Learning to play an instrument has many benefits and it is a great way to help your children excel in their development. 

The guitar is one of the easiest instruments for young learners so you should definitely consider Children’s Guitar Lessons for your child.

The question of what age is best to learn to play guitar is a common one, and there are several factors to consider.

If you’ve done any research already, You will have found conflicting advice on the best age for children to start learning guitar. Some teachers recommend age 7, others recommend age 10, while some start their students as young as 3!

So why the big discrepancy? Let’s unpack everything you need to know about Children’s Guitar Lessons and discover the right age for your child to start learning.

A Better Approach To Children’s Guitar Lessons

When I first started teaching guitar at my local music shop they gave me a book and told me to teach out of it.

That book worked really well for some students, but not others.

It was filled with nursery rhymes and 200-year-old Beethoven songs that no one was really interested in learning.

The people it failed the most though, were the kids.

The book failed to capture their interest with any interesting or relevant musical examples. It also had a big focus on sight reading which is completely unnecessary for most people learning to play guitar.

Why Kids Need A Different Approach To Learning Guitar

The mistake most teachers, publishing companies and music schools make is that they try and teach everybody the same way.

It doesn’t matter if you’re 5 years old, 12 years old, 25 years old or 60 years old, you get the same guitar lesson.

If you have more than one kid you already know that a 7-year-old is considerably more developed than a 5-year-old and has very different educational needs. Thus we need to adapt our approach to the person in front of us.

When somebody recommends that they don’t teach anyone under age 10 what they are really saying is “I take a one-size-fits-all approach to teaching guitar and this person isn’t at the right stage of development to fit into the mould I use”

It’s a real shame because many enthusiastic young guitarists miss out on lessons and go for another instrument or another hobby altogether because the teacher didn’t capture their interest or give them what they needed to succeed.

Redefining What Success Looks Like In Children’s Guitar Lessons

If we created an obstacle course for adults there would be a large number of teenagers who could do it, a smaller number of children who could do it, and a large number of children who couldn’t do it at all.

If we made a different obstacle course for each age group and level of development that matched their needs and provided challenges for where they are the completion rate would be almost 100% no matter what age group you looked at.

This is where guitar teachers fail!

So instead of saying kids can’t take children’s guitar lessons until 10 years old, what we should do is redefine what success look like at age 10 and adapt our approach to helping our kids succeed.

If we redefine what success looks like at any age group and create relevant guitar lesson content and learning pathways for them then we can have great success at any age.

You need only search on youtube for “3-year-old guitarist” or “5-year-old guitarist” to see some amazing young children in action.

Children Can Start Guitar Lessons At Any Age

So instead of asking “what is the best age for my child to start learning guitar?” what you should be asking is “what does success look like for my child at their age?”

Here are the age categories and some guidelines for children’s guitar lessons:

• Ages 1-3 Infants
• Ages 3-5 Toddlers
• Ages 5-7 Kids
• Ages 8-12  Children
• Ages 13+ Teenagers

Each of these age groups coincides with different stages of development. Remember that children develop both physically and cognitively at different rates and some will not quite fit into these categories.

With a new perspective on learning, let’s take a look at what success looks like in children’s guitar lessons for different ages.

Guitar Lessons For Young Kids Aged 1-3

Children in this age group lack the fine motor skills and cognitive capacity needed to play guitar.

So we don’t try to teach them to play guitar.

Instead, we enrol them in a pre-music class where the focus is on developing a positive association with music and the ability to clap along to music and even play basic percussion instruments.

This way they begin their musical journey early and start developing the skills which will become important later on when they do start playing an instrument.

Traditionally these have been run as ‘mums and bubs’ sessions and there are bound to classes like this in your area.

Guitar Lessons For Young Kids Aged 3-5

At this age, children are starting to get a basic grasp for speaking and getting more control over their fine motor skills.

Most children at this age cannot read or write, so we want to abandon any idea of having them read music in the traditional sense.

Enrolling your child in a general music program is a great idea at this age. This way the student can sing and clap along to music, try a few percussion instruments to develop a sense of rhythm and spend a little bit of time playing guitar.

We don’t want to have the expectation that our child will be amazing. Instead, we want to build up a love and appreciation of music and nurture their interest. The technical ability will come later.

Find a general music program or a guitar teacher that runs special classes for this age group. Expect that you will need to join in and supervise yourself which doubles as a great bonding activity for you and your child.

It’s also worth mentioning that all learning at this age should take place on a ¼ size guitar. 

Guitar Lessons For Children Aged 5-7

While some children are ready to learn how to play the guitar a little earlier than five, the vast majority of students will be ready by this age.

This is when we can finally enrol our kids in children’s guitar lessons and expect them to start playing music that is recognisable.

It’s important to find a teacher in your area that caters to this age group and adapts their approach to lessons to the needs of their students at this age. Otherwise, your child is going to really struggle and will likely grow bored or frustrated and quit shortly after.

Daily practice (even if it’s as little as 5 minutes per day) is a must at this age because young learners need consistency in order to develop the muscle memory required to play guitar.

Be prepared to sit with them at home every day for at least 5 minutes so you can guide them through a few exercises set by their teacher.

Children’s Guitar Lessons For Kids Aged 8-12

This is the age group where most kids are well and truly ready for children’s guitar lessons.

It’s also the age where they are starting to ask about it on their own accord.

If your child expresses interest in learning how to play guitar at this age group then I highly recommend enrolling them in a program as soon as possible. You want to strike while the iron is hot and capture their interest while it’s strong.

At this age group we still want to redefine success and simplify our approach to learning so that our children can be successful.

Have Fair Expectations On How Long It Takes To Learn Guitar

Most of the music that you hear on the radio or on your favourite CD is the product of 10 years of hard work by the guitarist on record. It’s not fair of us to expect that our child gets to that level in any less than 5-10 years.

Remember, music lessons are a long-term commitment and most of what you hear on the radio is played by professionals putting in 3+ hours into their playing for decades. 

Your child will not get close to their level until they’ve accumulated thousands of hours of practice. Stick to it long term however and eventually, they will accumulate the hours and with it the skills needed to play guitar confidently.

Guitar Lessons For Teens

Something magical happens in our early teenage years…

We start to like music.

A lot!

For the first time, we begin making our own choices about what we listen to. Discovering new music becomes a new behaviour and eventually, music becomes one of the factors in shaping our identity.

All of this makes the teenage years one of the best periods for anybody to start taking guitar lessons.

By this point most people have the fine motor skills needed to play guitar and are cognitively developed to the point where processing all the information is relatively easy.

Results at this age just come down to the student being motivated to practice and put in the work.

Finding The Right Guitar Teacher For Your Teen

Finding a teacher who can connect with your child and teach them the music they like is essential. Nothing puts a damper on lessons like having a completely out-of-touch teacher show you how to do what they like or deem “necessary”.

Instead, lessons should find a balance of having fun while still covering essential skills and concepts.

A great guitar teacher will be able to take the essential concepts and find relevant musical examples for your child.

Guitar Lessons For Adults

Many adults wanting to learn guitar may feel like they’ve missed the boat or will somehow be disadvantaged by learning later in life.

This is completely false!

In fact, there are several benefits to learning guitar as an adult that you never had as a kid including:

• You’re taking guitar lessons because you want to, not because your parents are forcing you.
• You have the money to invest in good guitar lessons and great equipment.
• You’re at a higher level of cognitive development and will be able to learn and understand things easier than if you were a kid.
• You’ve had decades of listening to music passively which helps develop certain skills
• The longer you’ve wanted to learn, the more motivated you will be to stick with it.

So if you’re worried about coming into the hobby of learning guitar later in life, don’t be put off. 

You’re just as capable and will actually progress much faster than most children.

I also highly recommend that parents who have their kids enrolled in children’s guitar lessons take lessons themselves for a few months to get an understanding of the fundamentals needed to play.

You Can Learn Guitar At Any Age

Children have a natural curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, and this can make it easier for them to pick up new skills, including playing the guitar. 

Younger students may also have more time to practice and develop their skills, as they typically have fewer responsibilities than adults.

Ultimately, the best age to learn to play the guitar depends on the individual. 

If you’re a parent considering children’s guitar lessons for your child, it’s important to consider their age, maturity level, and interest in music. 

If you’re an adult looking to learn, consider your goals and available time for practice and realise that it’s never too late to learn.

In conclusion, rather than ask “what is the right age to learn guitar” instead we should ask “what does success look like at my child’s age?”

With the right mindset, the right program and guidance from a great guitar teacher, learning how to play the guitar is possible at any age.

So, if you’re ready to take the first step, grab a guitar and start playing!

About The Author

Meet Michael Gumley, a guitar teacher who has taught over 1000 students and delivered more than 10,000 guitar lessons in close to two decades of professional guitar teaching.

He holds a Bachelor of Music in Jazz and Contemporary and has released 5 albums, authored 12 books on guitar playing and teaching, and created the Guitar Ninjas Curriculum, used in 20 studios around the world.

Michael’s passion for teaching guitar has helped him create a fun and engaging learning environment for his students at his Melbourne Guitar Academy studio where he tailors lessons to each student’s individual needs and goals to ensure they reach their full potential.

If you’re looking for the best children’s guitar lessons near me look no further than learning guitar with Michael

The post What Is The Right Age To Learn Guitar? appeared first on Melbourne Guitar Academy.

Learning to play the guitar can be a fun and rewarding experience for children, but it requires regular practice. 

As an expert guitar teacher with years of experience teaching children, I know that establishing a regular practice routine at home is crucial for your child’s progress. 

In this article, I’ll share some tips on how to help your child establish a regular guitar practice routine at home.

The Importance of Practicing at Home

One of the most important things to remember is that what happens between lessons shapes your child’s progress. 

Regular practice at home is crucial for developing their skills and building their confidence. When your child practices regularly, they’ll be able to master new techniques, learn new songs and make progress towards their goals.

It’s important to set fair expectations on what can be accomplished in a given time frame. Learning the guitar is a journey, and it takes time to master the skills needed to play well. 

Encourage your child to focus on progress rather than perfection and celebrate each milestone along the way.

Who’s Responsible For Practice At Home

It’s essential to remember that as parents, you are responsible for ensuring that your child practices regularly at home. 

Children can’t be trusted to do much of anything on their own, so why do we assume they know how to practice? 

All the best child students I’ve ever had have had their parents actively involved in their practice. You need to be involved in your child’s guitar practice to help them stay motivated and make progress.

Tip 1 – Schedule Guitar Practice into the Timetable

One way to establish a regular guitar practice routine is to make it part of your child’s timetable. 

Set the expectation that guitar time is a daily activity, just like brushing their teeth or doing homework. 

Stick with it long enough to make it a habit. 

It’s crucial to remember that building a habit takes time, so don’t expect your child to get it right from the start.

Forming A Habit Of Daily Guitar Practice

They say it takes 28 days to form a habit. For this reason, we recommend you encourage 5 minutes of practice time every day for the first 30 days of learning guitar.

This will allow your child to get into the habit of practising their guitar every day.

Once they are in the habit of playing the guitar every day, we can extend their practice to 10 minutes. You can extend their practice time by an extra 5 minutes every 2-4 weeks until they are doing the recommended 30m of daily practice.

How Many Minutes Per Day Should My Child Be Practicing Guitar?

In an ideal world, we would recommend that children between the ages 8 & 12 do 30 minutes of guitar every single day.

If your child is under the age of 7 then we want to aim for a maximum practice time of 15 minutes.

As mentioned previously start with 5 minutes a day and increase the duration of their practice time by 5 minutes every few weeks.

Only children who have professional ambitions or who have decided early on that guitar is their thing should practice for hours and hours every day… But if that’s the case they’ll be picking it up themselves with no encouragement from you.

Tip 2 – Sit With Them During Practice

All the best parents sit with their kids and supervise their guitar practice.

Remember, your kids don’t know much about guitar, aren’t very disciplined, and don’t know how to structure a practice routine. So give them guidelines and coach them through the process.

A good guitar teacher will make it easy for you by providing a practice plan and giving feedback on what they need to work on for that week.

If you can play guitar, join in, and make it a fun family activity. 

If you can’t play guitar, consider taking 5-10 lessons so you know the basics. This way, you can provide better guidance and support to your child during practice.

Tip 3 – Play Games to Make it Fun

Guitar playing can be challenging in the beginning, so it’s not going to win over the iPad or PlayStation. However, you can make it more fun by including games in your practice sessions. 

Ask your teacher for some examples of guitar games that you can play with your child. This way, you can make guitar practice a fun and enjoyable experience for your child.

You can also look into apps that gamify the learning process or incorporate watching videos of their favourite guitar players as a reward for a good practice session.

This will inspire them, and show them the benefits of hard work.

Check out some fun guitar games here

Committing to the Long Term

It’s essential to remember that learning the guitar takes time and is a long-term commitment (for both you and your child).

Having expectations that they are going to sound like the guitar player on recording after three months (or even three years) is completely unrealistic on your behalf.

Having the expectation that they are going to want to practice at home all the time is also unrealistic. Remember how much you fussed over things when you were a kid? How about going to sports training or the gym even as an adult?

Talk to your child about how long it actually takes to learn the guitar to a proficient level and try to get them to understand that they need to push through 2-3 years of not being great at it to get to the point where they are.

During this time they need as much encouragement as possible or at least be stalwart when they wish to quit. 

Don’t Let Them Quit

Explain the importance of long-term commitment and remind them that guitar takes a lot longer to learn than most people anticipate.

Most importantly, don’t let them quit. No matter how much they winge, cry, complain, or frustrate you.

They only fail at guitar when you decide it’s time to give up.

Take Action Towards Establishing Their Guitar Practice Routine.

Establishing a regular guitar practice routine at home is crucial for your child’s progress. 

As parents, it’s your responsibility to ensure that your child practices regularly and stays motivated. 

Remember to schedule guitar practice into your child’s timetable, sit with them during practice, play games to make it fun, and commit to the long term.

About The Author – Kids Guitar Education Expert Michael Gumley

Meet Michael Gumley, a guitar teacher with over a decade of experience in teaching students of all ages and skill levels.

Michael’s love for the guitar began in 2005 when he first picked up the instrument. His passion for teaching led him to start his own guitar-teaching business in 2008.

Since then, he has taught over 1000 students and delivered more than 10,000 guitar lessons.

Michael holds a Bachelor of Music in Jazz and Contemporary and has released 5 albums, toured nationally and internationally twice, and authored 12 books on guitar playing and teaching.

He is also the creator of the Guitar Ninjas Curriculum, which is used in 20 studios around the world.

In addition to his successful career as a guitarist and author, Michael has made a significant impact on the guitar teaching industry.

He founded Melbourne Guitar Academy in 2015 and created the 6 Figure Guitar Teacher Program, a course that helps solo guitar teachers grow their studio to six-figure incomes.

Michael is also a board member for the Victorian Music Teachers Association and has travelled to Chicago to be a trainer at the Ultimate Creativity Week, a 6 day guitar-playing event.

Michael’s passion for teaching guitar has helped him create a fun and engaging learning environment for his students at his Melbourne Guitar Academy studio. He believes in tailoring lessons to each student’s individual needs and giving them what they need to reach their full potential. 

If you’re looking for a qualified and experienced guitar teacher for your child, skip googling guitar teacher near me and reach out to Michael directly for the best guitar lessons in Melbourne.

The post How to Help Your Child Establish a Regular Guitar Practice Routine at Home appeared first on Melbourne Guitar Academy.

As parents, we want our children to develop a love for music and pursue their interests, and often turn to guitar lessons as a fun hobby.

Like with all hobbies though, once the newness has worn off so too does the practice at home.. 

Guitar practice can be tedious and monotonous for children, making it difficult to keep them motivated. As a parent, it is important to make guitar practice fun and exciting for your child.

In this article, we will discuss five ways to make your child’s guitar practice at home more fun.

Who Is Responsible For Guitar Practice At Home?

As parents, it’s common to feel uncertain about the extent of our responsibility when it comes to our children’s music practice.

While our children must put in the work and practice regularly, it’s up to us to ensure that they have the support and guidance they need to excel. Therefore, it is our job to help our children practice at home.

To support our children’s music practice, it’s important to establish a consistent routine that’s achievable and appropriate for their skill level. 

A routine can help our children understand the expectations around their practice and create a sense of structure, making it easier to motivate them.

You need to make guitar practice part of their routine and then make their routine a habit. This will set the expectation of when practice occurs instead of them seeing it as impeding on their free time.

Yes you’re a busy parent and you already have so much responsibility, but you know your child can’t be left to do things independently yet (unless it’s a PlayStation right?). So how are they meant to figure something as complex as guitar practice out all by themselves?

Making Guitar Practice Fun

At the end of the day, your child wants to have fun.

They also want to put in the least amount of effort possible.

It’s going to be hard for guitar to be as much fun as an iPad or a video game which are geared to trigger dopamine and become addictive for children. Especially in the beginning when they are still just developing their skills.

In order for guitar to stand any chance we need to make playing the guitar at home fun for our kids. Let’s explore 5 ways we can do this at home.

Make Guitar Practice A Game

Children love games, and incorporating games into guitar practice can make it more enjoyable for them. 

For example, you can create a game where your child must correctly play a chord that you call out and earns a point for everyone they get right.

If you have two siblings who learn guitar you can also make it a competition between them to see who can learn a new song the fastest.

Ask your guitar teacher if they can give you ideas for games you can play at home to make learning more fun.

Play Along With Your Child During Their Practice Sessions

Playing along with your child is an excellent way to make guitar practice more fun. 

You can accompany your child on another instrument or sing along while they play. 

You can also ask them to teach you something they have learned, which will help build their confidence and make them feel more accomplished.

If you don’t know how to play guitar, consider taking a few lessons with your child’s teacher. If you’re a Melbourne Guitar Academy parent you get access to free online guitar lessons as part of your membership. You can use this resource to teach yourself the basics.

Let Your Child Choose The Music

Playing the guitar is only one component of musical development and guitar practice.

Listening to music actively has many benefits and is something that should be done regularly.

Allowing your child to choose the music they want to listen to is an excellent way to expose them to new music and inspire them to learn new songs on guitar. 

When children are given the opportunity to choose their own music, they are more likely to be motivated to practice. You can also encourage them to try different genres and styles of music to broaden their musical knowledge.

As you’re listening to music, ask them questions to get them to think about what they hear. This will lead to them developing a deeper understanding of how music works and an awareness of many different elements of music.

Incorporate Technology Into Guitar Practice

Technology can be a valuable tool when it comes to making guitar practice more fun. 

There are many guitar apps and online resources available that can help your child learn new songs and practice their skills. 

Apps like Yousician offer a gamified approach to learning where students earn points based on how well they play things.

You can also use technology to record your child’s progress and share it with friends and family.

Lastly, your complimentary Guitar Ninjas membership has access to over 50 online guitar courses. You can have your kids watching the video playthroughs of the song they are working on as part of their practice.

This will help them hear what they are trying to play and will make learning the song easier.

Make It A Social Event

Music is always more fun when it’s played with somebody else.

In order to get good at playing music with other people we should practise guitar with other people.

We’ve already mentioned playing along with your child, but there are additional things you can do to facilitate this:

• Organize a playdate with a friend or family member who already plays an instrument.
• Have your child play for their grandparents live over a video call.
• Encourage them to work on a set of 2-3 songs to play at the next family get-together.

Playing with others can help build their confidence and will prepare them for playing in bands and ensembles when they are older.

Conclusion

In conclusion, making guitar practice more fun for your child is essential to help them stay engaged and motivated. 

Remember to prioritize their interests, be creative with your approach, use technology to your advantage, create a comfortable and positive environment, and provide opportunities for them to perform and share their progress. 

By doing so, you can help your child develop a lifelong love of music and the guitar.

About The Author

Meet Michael Gumley, a highly experienced guitar teacher with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz and Contemporary, who has taught over 1000 students and delivered more than 10,000 guitar lessons.

He is the founder of Melbourne Guitar Academy and the creator of the Guitar Ninjas Curriculum, which is used in 20 studios around the world. Michael is also a board member for the Victorian Music Teachers Association and trains other teachers to become better at what they do.

If you’re looking for a guitar teacher for your kids, don’t google guitar lessons near me, instead, reach out to Michael directly and book the best children’s guitar lessons In Melbourne.

The post Struggling To Keep Your Child Motivated During Guitar Practice? Here Are 5 Ways To Make It More Fun! appeared first on Melbourne Guitar Academy.