What Age Can You Start to Teach Guitar?

juan2sing · 10-18-2009, 03:26 PM

I am a very experienced guitarist. Many people have asked me to teach them guitar. My biggest perplexing question is -- even regarding my own kids -- is at what age can kids really start to learn guitar. Guitar -- like saxophone or accordion -- requires a bit of physical strength and size as well. Please comment!

LesPaulPlayer · 10-18-2009, 04:03 PM

I find that 10 and over is a good start. younger than that they don't have a long enough attention span IMO. that and they don't have the finger strength.

jthomas1600 · 10-18-2009, 06:14 PM

I'm not sure it's instrument specific. I don't think it's a coincidence that most school districts don't start band/orchestra until about 5th grade...which is 10-12 years old I think. Music class before then is just pretty basic, which you could do with your kid. They mostly worry about how to keep a beat and use simple instruments like recorders to start training the ear. My mom started us on piano around third grade which seemed pretty common.

jeepnstein · 10-18-2009, 07:38 PM

I've got a kid who's 7 taking lessons from me a Church. He's way too young and the parents refuse to see that. Most of the time I just kick around songs and discuss music with him rather than expect him to play anything. He's just not physically able to do it yet.

crazymoose · 10-18-2009, 09:59 PM

I'd say it's case by case.

A 7 year old is not going to want to practise guitar every day regardless of whether they're physically able to or not. At 7 years old, your idea of a lot of homework is the rest of that spelling page you didn't finish in class. Practice boring songs on a silly instrument for a whole half hour every day? Not a chance. Now there are exceptions where the kid actually wants to learn.

Though a lot of it doesn't have to do with age at all. Most people have this expectation that by simply showing up to their lesson every week having played what you told them to play once the night before, they'll become amazing. This happens with people regardless of age. If people aren't willing to put effort in, they're basically wasting their time with you.

I would say you should take any age, but if they're too young, then tell the parents that.

Oh and as for physical limitations, you can usually find a way around them. For the first 3 years I took piano I couldn't reach an octave. Somehow my teacher found a way around it and played at a grade 5 RCM level...

Ak_Man4Jesus · 10-18-2009, 11:21 PM

my brother started at 7, and is doing exelant. is is now 8, and every one is amazed at how good he is.
When I was taking lessons (I was 14) there was a girl in my class and her mom. the girl was 12 and her mom was like 36 and it never clicked for ether of them. last time I talked to them they still could not play.
realy it just depends onthe person.

jeepnstein · 10-19-2009, 06:11 AM

The 7 year old I'm working with is learning. His parents are upset with the slow pace. I could care less because he's doing all he's able to do. It's his choice to come every week and some times he hasn't practiced a bit and it shows. I really believe he wants to learn otherwise I would have turned him away from the beginning. He and I are just being realistic about what he'll achieve.

He's going to do special music in a few weeks when I think he's ready. It won't be perfect but it will be the best he can put before the Lord.