re you interested in booking your child in for guitar lessons in Auckland, including West Auckland, or North Shore? Read our FAQs for some helpful information. You can also contact us if you have a specific query.
How old does my child need to be to start learning the guitar?
The first thing to say in answer to this question is every child is different. The experience of every guitar teacher in Auckland is different too. Therefore, the answer here is a general one that applies to most children.
For us at The Music Education Centre, music lessons for children under seven should be about having fun, building confidence, and getting a good foundation. In other words, it shouldn’t necessarily be about focusing in on one instrument.
The best time to start selecting an instrument to learn is when children hit primary school age – at around seven. We find that children at this age are ready for lessons and get a lot out of them.
What is the best age to start learning the guitar?
Like the question above, there is no set answer to this question except that just about anyone from the age of seven to 70 and above can learn the guitar if they have the motivation. In other words, it doesn’t matter if your child is seven, 11, or 15 – if they want to learn the guitar, we can teach them.
Remember, motivation is crucial when learning an instrument. Your child’s guitar teacher will have extensive experience providing tuition in Auckland, and they will do their best to get your child enthusiastic about the guitar and learning how to play it. However, it is also important your child wants to learn.
Does my child need to practice between lessons?
We absolutely recommend that your child practices the guitar between their lessons here at The Music Education Centre. The more time they spend with their guitar, the better.
The above doesn’t mean you should force your child to practice when they don’t want to or are too tired. Forcing the issue won’t help. However, your child’s teacher will encourage them to practice as much as possible, and it helps if you can also reinforce this message.
How often and for how long should my child practice the guitar each week?
From our experience, good quality guitar practice is much better than rushed or forced practice. In other words, it is usually better to spend 10 minutes a day practicing when your child is relaxed and having fun with the guitar than trying to cram in 30 minutes of practice before you have to leave for your music lesson.
Rather than focusing on ensuring your child practices enough each week, it is better if you provide encouragement as well as the opportunity to practice. Your child should have access to a suitable guitar, and they will need space to practice without any siblings telling them to keep quiet. Encouragement, a guitar, and space to practice without interruptions will significantly help your child’s guitar learning journey.