Guitar Lessons For Children: Faqs From Parents

Children who learn how to play an instrument develop skills and advantages that they may not otherwise develop so easily. According to the Peterson Family Foundation, a child who learns to play an instrument is learning valuable memory and coordination skills, is exposed to tasks that require listening skills, and even learns a valuable form of self-expression. Therefore, obtaining guitar lessons for your child is a healthy thing to do. Take a look at some of the most common questions about kids guitar lessons and the answers you should know as a parent. 

At what age is it best for your child to start taking guitar lessons?

Picking the age that your child should start taking guitar lessons is actually a personal decision that will depend on the child's development. In general, your child should have enough arm and finger strength to hold the guitar and hit the proper chords. They should be old enough to be able to follow basic instructions from a teacher. A lot of parents who want to get their child started early on will enroll a child in guitar lessons somewhere close to the time when they start school, but this is not a surefire age marker that works for every child. 

How much do guitar lessons cost?

The real answer is that guitar lesson charges can vary depending on where you go to get your child lessons. Some private instructors will charge more for their lessons because they will come to your home. Some public guitar lesson centers will charge less because they have more students and can afford to do so. In general, you should expect to pay something along the lines of $40 per hour for lessons, according to VoiceSinc.org, but that price could be higher or lower. 

What if your child doesn't seem to enjoy the guitar lessons?

If your child takes several guitar lessons and they do not seem to be gaining any interest in learning, there could be a couple of reasons why: either your young one does not necessarily enjoy playing the guitar or the teacher is not a good match. As a parent, you can either drop the lessons and try again later or find out of there is a different instrument your child would rather play. In some cases, switching instructors can help because all instructors follow different teaching methods and some may not work out the best for your child's individual learning style.