Is Your Child Ready for Music Lessons in Langley? 6 Signs to Watch | Harmony Heights

We know that music-loving parents are often eager to send their young children packing to their first music lesson - but sometimes it’s difficult to know when a kid should start serious musical learning. As a leading music school in Langley, BC, we at Harmony Heights Music have helped hundreds of young musicians begin their journeys. We understand that each child is different and here’s our guide to knowing when your child is ready to begin music lessons.

Some signs to look out for to tell if your children are ready to begin music lessons:

1.   Do Your Children Have A Genuine Interest in How Music is Played?

Most children who are deeply fascinated with music will arrive at this feeling unconsciously - often before they are old enough to articulate their love for this art form verbally.

If you have young, pre-verbal children, you’ll no doubt see obvious signs that will let you know how they feel about music; they’ll smile when their favorite song plays, they’ll move and dance around when they hear a beat, or they’ll look with fascination at others playing instruments.

Suppose you see they have a genuine interest in music. In that case, you can encourage that interest by playing simple, music-based games, taking them to concerts, or starting them off on beginner music lessons at a great local music school.

Remember, when it comes to young children learning music, they aren’t going to become virtuosos right away - but exposing them to music at a young age can go a long way in their early musical development.

2.   Does Your Child Have A Strong Attention Span?

If you’re a parent trying to assess whether or not their child is ready for music lessons, one tell-tale sign to look out for is whether or not they can maintain focus on activities they’re engaging with.

Some children might seem passionate about music, but their development will mean they are unlikely to have the attention span and focus necessary for beginner lessons.

However, if you notice that your child is able to engage their concentration on a single activity for 20 minutes - whether it's reading a book or playing with a particular toy - then you might determine that they’re ready for piano lessons or other musical lessons.

Be mindful that children learning an instrument can often be a process of trial and error - you might feel like your child is ready, and then find that they don’t have the focus to pursue it at the current time. If this happens, rest assured that they can try again at a different developmental stage.

3.   Does Your Child Have Sharp Motor Skills?

Most people know by now that playing a musical instrument requires strong hand-eye coordination and great dexterity. If your child displays these skills but has no outlet for what to do with them, why not put a musical instrument between their fingers and watch what happens?

The best music schools out there thrive from taking highly motivated, skilled children and giving them the tools they need to truly better themselves as music artists.

4.   Does Your Child Show A Desire to Learn an Instrument?

Is it too obvious to list “A desire to learn an instrument” as a sign that your child is ready to start music lessons? Maybe. But we must remember that children are very strange creatures - and parents can sometimes miss obvious hints about their desires! 

If your child is coming home from school talking with envy about someone in the class who carries around a violin and goes to the Music Department at lunchtime, then take note they might be ready to start music lessons of their own. If your child has a newfound fascination with a music artist and starts imitating guitar strums or turning the shampoo bottle into a microphone, they might be ready to start music lessons, too!

All parents will know that their children have a way of saying things without actually saying things, so when it comes to their music, look out for certain actions to see if they might be ready for music lessons.

5.   Does Your Child Show A Sense of Commitment?

Even if your child doesn’t have gifted motor skills, an exemplary attention span, or an endless passion for music above all else - they might still be ready for lessons if you’ve determined they’re a committed young person.

It’s worth noting that the best young musicians don’t reach their high status simply by being innately brilliant - they reach it by being fully committed to their craft. If you know that your child is hardworking and prepared to put in the hours when it comes to something like music, then all they need is the right teacher and the right instrument to help them achieve their goals.

6.   Age Discussions

Ultimately, it’s difficult to pinpoint the exact moment when a child can be considered ready for music lessons - that’s why most music schools and music teachers will have policies around the age when a child should start formal learning.

However, it’s always worth personally contacting those working at a trusted music school, as they can offer firm guidance about a child’s readiness. If you believe your child shows a strong musical talent at a very young age, you might find that certain teachers will be happy to take them on as a student!

Conclusion: Learning Music is Kids Stuff

It’s never too early to start introducing your children to the wonders of music. And even if they’re not ready to start taking lessons right away, we always recommend exposing children to as much music as possible if you want them to develop a love for an instrument further down the line.

At Harmony Heights Music, we offer beginner music programs designed to nurture young musicians at every stage of their journey. Ready to explore your child's musical potential? Contact Harmony Heights Music in Langley today to learn more or schedule a trial lesson!