HOW CAN I TELL IF MY CHILD IS READY FOR PIANO?

For success studying the piano, a child must be ready. Some three year olds are ready, yet some five year olds are not. I have found that most children age 3.5 benefit from music and movement classes.

Here are some criteria to screen your child for readiness.

Mental Readiness

Can the child say the alphabet?

Can the child count to 20?

Can the child sit still and concentrate for at least 15 minutes at a time?

Does the child know their right hand from their left?

Physical Readiness

Does the child's hand measure at least 2 inches across the large knuckles?

Can the child use scissors?

Can the child color fairly well within the lines?

Can the child easily tap their thumb tip to all the other fingers on the same hand?

Emotional Readiness

Has the child asked for lessons? How long as he/she been asking?

Does the child go to the piano to experiment at home?

Is the child drawn like a magnet to the piano elsewhere, when there is a piano?

Does he/she respond to music by dancing or moving?

If your child doesn't measure up to more than half of the criteria, they aren't ready for lessons. It's better to wait than start and have a bad experience.

PARENTAL READINESS

Are you ready to sit on the bench 20-30 minutes every day helping your child practice?

Are you willing to run interference with other family members to ensure quiet time for practice and to stave off negative remarks about music study?

Can you count on family members for support and cooperation?