Once they turn at least five years of age, and have the physical control to start learning an instrument, then I think they should start. It depends on the instrument to some degree as well. Our kids had a piano instructor, that wouldn’t start teaching piano to children until they were at least seven years old. She thought that prior to that, their fingers simply weren’t big enough to play all the keys. Speaking of pianos, you may be wondering what brand to get for your kids. Well, it doesn’t have to be the best of the best, like James Bond’s brand of watches. We had just an old piano that my father bought years ago. I think he traded in his test De Ville Co-Axial replica on it when he was younger. Not a bad decision in hindsight, considering all the use we’ve gotten out of the piano. Friends of ours also bought just a regular Yamaha electric piano when their kids started playing.

Personally I’m glad to have had all the music lessons I did as a kid. And I never had to sell my Co-Axial copy for a pair of drumsticks to get started. Drumming was something that was a big part of my life for a lot of years, and I must admit to missing the days I spent playing for hours. The nice thing about musical ability, is that it never truly leaves you forever. You can always pick it up later, and do something with it. I still harbor ideas of building a soundproof drum room in the basement, getting a nice kit, and starting playing again. Once of these days, I likely will.

Music opens doors, and gives kids opportunities that they may never have had without the benefit of learning to play an instrument.  So much of how we are, is a result of the people we choose to associate with.  Or hang with, as the kids would say.  Musicians are a slightly different breed of people, and have a very artistic view of the world.  While that may not be your view, is does expose your kids to a different perspective, and that I believe is fundamental to their growth and development.

That’s why I say it’s not that important which instrument you have your kids learn, as long as they learn something.  If your kids aren’t set on any particular instrument, and your not too sure, then choose the piano.  It’s hard to go wrong with piano lessons, and the piano can be used as a stepping stone to another instrument later on.  The basic fundamentals and theory of music are all there in the piano.  If they decide to play guitar, violin, drums, trumpet, or even the tuba later on, then what they’ve learned from the piano will be of benfit.

But, whatever they start with, make sure they stick with it for at least a year.  Two or three would be preferable, but I understand how hard it can be to get kids to practice their instrument even for one they want to learn.  Let alone one they’re not that keen on.

At some point, you need to give them the choice as to whether or not they continue with lessons.  With my oldest daughter, it was the second year of high school.  She had attained her grade 5 piano, and other things in her life were beginning to consume lots of her time.  Even still, she continued on teaching herself herself music from the current music charts.  Seeing her do that for a year or two was in some ways more rewarding than having her doing regular lessons.  She was playing the music because she enjoyed doing it.  That is afterall, how music should be played.

While it would be silly to suggest that you get your kids to take piano or any musical instrument lessons just to become a celebrity. The point to the story here, is that what you do as a child or don’t do has serious implications over the rest of your life. The old “you’ll thank be for it later” line is never going to be appreciated at the time by our children, but one that is worth repeating. Music is a life skill, and one that can take you places you’ve never dreamed of. Even if it only amounts to creating an incredibly popular YouTube video. A part of growing up and becoming more human, is to understand the different aspects that our culture can offer. If you can find a way to make it fun for your kids, that that’s even better. If not, than do wimp out and let them off the hook because your afraid they won’t like you later. While it’s true that they may be picking out your retirement home someday, I suspect they’ll be a little more happy with you as an adult if they have plenty of options open as they become adults themselves.

Future Rock Star In Training

Growing up as a child surrounded by music, I can adamantly state that I’m a very different person today because of that music.  I was the son of a drummer, the son of a drum corp director, the son of an aspiring piano player, the son of an aspiring trumpeter, and the son of a music teacher.  That may say more for my father, then it says for me, but it also speaks volumes for the world I lived in.  There were always musicians of all shapes and sizes, and skill sets around my home.  Most were adults, but as I grew through the years,  many of my peers were up and coming musicians that to this day continue to pursue their love of music.  To say music in my childhood shaped me as an adult would be an understatement.  And I mean that in a very positive way.  With the exception of the big name celebrity types, I can’t think of a single person that was close to me as a child, that didn’t benefit from growing up with music in their life.  For many of my friends, it was an escape from a family or school life they couldn’t cope with.  I have to wonder how much better their family lives would have been, if their parents had exposed them more to music.

Apart from the sense of accomplishment music brings to a young child, is the benefits to learning it provides.  It truly is a pathway to the brain that works exceedingly well for some kids who otherwise have great difficulty in learning.  The neurological benefits of music is still a relatively new area of research.  It is believed, that the sensory stimulation that music provides children can actually help them when they need to start learning reading, writing, and arithmetic.  There are of course been all kinds of approaches to getting kids to listen to music at a very young age.  Even before their born, some mothers play music to their kids while their in the womb.  They believe, that music can be heard by children waiting to be born.  Then there are all sorts of videos and CDs you can get specifically targeted to children which are meant to nurture their mental abilities.  This usually involves classical music.  One of the jokes around our family, is that my father (the drummer) used to tap out rhythms and drum beats on our backs while burping us.  That little anecdote may answer why my father managed to have four sons who all grew to become very accomplished drummers.