Are you wondering when you should start enrolling your child in guitar lessons? It’s an age-old question. In a perfect world, there would be a straight-forward answer — one specific number that means they’re ready and capable of picking up the six-stringed instrument. But as you know by now, in parenthood, nothing’s ever black and white. There’s no absolute age that means they’ll excel at their instrument and understand foundational musical theory. There is, however, thought to be an age range that encourages an enhanced musical sensibility.
Emerging research suggests that there is something called a window of opportunity, or an ideal age range, during which you should enroll your child into lessons — or, at the very least, introduce them to music. This window, from birth to the ninth year of their life, is considered the perfect time to expose children to music because it’s at this time the brain undergoes essential development in the parts of the brain associated with processing and understanding music. If listening and playing music are a regular part of their lives as these structures coalesce and strengthen, a child is more likely to absorb their lessons — giving them a natural edge over those attempting to learn long after synapses have already formed.
That being said, until further studies are published, we won’t know if this window of opportunity has such a hard boundary — if waiting until your child is ten before you enroll them in class will put them at a disadvantage just because you were just shy of a year. It’s likely going beyond this range by one or even a few years won’t make too much of a difference. In fact, if an individual can commit the right amount of time and dedication, perhaps age isn’t an issue at all. What they lack in impressionability, they make up for in hard-earned life skills, such as patience, that can get them through the arduous task of picking up an instrument.
But why take the chance, especially when music gives your child demonstrable advantages early on in their life? Recent studies conducted by neuroscientists suggest music can help improve a child’s language abilities, develop their understanding of math and spatial sense, increase their emotional fluency, improve their concentration, and boost their self-esteem. Musical education is not just linked to scholastic achievement; it can have a profound impact on their sense of self and their ability to form healthy relationships.
Enrolling your child in beginner guitar lessons is easier than you think. All you need to find is your local music store. If you live in Canada, the closest store to you will most likely boast the name of Long & McQuade on their facade. They’re the nation’s most predominant music shop — and for good reason, too. They remain fully stocked with the top name brands of instruments, and they support their community of musicians by providing affordable private and group lessons at a variety of convenient times. The guitar lessons for beginners at Long & McQuade are taught by instructors who cater their lesson plans to your child’s age and learning style. Whether your child is beginning their musical journey at the young age of five or if they’ve waited until their teens to realize they want to master the guitar, their instructors can lead the way.
Ultimately, there’s no magic number; age five is no better than age six or seven. The true window of opportunity is whenever both you and your child feel comfortable signing up for beginner guitar lessons. Whenever the six-string instrument’s neck fits comfortably in your child’s small hands is another factor, though there are instruments specifically made with a child’s stature in mind. What really matter is you support them on their journey and help encourage their developing love of music to bloom. That, more than any number, is what counts.