Learning to play a musical instrument is something that many parents and children invest their time in while they’re young, with the hope that they can grow up to be one of best flute players of all time, for example, as they had all that time to become perfect. However, because children’s interests change so frequently, it can be hard for a parent to know when their child is ready to learn how to play an instrument and when everything will really start to click for them. Luckily, there are a few signs you can be on the lookout for that will help you with the timing of everything.
To show you what those are, here are three signs that your child’s ready to start learning an instrument.
They Take Advantage Of Available Musical Instruments
One of the most obvious signs that your child might benefit from and enjoy learning how to play a musical instrument is if he or she has already started tinkering around with various instruments.
Kim Miller Ballerene, a contributor to ActiveKids.com, shares that many children who are ready to start learning an instrument will begin to take advantage of the available musical instruments around them. If they see a piano, they’ll sit down and start to play with the keys. If they have something in their hands, they’ll bang on other items like they’re playing drums. Once you recognize that your child is trying to make music with the things around them, especially actual musical instruments, it might be a good time to teach them how to play the real thing.
They Can Sit Still For About 30 Minutes
Learning something new isn’t always easy for young kids, especially if they have a hard time sitting still or paying attention. Because of this, Parents.com recommends that you don’t have your child start taking structured or traditional lessons for playing a musical instrument until you’re confident that they will be able to sit still and pay attention throughout an entire lesson. And since lessons are usually about 30 minutes, you’ll want to wait until your child can consistently sit still and pay attention for this period of time.
For most children, this usually doesn’t come to fruition until they’re about five years old, so waiting until then is common for many kids and parents.
They’re Almost 10 Years Old
While you don’t want to try to have your child learning an instrument too early, you also don’t want to wait until it’s too late.
According to Dr. Robert A. Cutietta, a contributor to PBS Kids, most kids have the ideal window to learn an instrument between the ages of one and nine. So if your child is about to turn 10 years old, you might want to seriously consider trying a musical instrument if he or she hasn’t done so in the past nine years.
If you’re wanting to find the right time to have your child start learning a musical instrument, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you know the signs to look out for.
