What is the Best Age for Private Music Lessons? (E72)

One of the most common questions I hear from parents is this:
“What’s the best age for my child to start learning a musical instrument?”

And it’s such an important one! Because starting too early—or too late—can affect your child’s confidence, enjoyment, and long-term success.

So today, I’m going to walk you through six of the most popular starter instruments for kids:
Piano, Violin, Guitar, Drums, Recorder, and Ukulele.

For each one, I’ll share the ideal starting age, what skills your child will need, and some tips to help you get going confidently—even if you aren’t musical yourself.

Music Readiness Matters More Than Age

Before we jump into the instruments, let’s take a quick look at what I really mean when I say “the right age.”

It’s not about a magic number—it’s about readiness. Some kids are ready for an instrument at 3, others need a few more years. Look for signs like:

• Focusing for 10–15 minutes
• Enjoying music or imitating songs
• Following instructions
• Developing hand coordination and fine motor skills
• Some private teachers want them to be able to read first

And most importantly—are they excited to try? Interest and curiosity go a long way in music learning.

Best Age for Private Lessons: Instrument-by-Instrument Guide

Let’s break it down by instrument.

Piano – Best Starting Age: 7 Years Old

Piano is a fantastic first instrument—but starting too early can be frustrating.

Why age 7?

• Around this age, most kids have the fine motor skills and finger strength for hand independence.
• They can begin to read music and understand concepts like rhythm and note values.
• Attention spans are longer, making structured lessons more effective.

Getting started tips:

• Begin with simple songs and games.
• Use my Beginning Music Theory for Elementary course to build a foundation alongside piano lessons.
• If your child is younger than 7, start with KinderBach!
• Read: How to Help your Homeschool Student be Successful with Piano Lessons

Violin – Best Starting Age: 3–5 Years Old

Violin is unique—it’s one of the few instruments where very young children can get started successfully, especially with the Suzuki Method.

Why age 3–5 works well:

• Violins come in small sizes that fit little hands.
• The Suzuki method focuses on listening, repetition, and imitation—requires no reading, perfect for preschoolers.

Parent tip:

• Look for a teacher experienced with young learners and Suzuki-based methods.
• It’s very parent-involved, so be prepared to learn alongside them!

Guitar – Best Starting Age: 10 Years Old

Guitar looks fun—and it is—but it’s also physically demanding. If you’d like to try it out with a course first before studying privately, Guitar Time with Ben and Bass Guitar Time with Caleb are the perfect options!

Why wait until 10?

• Kids need strong fingers and longer hands to hold chords and press strings cleanly.
• Earlier than that, kids often get frustrated and discouraged.

What to do before 10?

• Let them build rhythm and coordination through singing, movement, or even the ukulele.

Ukulele – Best Starting Age: 8 Years Old

Ukulele is fun, friendly, and a great stepping stone to guitar. I love the course Ukulele Adventures that you can try before studying privately.

Why age 8?

• Most kids have enough finger coordination and hand strength by this age.
• It’s less demanding than guitar—only 4 nylon strings and a smaller body.

Bonus:

• It’s easy to play simple songs early, which keeps kids motivated and excited!

Drums – Best Starting Age: 10 Years Old

I recommentd age 10 for playing a drum set, but preschoolers can and should begin playing rhythm sticks and hand drums to start learning steady beat!

Drums are amazing for developing rhythm and energy, but formal drum lessons and kits are best around age 10.

Why?

• Kids at this age can coordinate hands and feet better.
• They can focus on technique and timing with a teacher.

But don’t wait to start rhythmic play!
Preschoolers love exploring steady beat with:

• Rhythm sticks
• Hand drums
• Body percussion activities

Beginning Music Theory for Elementary includes all kinds of fun rhythm games you can do at home—no drum kit required.

Recorder – Best Starting Age: 8 Years Old

The recorder is a wonderful beginning wind instrument that can prepare a student to later play the clarinet or saxophone, but it requires careful finger coordination and breath control.

Why age 8?

• By then, most kids have the hand size and fine motor skills to cover holes cleanly.
• They can blow gently and consistently—without squeaking!
• They’re also developmentally ready to read music.

A perfect fit:

• My Recorder Time with Mr. Jerry online course is tailor-made for this age range and super beginner-friendly.

How to Know If Your Child Is Truly Ready

Here are a few quick-check questions to ask before you invest in lessons or instruments:

• Can your child sit and focus for 15 minutes?
• Do they show consistent interest in music?
• Are they able to follow 2–3 step instructions?
• Can they move fingers independently (like cutting with scissors)?
• Are you, the parent, ready to help support their learning?

And remember: you don’t have to know how to play the instrument yourself! You just need resources, and that’s where Music in Our Homeschool comes in.

A Word of Encouragement

Let me encourage you: There’s no wrong time to start music.
If your child starts “late,” that’s okay.
If they’re ready to start early, that’s great too!

The real win is building a lifelong love of music. When your child plays an instrument—at any age—they develop confidence, focus, discipline, and creativity.

And if they try one instrument and it’s not the right fit? It’s okay to pivot! Lots of musicians start on one and switch to another later.

Music is a journey!

Take the Next Step

Here’s how to start today:

Download a free sample lesson from one of my instrument courses.
Use rhythm sticks or body percussion with your little ones.
Browse all of my courses—sorted by age—at Learn.MusicinOurHomeschool.com.

And if you’re not sure what course fits your child best, send me a message! I love helping parents like you figure out what works best for your homeschool family.

Thanks for joining me today! Be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a fellow homeschool mom who’s thinking about starting music lessons for her child.

Until next time—keep nurturing musical joy in your home!

Did I miss one? What other questions about homeschool music do you have?

Please leave a comment below!

See the YouTube Video “What’s the Best Age to Start Learning an Instrument?”

https://youtu.be/xosVZEnfncc

Listen to Podcast Episode 72: What is the Best Age for a Child to Start Private Instrument Music Lessons in your Homeschool?

Listen here or subscribe and follow The Music in Our Homeschool Podcast through your favorite podcast app, such as Apple Podcasts or Spotify!

Read the Podcast Transcript here.

Related Posts:

• 6 Ways to Teach Music in Your Homeschool Without Private Music Lessons
• 6 MORE Tips for Starting Private Music Lessons
• The Top Frequently Asked Questions I Get About Music in Our Homeschool (E70)
• How to Use Music Lessons to Grow in Poise and Other Skills for Public Speaking (E61)
• Should You Consider Virtual Music Lessons?