There is no hard and fast rule about the proper age to start piano lessons or voice lessons. It really depends on the student's ability to do certain things, and that varies from one individual to the next.
Piano students need to know their numbers and letters of the alphabet, and must have enough finger strength to press down the keys of a piano (not a keyboard - there is a difference in resistance). And attention span needs to be considered. We are champions at keeping students engaged in the learning process, but the child's ability to focus needs to be considered. All of these abilities usually come together at around age 5 for most children. But some will arrive at the readiness stage a bit earlier, and some later.
For voice lessons, although the voice does go through changes during puberty, there is no reason why children cannot learn to use their voices properly long before that time. If they can match pitch, and if they show an interest in singing in their elementary school years - especially if they are involved in school or community performance groups - it is important to get them into proper vocal training to foster healthy vocal technique, avoid vocal strain and deter bad habits that may linger.
And of course, there is no such thing as "too old" to start lessons, whether for singing or playing piano! We welcome adults of all generations and find they are some of our most delightful students.
Daily practice is essential to development of your technique, regardless of your instrument. Muscle memory develops over time. Shorter (25-30 minute), more focused and goal-oriented practice sessions on a daily basis are much more productive than one or two long (hour or more) practice sessions.
Be sure to check out our blog article on Practice Tips!
We get this question a lot. And unfortunately, it's really impossible to say. Everyone progresses at their own pace. If you are dedicated to learning how to sing and/or play, put in the practice time on a daily basis, and really apply yourself, you will be surprised at how quickly you advance. As with so many things in life, you get out of it what you put into it.
We believe the journey is as important as the destination, and you may find that you enjoy your lessons so much that you will want to continue studying even after you've "arrived" at the level you wish to achieve.
We recommend a piano or a full-size (88-key) digital keyboard with weighted keys. Let's break that down.
Electric keyboards & synthesizers come in several sizes and types. Some have only 66-keys and some have keys that are less than full-size to fit the hands of small children. It is very difficult to tell in the images you see on Amazon, so be very wary about purchasing these small keyboards.
These small keyboards also typically have unweighted action. "Action" refers to the way the keys respond when pressed and there is variation in resistance to the touch among different models of keyboards. Unweighted keys will offer very little to no resistance, whereas a regular piano &/or a digital piano with weighted keys will offer similarly weighted & graded resistance. That makes a big difference to fingers and hands as they develop the strength needed to play.
If you aren't ready to invest in a traditional piano, the full-size digital piano is a good alternative for learning to play on an instrument that sounds & feels like a piano. A digital piano is less expensive than a traditional piano, creates a more realistic piano sound than other electronic keyboards, and never needs tuning.
Don't forget about the accessories! Any piano student will need a good piano bench/stool - preferably one with adjustable height, a music stand to hold the lesson books (if a good one is not built into the piano), a dampening pedal, and headphones for when the student wants to practice without disturbing the rest of the family. 😉
Costco carries Roland Digital Keyboards every year in the lead up to the winter holidays, and these are good instruments at a reasonable price.
Yes to both! Admittedly, there are some technical aspects that must be dealt with to optimize the online musical learning experience, but online, we are able to teach all the typical exercises and instruction that would be used in our in-studio lessons. Our online students have done just as well as the students who take lessons in the studio.