Why study music? Music is important for a child’s development and also in later life. For children, it helps them to communicate better, it builds their confidence and it improves their learning, which is proven by countless studies  – especially math, reading, writing and spatial skills are positively influenced by studying music, although that is not the main reason for learning music. Music also is a great creative and emotional outlet and, of course, immense fun! Not only for children.

Most of my private music students start when they are between  8-10 years old. Having said that, my youngest drum lesson student started when he was 3 and my oldest started when she was 72 – the saying “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” is definitely bogus in my view, and many of my older students have shown me that every one, regardless of their age, can learn new skills, adapt old ones and find enjoyment in making music.

What I can say is that some instruments are easier to pick up at a younger age. Guitar, for example, seems too challenging for most 6-year-old children, as it is physically hard to press down the strings on the fretboard and to produce a nice sound. Piano and drums are much easier in that regard. We should keep in mind, though, that excitement is worth a lot, so if a 6-year old, for instance, is interested in guitar lessons, I would definitely encourage the child and give the instrument a try.

What Kind Of Music?

I feel it is helpful to let the student lead not only regarding the instrument choice, but also when figuring out the style of music to concentrate on and study. Most of my private music students will have favorite songs or artists and will practice with much more enthusiasm and effort when they learn a song they really like rather than a song, which is picked by the teacher or author of a study book as, supposedly, the “proper” next study subject.

Here, diplomacy and a good, open student-teacher relationship is important. To pick songs that are not too hard and challenging (potentially too frustrating) is important and an open discussion can help. The most challenging thing for music students of all the instruments is a high speed. Often songs are not actually hard to play in general, but the speed they are played at makes them hard. Making clear to the students that we all have to start slowly is an important lesson – again, regardless of age.

We are all the same

My 8 year old student Kaidan gets frustrated when he can’t play a new section of a song on piano – after he does not play it “correctly” he will try it again, only faster, which is exactly NOT the way to learn a new part. My 40-year old drum student Lana does the exact same thing, and so do I! Understanding human nature and being able to diffuse tensions is an important part of keeping learning fun for 4- or 40-year old students.