When should children have music lessons? Photo by Leslie Watts
In our family, our oldest (now 
began asking for music lessons when she was five years old. Truthfully, she did not ask for music lessons; she asked for a violin.
Having studied the piano when I was younger, I understood the cost and commitment involved from both sides and knew that I was not ready to make the financial promises necessary, and I did not believe that I had the time for weekly lessons and daily practices.
“But, Dad, I Really Want a Violin”
And so, for one year my daughter asked me if she could have a violin. The answer was always the same until the school year ended and my wife decided that rather than sign her up for daycare, she would sign her up for a music camp that was the same price.
Within the first month, my daughter began to insist that she did not want to play the violin, but had actually meant that she wanted to play the harmonica “because it’s easy.” The real challenge was that it was hard to hold the violin for extended periods of time, so, yes, the harmonica would certainly be easy in that respect.
I had to tell her that the only reason she even had a violin was because she asked me for a year if she could have one. I didn’t want to sign her up, but she kept asking me.
After Six Months of Lessons, There was Little Progress
After $1,000 and six months, I saw little progress. My daughter could just satisfactorily play “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” I was thinking that it might be time to consider another activity if she did not want to play the violin anymore.
This is where the wisdom of my wife came in. She wanted our daughter to stick with it. Her reason: our daughter lacked discipline and a daily regimen of private training required just that.
After a Year of Lessons, There was Much Progress
Within a year of study, our daughter had played in a recital before 300 people and at a tea for an elderly group as well as in front of her first-grade class.
Being able to play songs, be applauded, and comfortably hold the violin proved to allow our daughter to overcome the initial challenges that brought her to covet a harmonica. When she brought her instrument into class for Show-and-Tell, it allowed her to stand apart from her classmates, and her confidence grew as she received regular praise for the improvements she was making.
In the end, my daughter received a tremendous gift. It was a gift she had asked for and worked for, and it had made a difference in all of our lives.
