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When to Start Your Child
This varies, of course, for each kid but I personally think
age five is about as young as any kid should start, but some
teachers do start them earlier. My three kids started at ages
8, 7 and almost 6, and I'd say each started at what was the
right age for them. I did try my daughter at age 4 on violin,
but it seemed too early. When she took up guitar at age 8,
she was ready for it, although her first year she progressed
very slowly. When at age nine she realized she could actually
play some things, everything changed and now she is the most
advanced bluegrass guitar player I've ever taught. On the
other end of the spectrum, my youngest son, having watched
his siblings learn, was ready shortly before turning 6. I
intended to wait until he turned 6, but he insisted on learning
a couple of months before that and he learned very quickly
right off. The younger the child, the more important parental
involvement becomes.
The flip side of this question is what age is too late -
of course my answer is never! My grandfather, Earl Zentmyer,
took up guitar at the age of 67, and he became a competent
player. Nothing fancy, but he managed to accompany his own
singing well into his ninety's and even jammed at his 100th
birthday party! But having said this, those who start as children
clearly have a huge advantage as I have written
here.
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