instructions faster and can practise independently.
Teenagers
Teenagers who choose to start piano tend to do well, because the motivation is their own. They usually want to play music they already love, so a good tutor will build technique around that. Meanwhile, those who want a goal can work towards graded exams, and the higher grades carry UCAS points.
Adults: no, you have not left it too late
Adults make excellent piano students. For example, you have patience, you know what you want to play, and you practise because you want to. Children pick up some things faster. However, adults understand the “why”, which more than makes up for it. In fact, many of our students started in their 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond. See adult music lessons.
Five signs your child is ready for piano lessons
- They can sit and concentrate on one activity for 10 to 15 minutes.
- They know left from right and can count to ten.
- They can move their fingers one at a time.
- They are interested: picking out tunes, asking questions, drawn to any keyboard they pass.
- They will take simple instructions from an adult who is not their parent.
Above all, interest matters most. A keen six-year-old will outpace a reluctant nine-year-old every time.
Do we need a piano at home?
You need something to practise on, but it does not have to be a piano. For example, a digital piano or keyboard with full-size, touch-sensitive keys is fine for the first few years. Still, ask your tutor before you buy. For background, the ABRSM website explains how piano grades work.
Not sure about the best age to start piano lessons? Try one
Ultimately, the best age to start piano lessons is the age at which your child is ready, so let them try. Every new student at AS Music School gets a free first lesson. As a result, you can see how they respond before committing. Call 0114 274 8939, email info@asmusicschool.com or book your free first lesson.