What Age Can a Child Begin to Take Music Lessons Online?

What Age Can a Child Begin to Take Music Lessons OnlineYou’ve noticed that your child has always expressed a keen interest in music since they were little. Maybe they were quick to pick up a tune or seemed naturally gifted with rhythm and keeping a beat. If you think your child could be the next Mozart, you’ve probably started looking to sign them up for virtual music lessons.
Maybe your child isn’t a prodigy, and that’s okay! You still want them to learn to play an instrument or at least try so they can have a deeper appreciation for the music you love or for their brain development. Whatever your reasons are for getting them music lessons, you have probably considered what age is the best age for children to start learning an instrument, especially online. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you do your research.

How music affects a child’s brain development

Research suggests that children’s age range to develop musical sensibility is from birth to nine years old. These are the best years for a child’s mind to grow and be shaped by music. This doesn’t necessarily mean that they have to learn to play the piano during these years to get the benefits of learning. Being exposed to music can be extraordinarily helpful.
There are several reasons why music is healthy for your kids. By listening to music and learning to play it, you help improve the brain’s health because music activates every part of the brain, connecting both the right and left sides. By playing music for your child, you help them build a better memory and have a greater capacity for motor control, auditory processing, and spatial coordination.

When can we start online lessons?

It’s one thing to play music in the car with your child or have music on in the house while they play; it’s another thing to bring your child to a music teacher for lessons. We’ve mentioned being exposed to music and learning to play, but what about taking online lessons? Let’s consider a few things.

  • Consider their motor skills. Every child is different, especially when it comes to physical development, processing, and motor skills. Take into consideration your child’s gross and fine motor skills. Your child may be old enough to walk, run, and jump, but can they hold a pencil, cut with scissors, or build with legos? If they are still learning in these areas, you may want to wait a little longer before signing them up for online lessons.
  • Consider their listening skills. If your child is in school, they’re probably used to listening to a teacher talk to them for a long time. But being in school is different than virtual learning. If your child does well listening to another adult and can follow directions, they should do well with online music lessons. Children who are experienced with online learning will adapt quickly to virtual music lessons. If this is the first time your child is experiencing virtual learning, be patient, and be attentive to how your child is learning. They may learn better with a teacher coming to your home instead.
  • Consider their computer skills. This one is different and mostly depends on you as their parent and what you are comfortable with. Some parents prefer their children to have as little screen time as possible. Some parents don’t mind, especially when screen time is for educational purposes. You may not want your child to practice learning their technology skills for the first time with an online tutor. Or, you may not mind if your child doesn’t know how to operate your computer or laptop, and you can be responsible for setting up virtual calls with their online music teacher.

It’s never too late to get started

What if you didn’t play music for your baby in the womb? Or what if they’re ten years old or older and have never touched a piano in their life? That’s perfectly okay. It’s never too late to get your child started with music lessons. At Lessons In Your Home, all of our instructors are professional musicians and passionate teachers. They can teach through online music lessons or come to your home. Contact us today to find an instructor near you.

What Age Can a Child Begin to Take Music Lessons Online

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