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The Age Question
(C) 2006 by Charlie Read
The youngest student I’ve ever had was five years old, and the oldest was eighty-two. Are there disadvantages in trying to learn at a very young – or very old – age? It’s just my opinion, but I’d have to say yes. Keep in mind that there may be studies that contradict me, but I haven’t heard any. A young child’s brain is still developing in many ways. Although he or she is soaking up information like a sponge every day, some concepts and disciplines are just plain difficult. Playing an instrument demands a bit of math, a bit of imagination, a sense of musical pitch, physical coordination and dexterity, perseverance, focus, and the ability to see that much hard work and repetitive practice always precede results. A child’s emotional stage of development is more geared to seeing immediate results, and long-range objectives are usually not grasped until later in life. Now, an older person has several advantages over a child, but there are still roadblocks. Our minds become more “set” as we age; it becomes harder to learn a foreign language, for example. Physical flexibility may also be a problem, and of course an older person has to overcome the “old dog / new tricks” mindset.
I don’t usually recommend that guitar, banjo or bass students start until the age of 7 or 8. These instruments require more finger dexterity and strength than violin, for example (some Suzuki method violin instructors will teach 3-year olds), and each hand must master relatively complex movements. Instructor Kytka Hilmar-Jezek feels that the age of seven usually sees a child’s mind and maturity level freed up for academic learning: “The child of this age would thus be better able to focus on music lessons, and to sit still enough to learn and to practice.”
As mentioned earlier, an older person may have to fight stubborn brain cells and a defeatist attitude, but he or she has certain advantages as well – all of which can combine to make learning an instrument a fun and profitable endeavor. A retired person, for example, will have more time to dedicate to practice. He will also have a greater determination about what he wants to do, as well as the more mature understanding that success is not an overnight prize. Some senior citizens will have to remind themselves, however, that the difficulties they’re having with guitar or bass are not necessarily age-related, but the same difficulties faced by learners of any age!
My final thoughts on the subject: although 7, 8 or 9 may be the ideal age to start, why not give a five-year old the opportunity if she is really intensely interested? After all, the worst that could happen is that she may learn she’s not quite ready. A couple of months of trying can’t hurt her, and it may even plant a seed of desire that will bear fruit when she’s a bit older. And if you’re in the “sixty and over” crowd, why live with the regrets of never even trying? You have the advantage of focus and determination, so go for it: get that guitar or other instrument and start taking lessons. You may not attain the ability of a professional, but you’ll get a lot more done than your neighbor who is convinced he’s too old to try something new!