At how old did you start studying music?
There's no single age to start with. We tell you what to expect at every stage from musical initiation to adulthood and how old each instrument suggests.
The ear and rhythm can be stimulated from 3 with a musical initiation, most instruments are started with comfort between 5 and 10, depending on their size and physical demand and for adults the answer is simple: any moment is good.
More than age at paper, three things matter: the ability to concentrate for a while, that the body suits the instrument and the desire to learn. In this guide we tell you what to expect at every stage and how age each instrument suggests.
To sum up
- Between 3 and 5 years old, the ideal thing to do is to start with music: rhythm, singing, movement and play without the pressure to master an instrument.
- Piano, violin, cello and percussion are usually allowed to start at age 5 or 6 and guitar at age 6 or 7 with an instrument of an appropriate size.
- Wind as a clarinet, saxophone or trumpet are generally recommended from 8 to 10 years old, with more air and final face teeth being controlled.
- It's never late: adults learn with more method and understanding and they really advance with constant practice.
- Age is oriented: they weigh more the interest of the student, his care and a teacher that adapts the class to its stage.
The short answer: there's no single age
Music can be living from how we are babies: singing at home, dancing or listening to songs together is already musical education. What changes with age is how Learning. At age 4 you learn to play and move and at age 10 with more focus on technique and at age 40 with more awareness of what's been done.
That's why, before I ask you if it's "the right age," it's worth looking at these three factors:
- Attention: Can you concentrate on a guided activity for a while without being frustrated?
- Body: Do your hands, arms and air capacity suit the instrument, or do you have a small version?
- Motivation: Do you want to learn, ask for the instrument, and sing and move with music? Wants hold practice more than anything else.
What to expect at every stage
3 to 5 years old: musical initiation
At this age, the goal isn't to play an instrument "well," but to develop pulse, ear, co-ordination and taste for music. A class of [musical initiation]](/clases/iniciacion-musical) It combines songs, rhythm games, movement and minor percussion tools such as maracas, keys or panners. Activities are short and varied, as care is also.
Some methods, such as Suzuki, start with violin or piano from very small but always with a lot of family presence and an approach to play and imitation. If you want to better understand this stage, read [what's musical initiation]](/blog/que-es-la-iniciacion-musical).
6 to 8 years old: first instrument
It's a good age to start an instrument. The reading and writing that come with the school help to connect with the score, and the fine motor already allows to work with the fingers. Piano, violin, cello, percussion and sweet flute are common options and guitar works well about 6 or 7 with a small size. Home practice remains short with an adult's support.
9 to 12 years old: constancy and new instruments
The fan opens up here. With more air capacity, longer arms and final teeth, winds as traversa flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet or trombone become comfortable. It's also a good time for an electrical guitar, bass or more formal music theory. Children can already hold longer practices and put concrete goals, such as preparing a piece for a sample.
Teens: own style and motivation
In adolescence music becomes an identity: they appear the favorite bands, genres and the desire to sound as something. To gain that motivation is key, working repertoire that they care about without neglecting the technique. If the goal is to come up with a university program of music, we should add reading and theory with time. In singing, the word mute calls for care and without forcing.
Adults: lt's never late
A starting adult has real benefits: she understands what she does, organizes her practice and knows why she wants to learn. He can start any instrument, with no age limit. What's more about her fear of "being nontalented" or of being a beginner, and that's how she works with patient teacher, realistic goals and a short and constant routine.
Age by instrument
These ages are a general guide. Each child is different and many instruments have small versions that allow them to start earlier.
| Instrumento | Orientation age | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| Early music education | 3 to 7 years | He works rhythm, ear and motion through play, without requiring an instrument's technique. |
| Piano | From age 5 or 6 | Each key sounds as you press and the theory looks on the keyboard and only a good height bench and foot support are required. |
| Violin and Violin | From age 5 or 6 | There are instruments with fractional sizes for small hands and she wants patience with tuning and good posture guide. |
| Violonchelo | From age 5 or 6 | It also exists in small sizes and plays sitting, giving stability to the smaller ones. |
| Percussion | From age 5 or 6 | The rhythm is quite natural for children and starts with small tools and moves to more complete assembly. |
| Recorder | From age 6 | It's light and accessible and coordinates fingers, air and reading and serves as a bridge to other winds. |
| Acoustic guitar | From 6 to 7 | To press the strings demand some force on his fingers and with a small guitar and nylon strings it's more comfortable. |
| Singing | Vowel play from small to technical about 8 to 10 years old | The child's voice is delicate: first they play and the technique deepens as the body matures. |
| Flute | From age 8 to 10 | The arms have to reach the keys and air control is necessary and there are curved heads that shorten the instrument. |
| Thrompette and thrombone | From age 8 to 10 | The embocatura relies on lips and teeth and the trombone also asks for long arms for the positions of the stick. |
| Clarinet and saxophone | 9 or 10 years old | They require more air capacity, hands that cover the keys and ideally final face teeth. |
| Electrical and low electrical guitar | From 8 to 10 years old and his bass, something after | The electric has thin and comfortable ropes and the low has a long mast and thick strings that are best handled with bigger hands. |
Signs that your child's ready for an instrument
Beyond age, there are clear clues that a child can step up from initiation to an instrument:
- He's asking for a concrete instrument again and again, but not just a week.
- Follow the pulse of a song with palms or without missing.
- He can hold his attention in a guided activity for a while.
- He's trying to repeat something several times to get it better.
- Your hands or body suit the instrument or its reduced version.
If you haven't seen these signs yet, nothing's wrong: continuing with musical initiation isn't wasting time, it's building the base that will make the instrument easier after that.
How to start with good foot at any age
- Choose by interest, and not by prestige. If you doubt between two options, this comparison of [piano or guitar]](/blog/piano-o-guitarra-primer-instrumento) He can help you.
- Get an instrument of the right size before investing in one "for a lifetime." Ask the teacher before buying.
- Find a teacher who can teach people that age. These [questions to choose music teacher]](/blog/como-elegir-profesor-de-musica) They're a guide to you.
- It defines a short and constant practice at home, age-sensitive.
- It measures progress in enjoyment and constancy, and not only in songs that have been learned.
In A medio tono The teachers adapt each class to the level, rhythm and goal of the student, be it a 4-year-old or an adult who at last became lively. Teachers directory and choose according to the instrument that you care about.
Frequently asked questions
Can a baby have music classes?
Before 3 years old, music at home was most valuable: singing with them, dancing with them and listening to varied music. Music initiation classes with a teacher usually start at about 3 years old, as the child can have his or her best play.
Do you have to start with sweet flute before another instrument?
It's not required but it can be a good bridge: it's light, it helps coordinate fingers and air and about musical reading. If the child's already clear that he wants piano or violin and his age, he can start directly.
Is my 12-year-old old old old old old grown up to start with?
At age 12, an instrument can be initiated and the capacity for concentration and understanding often makes initial progress more tipsy than with smaller children.
Can you learn adult music without knowing how to read scores?
Yes. Many adults start with an ear and with chords and cipher and they get their reading into them. A good teacher sets that balance with your goals.