Age For Guitar Lessons
JTaylor
Feb 2 2012, 12:03 PM
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From: Florida, USA
Since I am buying a new guitar, I had briefly thought about selling my old one. However, I don't think I would get very much for it and told my wife that our son can have it for his first guitar when he is old enough. This brought a question to mind: What is a good age to formally start him in lessons? I am not going to force it on him though. He is only 3 (and has the typical 3 year old attention span) but he does like sitting on my lap and strumming the strings. I believe several of you instructors also give lessons to kids and I am wondering what your opinion is on a good age. Also, I'd be glad to hear of any other people's experience with this. Last, but not least, while I need to buy him a smaller guitar? He is very tall for his age which he gets from me (I am 6' 5") so maybe he can use a full size by the time he is 5 or 6? Thanks!

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Bluestreak
Feb 2 2012, 05:14 PM
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I started teaching my best friend's son when he was 5-6 years old, and he started with a what I'd consider a "full size" Yamaha acoustic. I had to carefully consider what I taught him, because his hands were a bit small for things like bar chords and certain scale patterns, but he learned. He's 13 now, and becoming a good player last I heard him noodling with his guitar. I only WISH I'd started that young. I was 14 when I got my first guitar.

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dark dude
Feb 2 2012, 05:23 PM
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At his current age, just strumming the strings and enjoying it is great! The love for the instrument has to come first, instead of just throwing it on him. Bluestreak's 5-6 year old suggestion is a good one if you want an early start!

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Alex Feather
Feb 2 2012, 05:31 PM
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It's awesome that you will start teaching your son to play guitar! The age is doesn't really matter the rule is when his hand left hand can grab (means put your hand around the neck and touch a thumb) a neck you can start teaching him!!!

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Ben Higgins
Feb 2 2012, 09:01 PM
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Hi Jon smile.gif

Yeah, I'd tend to agree with Dark Dude. I'd let him gradually develop an affinity for the instrument and I would teach him a few basic chords myself. I would avoid formal tuition though, as it can really put kids off.. he might actually request it himself though when he's older, then it's different as he won't feel like he has to do it.

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Sinisa Cekic
Feb 3 2012, 12:13 AM
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That's hypothetical question! No one with certainty can say when is the right time for learning. I would say this is when child shows particular interest as opposed to the usual, for a new toy. However, for some serious learning, my bottom line is 8 or 9 years old -
a time when the child has matured concentration and with attention can to listen and learn! Younger children really require much effort and energy from teachers. It is very difficult and sensitive pedagogical work and I am not willing to, let say, forcing five-year child to exercise and to blame him, or punish him, if he made ​​a mistake or some...I have no heart for it cool.gif !
Another story is if the child is not interested in guitar, and parent treat his own complexes over the child, and wants his child to be what he once wanted while he was young !!! That's much worse..

So, in your case- there is no better teacher than you !! Don't force him,of course, keep him close while you practice, you will know when he is excited, bored, he will come to listen and imitate you, and slowly it will exceed to the routine, and you'll feel the moment for show him the first chord, song, and so on...

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Ivan Milenkovic
Feb 6 2012, 04:04 PM
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Wise words from Sinisa, I think I should listen to his experienced advice too here, so nothing more to add. I can only say that it seems to me he is a bit young with 3 years for a guitar, but who knows. He could be making his first steps.

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JTaylor
Feb 7 2012, 11:07 AM
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QUOTE (Ivan Milenkovic @ Feb 6 2012, 03:04 PM) *
I can only say that it seems to me he is a bit young with 3 years for a guitar


I certainly agree. I was just thinking about a few years down the road. I really liked what Sinisa said about not making kids do something because we wish we had done it. Really made me think.

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Piotr Kaczor
Feb 7 2012, 12:47 PM
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Totally agree with Sinisa. There is no worse thing than full of complexes parents... Their own unfulfilled dreams and ambitions are transferred to children. That's sick!

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This post has been edited by Piotr Kaczor: Feb 7 2012, 12:53 PM


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