What's the best age for my child to start music lessons?

A child may be ready to start private (one-on-one) music lessons when he or she is a good beginning reader, can sit or stand in place for 15-30 minutes, shows clear interest in the instrument and a good aptitude for memory, can state his or her commitment to practice, and the instrument is not too big for him or her to learn proper technique from the first lesson. In my experience, based on size requirements and mental and physical demands, the typical minimum ages are: violin, age 3; piano, 5; drums 6; guitar and woodwinds 7; voice, 8. For children under 5, I recommend music classes (see our Resources page), a children's choir, or other group music experiences. Starting private lessons too early can waste time and money, as the learning curve will be steeper than if you wait until the optimum age range.