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July 24, 2018

7 Things to Consider Before Signing Your Kids Up for Music Lessons

I’ve got another guest post this week, from Vincent at Music To Your Home (you can check out his info at the end) – I don’t have any kids and have no idea what to do with them, but some of you might have a child who is musically inclined. Kids and music tend to go hand-in-hand (I also have a Pinterest Board about teaching music). When Vincent brought me this topic, I thought it would be great to pass it along to you guys in case you’re curious! If you’ve got kids and you love music, let’s see how we can bring them together:

7 Important Things to Think About Before Signing Your Kids Up For Music Lessons!

If your kid loves music the way most kids do, you’ve probably considered signing him or her up for music lessons. Recent studies have shown that kids who study music can benefit in multiple ways, so if your child has an interest in learning to sing or play an instrument, music lessons are a great idea! Here are some important things to consider before signing up!

Benefits of Music Lessons for Kids

Many parents don’t realize just how much music lessons can do for their child. Learning music can improve their skills in math, memorization, and listening. It also helps young brains to develop and learning an instrument improves motor skills and coordination.

Learning music can also build self-esteem and teach kids about time management and teamwork. Not only that, playing an instrument or singing is a great way to relieve stress and it gives kids a constructive way to express themselves. Kids who practice music and singing often do better in school because they learn about patience and self-discipline.

Adults who learn music as children are often more successful. They have a better work ethic and they understand that hard work pays off. They understand that they have to start at the beginning and work their way up. Also, they have better social and communication skills.

1). The Best Age to Start

The perfect age to start will vary from child to child. The key is to find a music program that is appropriate for your child’s age and interests. Does your child respond to music by singing, clapping, or dancing? Children two years old and even younger can be taught how to clap along with the beat of their favorite songs and identify rhythms. The younger your child is, the easier it will be for him or her to learn, so if they show an interest in learning, that’s when you should sign them up.

For more formal instruction in singing or learning an instrument, 5 is usually a good age to start. By that age, children are usually able to sit still longer and focus better. However, a child who doesn’t want to learn how to sing or play an instrument shouldn’t be forced. Forcing your child to learn is unlikely to lead to a love of music. If your child fights you every step of the way, waiting until he or she is a little older might help.

2). Choosing the Best Instrument for Your Child

Be sure to consider the age and physical limitations of your child. Don’t choose an instrument that is too heavy or too large for them to play properly. Violin and piano are great instruments to start out with, especially for children under six because they help to develop a foundation for other instruments. If your child has a strong desire to learn a certain instrument, talk to their music teacher to see if it’s a good choice for their age.

3). Consider the Noise Factor

There are ways to avoid annoying the neighbors and the rest of the family during music practice. You can set up a practice room with DIY soundproofing with thick rugs and heavy curtains, or start your child out on an instrument that can be played through headphones. Good communication can also solve a lot of problems, so talk to your neighbors and family to work out the best practice times before your child starts lessons.

4). Consider How Much Time You and Your Child Have Available

School-aged children are often involved in sports and clubs that take up a lot of their free time. Make sure your child can fit music lessons in without being too stressed or letting his schoolwork suffer. If he or she already has a full schedule, some tough decisions about what’s most important will have to be made.

While the majority of the time commitment will fall on your child’s shoulders, you will still need to make sure he practices and attends his lessons. You will also need to drive him back and forth to lessons and find something to do while he’s there. Thanks to modern technology, your child can take his lessons online from a qualified teacher, right in your living room, if you don’t have the time to drive him back and forth.

Top 7 Things to Consider Before Enrolling in Children's Music Lessons

5). Consider the Location of the Teacher

Depending on where you live, you might have several options for where your child attends his lessons. The teacher may teach from their home or a studio, or they may come to you. Be sure to consider travel times carefully to make sure you can have your child at their lessons on time. Visit the location to see if it will be a good place for learning. If there’s a lot of activity and distractions, consider your child’s personality and whether or not he or she will be able to focus. Music To Your Home’s NYC music lessons can be taken in person at their studio or online from anywhere in the country, so they’re a great option for anyone wanting to learn.

6). Consider the Amount of Space in Your Home

Space is an important factor for some folks. A piano or drum set is going to take up a lot more room than a violin or flute. A digital piano that has weighted keys could be a good solution for children learning piano. The point is to figure out where the instrument is going to be played and stored before you bring it home.

7). Consider the Cost

Cost may be the most important factor for some folks. Purchasing an instrument can be a big expense, but you do have some options. Consider renting an instrument from a music studio or purchasing one used from Craigslist. Some schools might even have loaner instruments your child can use for a while. Books and sheet music can often be found online, too. The cost of the lessons themselves is another consideration. Online lessons are often cheaper than in-person lessons, so be sure to look into that option.

Giving your child the gift of music is something he or she will take with them for their entire life. With some careful planning and creativity, every child should be able to learn an instrument if they desire to do so.

Vincent Reina

Vincent Reina began teaching piano lessons as a high school student and has continued to do so ever since. He received a Bachelor of Music Degree in Piano Performance from Purchase Conservatory. He then earned a Masters of Arts in Teaching Music from Manhattanville College. Today, Vincent is co-founder of Music To Your Home, a New York City-based music school. He’s the proud winner of many significant piano competitions, including the Westminster Choir College Artistic Excellence in Piano Award.

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37 Comments
  • Tiffany Locke
    August 11, 2018

    I like your advice to find a music program appropriate for your child’s age and interests based on what they respond to is a good idea. Once you know what you want, such as vocal or piano lessons, it would probably help to start researching local instructors. After you’ve researched them and narrowed down the list, you might want to call or meet with the instructor in order to ask questions about their lessons and talk about your child so that you can make sure they’ll be able to teach them the skills that will benefit them.

    Reply
    • MellaMusic
      Tiffany Locke
      August 14, 2018

      Yes definitely! I think it’s a great idea to meet the teacher to make sure your child gels with them. Having a teacher they don’t like could turn them off of that instrument entirely which we definitely don’t want! Thanks so much for your thoughts!

      Reply
  • Millie Hue
    September 19, 2018

    Thanks for pointing out that we should have a plan ready for the type of instrument that they want to learn because it can take up some space. This is true since my daughter wanted to learn piano which is bigger than other instruments. She just started being interested in it when her favorite artist played one at their concert that she watched.

    Reply
    • MellaMusic
      Millie Hue
      September 21, 2018

      Hi Millie,
      You could try a smaller keyboard if you want to start her out on it and see if she likes it! That way if she doesn’t stick with it, you haven’t taken up as much space as a giant regular piano 🙂 Best of luck to you and her!

      Reply
  • Taylor Bishop
    October 25, 2018

    Thanks for this advice for signing up kids for music lessons. It’s good to know that you should try to pick an instrument that a child can easily play, like a violin or a piano. Not only that, but it could be a good way to introduce them to music at least so they understand basic principles if they want to learn more instruments.

    Reply
  • Elaine
    November 27, 2018

    Great advice. I never thought about noise factor! I need to think about that when choosing the instrument for my kid, but all of them seem quite noisy.

    Reply
    • MellaMusic
      Elaine
      November 27, 2018

      Haha my dad started drumming when he was a toddler – I think my grandma regretted it at the time but he does it professionally now! 🙂 I built a soundproof booth for my own vocal recordings, if you wanted to make a small one for your kid’s practice it might be worth it!

      Reply
  • Esther
    June 11, 2019

    Thanks for sharing this. In the age section as you mentioned, can you suggest any good piano program? My child just turned 5 and I think as you mentioned this is the right age to start.

    Reply
    • MellaMusic
      Esther
      June 12, 2019

      I think children of that age would do best with in-person lessons to help keep them focused – maybe see if your area has any piano teachers who work with young kids? If you can’t find one this might help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTl-q2_1h2w

      Reply
  • Kiran
    June 28, 2019

    Great article. I find that kids that learn music are often more well-behaved and introverted. Maybe it has something to do with focusing your attention on a piece of music for a extended period of time. And all that practice!

    Reply
    • MellaMusic
      Kiran
      June 29, 2019

      Definitely! I also think they are more left-brained than other kids because it takes a lot of discipline and practice. Of course musicians are right-brained as well so they probably have a good balance!

      Reply
  • Franca Whyte
    July 13, 2019

    You are so right. These are really important factors to consider. Thank you for sharing these with us.

    Reply
  • Andrey
    January 22, 2020

    Learning music is definitely tricky and takes time and energy (and a ton of money, if you are a parent). A lot of people forget about the last point, which is indeed something to consider, especially if that’s something they are passionate about. Lovely article!
    Andrey recently posted…10 Best Free EQ VST PluginsMy Profile

    Reply
    • MellaMusic
      Andrey
      January 23, 2020

      Thanks so much Audrey! Music lessons can definitely get expensive – thankfully there are a lot of free lessons online, but that can be tough to make kids manage their time and keep to a schedule. Lots to consider!

      Reply
  • Zoe Campos
    February 19, 2020

    My husband wanted to enroll our son in drum lessons, and it’s good to know that 5 is a good age to start. Our son had been bugging us to buy him a drumset and since we have seen him produce beats that are too advance for a four-year-old, I think it’s better to enroll him so he could learn properly. He will be turning five this summer, and I think that is the perfect time to start music classes.

    Reply
    • MellaMusic
      Zoe Campos
      February 20, 2020

      Hi Zoe,
      My dad started playing the drums really young, so this sounds great! Best of luck to you and him!

      Reply
  • jhone
    March 11, 2020

    I think the main point to learn music is focus and concentration. if you are 100% focused in any task then you can do that easily. Music is one of this. I read some tricks and tips which help me alot to learn music.
    jhone recently posted…110+ marvel trivia questions and answers [Marvel Studio A-Z]My Profile

    Reply
  • Dipika
    April 1, 2020

    Really you are so right. Thanks for giving this advice for signing up kids for music lessons. It’s good to know that you should try to pick an instrument that a child can easily play, like a violin or a piano. It will help my kids to continue there practice. Thank You. Please keep up the work…
    Dipika recently posted…M3My Profile

    Reply
  • Simons
    April 18, 2020

    These are really important factors to consider. Thank you

    Reply
  • wilson
    May 21, 2020

    Great article about kids care. Thank you for sharing it.

    Reply
  • Franklin White
    May 26, 2020

    Thanks for mentioning how much room a piano will take up in your home. I think a lot of people ignore this and just sign up for classes anyway. I would love for my kids to learn piano but I would need a place to store it once they stop playing it.
    Franklin White recently posted…Why Hire a Professional Piano Mover to Relocate Your Piano?My Profile

    Reply
    • MellaMusic
      Franklin White
      May 27, 2020

      Yes absolutely!! Drum sets take up a ton of space too so those are all things to think about!

      Reply
  • Devid
    June 8, 2020

    Thanks for sharing this article really all the information was very helpful for me.I am now

    waiting for your new one.

    Reply
  • Rifat
    June 20, 2020

    This is really a great article and a great read for me. It’s my first visit to your blog and I have found it so useful and informative. Thank you

    Reply
  • Kate Hansen
    June 30, 2020

    I loved how you mentioned that a great instrument to start out with violin. My husband and I are wanting to have our 6-year-old daughter start taking music lessons, and we wanted to know some things we should consider. I really appreciate you helping me learn more about signing your child up for music lessons.

    Reply
    • MellaMusic
      Kate Hansen
      July 1, 2020

      Hi Kate, thank you so much!
      I definitely think violin is a great choice – best of luck with whatever you/she decide!

      Reply
  • Adam Golightly
    September 1, 2020

    My cousin has been thinking about having her sons go to music lessons so that it can look a lot nicer and can be put together better so that they can have something to do with their time. Getting them to take lessons from a professional could be really useful and the home will sound a little more lively. I’ll be sure to tell her about how they will be able to keep up with the beat and they shouldn’t be forced to learn but should rather be encouraged.

    Reply
  • Jimi
    September 3, 2020

    Love this kids music guide. For me it’s hard to teach my kids regarding music, but this article is really helpful for me. Thank you for sharing this informative article.

    Reply
  • Victoria Addington
    September 21, 2020

    It’s great to know the benefits of music lessons for kids. Since my son insisted on signing him up for drum lessons, it’s good that I have read your article first. I like what you said that this can help improve their skills in memorization and listening. With that, I shall then follow your advice to consider travel times to make sure that the area is not too far and a good site for learning.

    Reply
  • Afton Jackson
    January 10, 2021

    You caught my attention when you talked about the different benefits people can have when they learn music early, specifically about work ethic and communication. In today’s day and age, these kinds of skills are crucial and I would want my son to develop them as early as possible so he’s prepared for the future. In that regard, I’ll start looking for a piano lesson class he can attend since he did show interest in the instrument a few months back.

    Reply
  • jackson
    February 1, 2021

    Great article. I had seen many kids that learn music are often more well-behaved and introverted. Thanks for sharing

    Reply
  • Anu Thakur
    February 16, 2021

    Many thanks for your valuable content. You are an inspiration with your hard work.

    Keep up the awesome work and know that you’re appreciated!

    Thanks,
    Anu Thakur

    Reply
  • Naa Sing
    March 23, 2021

    Thank you for this great article. Singing and music assume a significant part in our way of life. You’ll discover music present in numerous parts of our lives: theater, TV, films, love, occasions, festivities, and government and military functions. At home, music can turn out to be important for our family societies—a characteristic piece of our ordinary encounters

    Reply
  • Mikel Naa Zee
    March 31, 2021

    I appreciate you more because of the road I’ve traveled. My story brought me to you and I wouldn’t revise a word of my past if it led me anywhere but to your door.
    Mikel Naa Zee recently posted…Saradaga KasepainaMy Profile

    Reply
  • Liza Kunde
    April 19, 2021

    Very nice concept!! I want to sign up my kid for violin classes. Hope these ideas will help me a lot. Thanks for sharing…

    Reply
  • Rock Out Loud
    July 30, 2021

    #2, choosing the right instrument for your kid to learn is the key. If you, as a parent, can do it right, it will make music instrument learning easy and interesting for the kid as well.

    Reply
  • kids learning
    October 26, 2021

    amazing article for kids

    Reply

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Hi! I’m Mella

Hi! I’m Mella

I am a professional session singer, songwriter, and voiceover artist. I work with other songwriters, producers and musicians to help them complete their creative ideas by providing my voice to their song or project. I am happy you're here! Feel free to look around and contact me if I can help you complete your work!

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