| Some parents who feel that they want to give their | | | | For a very young child guitar lessons will involve |
| child every opportunity in life will think about enlisting | | | | games and activities designed to help with ear training |
| their offspring in a course of guitar or piano lessons at | | | | and physical coordination. The younger the child is the |
| an early age. This article will look at some of the | | | | more the parent will need to be involved in guitar |
| questions raised on the subject of a child's guitar | | | | practice time. If you feel that you are unwilling or not |
| lessons. Firstly there is the burning question of whether | | | | confident of your abilities in this area then leave the |
| a parent's wishes of a "good education" for their child | | | | guitar lessons till your child is around seven years old. |
| should totally overrule the child's natural predisposition | | | | No matter how enlightened we feel that we are as |
| towards play. | | | | parents our own preferences and prejudices will come |
| Giving a child guitar lessons is a great way to introduce | | | | into play when we think about a choice of instrument |
| him to the joys of music. At the same time it is a | | | | for our children. If you wanted to have guitar lessons |
| bonding experience for the family because a child | | | | when you were a child but never got the chance, then |
| does not learn the guitar in isolation. The main thing that | | | | it is natural for you to want to see your child take |
| should be guiding you and your child towards guitar | | | | guitar lessons. If you think that maybe you are |
| lessons is your child's enthusiasm. There are | | | | imposing your own needs onto your child then have |
| generations of adults who wince when they think of | | | | another think about what your child wants (if anything) |
| their enforced piano lessons under the eye of a grim | | | | in music lessons. |
| and unforgiving teacher. | | | | If your child expresses interest in a the guitar of his |
| As for the question of what at what age a child can | | | | own volition, fine. Maybe that is your decision made for |
| learn the guitar, many people think that three- or | | | | you, but you will probably find that there are |
| four-years-old is around the time to start. This fits in | | | | opportunities in your town to take your child to check |
| with the Suzuki method which has been a successful | | | | out some musical instruments close up. If you have a |
| piano teaching method for many years. At what age a | | | | local brass band or symphony orchestra then take |
| child SHOULD begin learning guitar is up to your gut | | | | your child to recitals. Let your child take a look at |
| feeling on the issue. Maybe you would even like to try | | | | guitars in a music store. If he expresses interest in |
| teaching your child yourself. In that case start them off | | | | electric guitars or steel string acoustics you will need to |
| on simple songs or nursery rhymes perhaps focusing | | | | explain that he should start off on a nylon string |
| on the D G and A7 chords. You will need to be | | | | acoustic till the tips of his fingers get toughened up. |
| meticulous about keeping your child's guitar in tune. | | | | |