when should kids learn piano

As a parent, you only want what’s best for your child.

You want to nurture their interests right?

Yet you can’t help but see child piano prodigies and wonder:

Can that be my child?

By encouraging their interest with piano lessons, you can provide your child with the skills necessary to unlock their true talents.

So, a few important questions:

Which age is best to introduce your child to piano?

Is there such a thing as being too young for lessons?

What about too old?

We’ve found there is an age sweet spot where a child will be most receptive to lessons.

As a bonus, I’ll also throw in some criteria that will let you know when your child is ready to learn the piano.

Exclusive Bonus: Click here to download The 7 Easy Ways to Stay Motivated With Piano, which is a PDF resource that covers this entire topic. This resource can certainly be applied to younger players too!

Ages 0 to 3: An Introduction to the Instrument for Fun and Exploration

Vtech kids learning pianoYour child has started to express an interest in music, particularly the piano.

This is an exciting moment for a parent. It’s important at this stage to build on that interest.

That means allowing your child to play with the piano purely for fun. By creating structured lessons at such an early age, your child may lose interest. That means potentially missing out on a lifetime love of music.

Keep the playing sessions loose, relaxed, and—above all—enjoyable.

Toys like the Vtech Record and Learn KidiStudio are appropriate around this age.

Ages 3 to 5: Moving on to Formalized Lessons for Learning

emedia piano starter kitAfter a few years of tinkering around on the piano, your child may be ready to learn the instrument.

You now have to decide: do you teach them yourself, send them to a professional, or use guided software?

After a few years of lessons, children should know the difference between the piano and other instruments. They should also grasp concepts like melody and beat.

Products like eMedia’s My Piano Starter Pack for Kids are highly recommended around this age.

Ages 5 to 10: Familiarity or Mastery of the Instrument

The next few years can be transformative.

Once again: it’s important not to force children into lessons. These should also be fun to keep the child’s interest. We always recommend online lessons so your child can learn from home.

By this stage, your child should understand many if not all the keys on the piano. They may have performed in recitals or other school performances. They should feel very familiar with the instrument.

That being said, this guide is not a requirement for all children. Some learn at different paces, and that’s okay.

If your child is older than 10, they can still learn the piano. It may be more difficult compared to those children who learned earlier in life, though.

BONUS: 3 Criteria for Child Piano Lesson Preparedness

Is your child ready to start taking lessons? Here are three useful criteria:

1. Passionate about the Instrument and Music in General

The more your child loves music, the easier it will be for them to stick with piano lessons. If your child doesn’t like piano, introduce them to another instrument. They may take a liking to that one instead.

2. Possesses Dexterity for Easier Playing

Playing piano requires a certain degree of dexterity. If your child’s hand movements aren’t individualized by each finger, it may be too soon for lessons.

3. Has Hands of a Certain Size for Proper Finger Placement

Besides finger movement, you must also consider a child’s hand size. If their fingers do not naturally fit on the keys, learning piano will be difficult. Some experts suggest it takes at least five years for proper hand growth.

Want to learn more about piano lesson software?

Read our review on Playground Sessions, a program designed for beginner and intermediate players.


Tyler S
Tyler S

I'm Tyler, the webmaster here at VoicesInc.org. My passion is music, and my job is to supply reviews and articles about all the different ways you can learn and produce music online. I hope you find this website helpful.