You have a young child, 4-6 years old, that really wants to play the guitar. You went to the local music store to inquire about lessons and they recommended that you wait until your child is older. Is that the end of the story? Nope. Not by a long shot.
First, find an instructor that is willing to teach young children. Part of the challenge of teaching young children is having a thorough knowledge of child development. In my experience, I’ve seen many instructors try to employ the same instructional techniques with young children that they use with older children and adults. This more often than not won’t work. This leads to frustration in the instructor, student, and parents. An instructor that can teach young children will structure lessons so they are more activity-based, physically involved, and most of all fun.
Second, find the right sized guitar for your child. A guitar that is too big can make playing harder and not a fun experience. You can find the right sized guitar (half, ¾, or full-sized) through our size chart here. I recommend starting with an acoustic nylon string guitar. The nylon strings are softer and won’t hurt the child’s finger tips as much as a steel string guitar.
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Third, another option to consider for young children is to start with a ukulele. A ukulele is very similar to the guitar in how it is played. It is also easier to play as the strings are spaced further apart than the strings on a guitar. This facilitates playing chords.
Lastly, consider enrolling your child in guitar or ukulele classes. Classes, such as the Music for Kids Program classes, can be the perfect environment for children to learn an instrument as they are learning with peers on the same level. Classes allow for more participation and games than in private instruction. It can also be less intimidating than learning in private lessons.
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If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact us for more information!
Richard Sanger, M.A. is an instructor and owner of RS Music Company. RS Music provides in home music lessons on a wide variety of instruments in the Central Jersey area. For lessons or to bring the Music for Kids Program’s guitar, ukulele, piano, and voice classes to your school or community center please call 732-320-5980. You can find more information regarding instruction on other instruments at www.rsmusiccompany.com and classes at www.musicforkidsprogram.com.
