What Age Should Your Child Learn to Play an Instrument?
September 19th, 2022 | 3 min read
By Ewan Moore
Here’s a question we get asked all the time: what is the best age to start learning a musical instrument?
At pBone Music, the vast majority of our instruments have been specifically designed to help younger players get their best possible start. Our plastic instruments are lightweight, easy to use, and highly durable, ensuring that smaller players can hold their instruments for longer, have more fun, and hopefully get better quicker!
This is because we’re huge believers in - and supporters of - the idea that getting kids on their musical journey as early as possible is hugely advantageous. Not only will it give them the chance to advance more efficiently than they perhaps would if they started learning later in life, but learning an instrument and getting involved in a musical ensemble has a wide range of massive long-term benefits for children.
Benefits of learning an instrument include, but are by no means limited to:
- Stress relief
- Creative outlet
- Improved confidence
- New friends
- Learning to work as a team
- A sense of achievement
- Improved discipline, memory, and patience
- And so much more!
And that's before we even start talking about all the unique benefits of the pBuzz and the rest of our pInstruments!
So, in answer to your question, when it comes to learning an instrument it is very much usually a case of the younger the better. But is there a perfect age to start learning a musical instrument? In this article, we’ll talk you through what we’ve learned and hopefully help you make an informed decision about the right musical instrument for yourself or a loved one.
Am I Too Old To Learn An Instrument?
Okay, let’s get this out of the way right now: you are absolutely not too old to learn an instrument. It’s never too late to pick up a new skill, especially when it comes to music!
Just because around four to seven is the ideal age, that doesn’t mean you’ve missed your chance. Will you have a slightly harder time of it than you would have if you’d started younger? Probably, yes. But all you really need is patience and time to practice. Yes, finding that time is undeniably harder as an adult with a job/children/pets, but not impossible.
What Age Is Best To Learn A Musical Instrument?
As we’ve covered, it does tend to be a case of the younger the better - within reason, obviously. We’re not suggesting you drop a tuba on a newborn baby and hope they emerge as a musical prodigy!
Most experts agree that you’ll want to consider introducing your child to an instrument from anywhere between four and seven years old.
While some instruments just aren’t suitable for players of this age, there are a number of specially designed pieces for this early and vital stage in your child’s musical journey. The pBugle is a fantastic and affordable first trumpet, while the pBuzz is by far the easiest way for kids to start their trombone journey. Both products are durable, hassle-free, and a genuinely fun first step on the road to learning an instrument. It may also be worth considering cheaper instruments like a recorder, or a xylophone, to get your child used to making their first sounds.
Consider taking a look at the following articles for further reading:
How Long Does It Take To Learn A Brass Instrument?
What Are The Easiest Instruments To Learn?
Eight Cheap Instruments To Start Learning Music
Is My Child Too Young To Learn An Instrument?
Just because between four and seven is considered the ideal age doesn’t mean you can’t start introducing your child to music before then. You’re undoubtedly already singing your baby lullabies, or have worked out which Disney song gets them to stop crying the quickest. If you’re doing that? You’re getting them into music! Continue to ensure music is a calming and productive presence, and take a look online at some of the simple instruments that are specifically made for babies and toddlers. Amazon is full of options!
Find Out More
Feel free to browse through our comprehensive learning guide, or take a look at the full range of pInstruments to see if there might be a better fit for you. And if you still feel you need to do a little more research, check out the following articles:
After seven years writing about video games, Ewan made the jump to the music instrument industry to stop his family asking when he was going to get a real job. Mostly, though, he adores music and is passionate about its vital role throughout life - especially in education. He also played guitar in several bands with deeply embarrassing names that won't be revealed here. With a degree in journalism from an NCTJ-accredited university under his belt, Ewan uses everything he learned as a writer over the last decade to help answer any questions you might have about pBone Music in an accessible (and hopefully entertaining) way. Because if you can write 1,000 words on SSDs and ray-tracing, you can explain why plastic instruments are accessible, sustainable, and fun.
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