For traditional music education, children must be ready to learn to read music while they learn to play the instrument. The exact age at which a child is read for this type of instruction depends on both the child and the instrument. Parents may feel that their child is ready when they notice that she enjoys listening and singing along with music. An instructor can help them assess whether the child has the necessary attention span and motivation. If the child has a desire to play specific instrument, that choice also may affect when he can begin lessons.
Some brass instruments take greater physical development.
After considering the child's age and physical development and which method of study they want to pursue, parents can be guided by their child's attraction to a particular instrument. Enthusiasm for a certain instrument is reason enough to start with it and support and encouragement from parents are key elements in helping to develop the discipline required to learn to play music. If a child has a real love for the sound of a certain instrument, that's a good guide. Parents can also help their child choose an instrument if he doesn't seem to have a natural preference. One way to do this is by exposing him to a variety of live or televised musical performances.