When Should Children Start Piano Lessons

Tomoko asserts, “You can start learning how to play the piano at any age.” However, starting piano lessons too early can be a waste of money. Here are some guidelines.

First, the child should WANT to learn how to play. If there is a piano or electric keyboard around, does the child show interest and gravitate to it? Pushing a reluctant child into piano lessons invites frustration and family fights. 

Is the child emotionally ready? Can the child follow directions? Is the child willing to accept instruction – and criticism? Does the child have a long enough attention span to sit still, practice and persevere?

Is the child physically ready? Can the child place his hands parallel to the ground when seated so he doesn’t have to strain when reaching the piano? Does the child have enough finder strength to press the piano keys down effectively? (A good way to tell is if the child can hold onto objects without dropping them.) Does the child have sufficient fine motor skills; for instance, can he color within a picture’s lines and draw letters accurately? Does the child have enough stamina to last through a 20-minute lesson without getting tired? 

Is the child cognitively ready? Can the child tell between her left and right hand? Can the child count? Does the child know the alphabet? Can the child learn how to read notes?

AND are the parents ready to encourage and support the child? 

Even if children aren’t ready to take piano lessons, they can still be encouraged to become familiar with the piano. They can explore how sounds are made on the piano. They can discover the relationship between the sequence of the keys and the associated pitch from low to high. They can watch people play the piano, and enjoy the music that is created. The piano player can also point out how a piano score notes correspond to the keys, just as letter shapes correspond to sounds (generally). 

Just as there is reading readiness, there is musical reading and performance readiness. And a lifetime of learning and enjoyment.

How do you spend your money?

Tomoko’s family invested money in both an organ and piano lessons for their children. Tomoko has continued that investment in her own pianos, and she lauds those who spend valuable funds on music for their families.

Tomoko asserts: “People who want piano are not average already.” She contends: “They don’t have to be rich, but they tend to be intelligent. They sacrifice to pay for lessons as well.” She continues, “Spending money on music is not like a vacation. Piano lessons are education. There is an investment and a responsibility." 

Therefore, Tomoko urges families to spend their money wisely. When it comes to piano teachers, she advises: “Check out the requirements for piano lessons. Find out about the teacher’s reputation. Try different teachers. There is no perfect teacher; it’s a matter of match between the teacher and the student.” She says to them: “You need to be prepared. Piano lessons and performance is not like other hobbies. You need to dedicate time every day.” 

Fiscal advice also applies to pianos. Tomoko encourages parents: “Go to a music store that sells pianos, and have the staff talk about, and demonstrate, the piano – and the pieces of music to choose from.” Tomoko knows that pianos can be expensive. “Be fussy in choosing the instrument,” she assets. “You need to have keen hearing and sensitivity to the touch.” Tomoko remembers when she bought her 1981 Steinway. “It was expensive, but it was an investment in my career.”

Spending Money Wisely

Tomoko’s grew up in a Japanese middle class family. The arts were highly valued, especially in hard times, as materialism loses its importance. Tomoko points out, “Your music is your own; no one can steal your heart.” Before the war, they couldn’t afford to buy a piano because there was a tax on such instruments. But during the war, that tax went away, and one of Tomoko’s neighbors sold their organ to Tomoko’s family because they needed money to survive.

The family started paying lessons just for Tomoko’s older brother, and Tomoko began her playing by learning from him. When she ultimately got lessons herself, Tomoko practiced very seriously, knowing their value. This dedication was made particularly concrete in that all the piano students had to wait their turn on the weekend for their private time with the piano instructor. Tomoko remembers: “And if the lesson didn’t go well, the teacher would say, ‘Shut the book. Go home.’ This kept us on our toes.”

To this day, Tomoko contends that learning how to play the piano requires dedication of time and money. She says, “People who want a piano don’t have to be rich, but they are intelligent, and are willing to sacrifice to pay.” Tomoko continues, “Owning and playing the piano is not like spending money on a vacation; it requires responsibility.” 

Tomoko feels that way about lessons. The Conservatory offers grants to students and families who cannot pay the full price, but they still pay something. “They need to value learning enough that they are willing to sacrifice some other activity or thing in order to learn.” Tomoko actually sees an advantage of having less income; ““If you have a lot of money, you don’t have to try. There’s no challenge.” 

And the worth of music, the pride in playing the piano well? Priceless!