If you’re the parent of a young child, you may be wondering whether it’s time for your child to start piano, violin, guitar, or another musical instrument. Perhaps your child has expressed an interest in learning music, you played an instrument as a child, or you already know the benefits of learning music for your child’s development. Where do you start and what should their first instrument be?

These are good questions, but before you buy a piano, rent a violin, or sign up for private lessons, I’d like to suggest a different starting point.

Your child already has two wonderful musical instruments: their body and their voice.

Learning to use the instrument they were born with is one of the best ways to begin a musical journey. When children learn to listen, move, sing, and understand how music works, they build a solid foundation that can make learning a traditional instrument more meaningful and rewarding.

The Best First Instrument May Be the One Your Child Already Has

Imagine visiting a new city with only a map, no travel book, magazine, or internet. You would learn where the streets are located and maybe some major landmarks. You won’t know the new city until you experience different areas, restaurants, neighborhoods, and festivals. Your experience will grow even more when you explore with other people, maybe even someone who can show you the best hangout spots. You most certainly would not want to buy a house on day one.

Learning music is similar. A child can learn to find the correct keys on a piano or produce notes on a violin without yet understanding how those notes fit together musically.

Of course, learning to play an instrument involves important technical skills just as the streets are important in a city. But musicianship is about more than technique. Musicianship includes:

• Listening skills to help children connect with sound and pitch

• Feeling rhythm naturally through movement and active engagement

• Recognizing musical patterns to build intuitive understanding

• Expressing ideas and communicating through sound before mastering gear

This is why I believe children benefit from learning to be musical before concentrating on the mechanics of playing an instrument. They will better understand their musical destination and will be motivated to reach it on their instrument of choice.

How Can the Body Be a Musical Instrument?

Our bodies allow us to experience music in ways that are difficult to communicate through words alone:

• Rhythm: Children can walk, run, march, clap, skip, or move their whole bodies to experience the pulse of music. They don't just count beats; they learn to feel them.

• Musical expression: Children can explore the difference between smooth, flowing music and music that is sharp, energetic, and clearly articulated. Their movements help them experience these qualities physically. 

• Melody and pitch: Children can use movement through space to represent the rise and fall of a melody. This gives them a physical point of reference for understanding the relationships between pitches. 

• Listening: Children learn to respond to what they hear, noticing changes in tempo, dynamics, rhythm, and musical character.

In Dalcroze Eurhythmics, movement isn't simply an entertaining activity added to a music lesson. Movement is the pathway to learning. Children can move a musical idea with their bodies, sing that idea, and experience music from the inside out.

Why Musical Understanding Matters Before Instrumental Technique

When children have already spent time listening to music, moving to music, singing, and experiencing music, they have a foundation to draw on in private lessons. In my experience, children who have developed listening and movement skills can begin to connect what they hear with the technique they are learning on a traditional instrument. As their bodies become more connected to music, they gain a stronger sense of how music works and how to express themselves.

This doesn't mean that every child must complete a particular course before beginning piano or violin. Children develop in different ways, and musical preparation can and should happen alongside instrumental lessons as well. The important thing is to nurture musicianship and give it the time and space to develop.

Is Five or Six Too Young to Start Instrument Lessons?

Not necessarily. Some five-year-old children thrive in instrumental lessons, particularly when their teacher has specific training in teaching very young children. Generally, age five is quite young to begin traditional instrumental study unless the teaching approach is designed for that age group.

There is another key consideration that parents sometimes overlook before committing to an instrument:

• Practice Commitment: Are you and your child ready to commit to regular practice at home? Learning an instrument takes repetition, and parents play an important role in establishing a practice routine. 

• Avoiding Friction: If a family isn't ready for the practice commitment, instrumental practice can quickly become something everyone dreads. You don't want the musical journey to begin with daily arguments about practicing. 

• A Joyful Alternative: Consider spending time in the early years building your child's musical understanding in a way that is joyful, social, and developmentally appropriate. Children can learn musical fundamentals without the immediate expectation of practicing an instrument at home.

When the time comes for instrumental lessons, they will already have meaningful musical experiences to build on.

How to Discover Which Instrument Your Child Will Love

When your child is ready for an instrument, I encourage you to follow the child. Does your child gravitate toward deep, resonant sounds? Perhaps the tuba or upright bass will capture their imagination. Do they love high, clear sounds? They might be drawn to the flute, clarinet, or ukulele. Perhaps they love the sound of a guitar, the rich harmonies of a piano, or the bold sound of brass instruments.

Your child’s preferences are worth exploring. A child who loves the sound an instrument makes has a natural reason to want to learn to play it. That interest can be a valuable source of motivation when practice becomes challenging.

Hold a Family Listening Party

One  suggestion for parents is to listen to a wide variety of music together. Children often gravitate toward the musical styles their parents already enjoy. There's nothing wrong with sharing your favorites, but it's also worth introducing music from outside your family's usual listening habits.

Try holding a family listening party. Choose several short pieces featuring different instruments, musical styles, and sounds. Listen together, then talk about what you noticed.

Ask questions such as:

• What did you like about that music? 

• Did any sounds surprise you?

• Which instrument would you like to hear again?

• Did the music make you want to move?

• Was there a particular sound you found beautiful, exciting, or interesting?

Try not to give your own opinion first. Let your child discover and express their preferences before you share yours. The goal isn't to persuade your child to like a particular kind of music. It's to help them become curious listeners who feel comfortable exploring and expressing their own musical responses.

You can also look for local concerts, music demonstrations, and community events where children can see instruments up close and maybe even try playing them.

In Dalcroze classes, we often listen to piano music because the teacher generally plays the piano to lead the musical activities. We also incorporate other kinds of music, giving children opportunities to experience different sounds, styles, and musical characters.

Don't Choose an Instrument Just Because You Already Own One

I know this one from personal experience!

When I was a child, I wanted to join band and play an instrument. I remember being drawn in by the French horn, and this is what I wanted to play. However, it was decided that I would play the trumpet because we had one in the house. After my first year, I switched to French horn when I discovered that my cousin had one she no longer played.

The change to my preferred instrument made me so happy. I continued playing my cousin’s French horn until I was able to borrow a double horn that was owned by my school. Looking back, I remember the relief and joy I felt when I could learn how to play the instrument that I enjoyed.

Having an instrument available is certainly convenient, and affordability matters. But an instrument sitting in the house isn't necessarily the right instrument for your child. Before purchasing something new, investigate rentals, school instrument programs, and other community resources. You may be able to give your child the opportunity to explore the instrument that genuinely interests them without making a large financial commitment.

What About the Cost of Learning an Instrument?

Cost is a legitimate consideration when choosing an instrument. Some instruments require a substantial initial investment, and others involve ongoing expenses for maintenance, supplies, or upgrades. Fortunately, buying an instrument outright isn't always necessary.

Depending on the instrument and what's available in your community, you may be able to:

• Rent an instrument on a monthly basis

• Borrow one through a school program

• Connect with local organizations that help families access music education

It's also worth remembering that your child doesn't have to begin with an expensive traditional instrument to make meaningful musical progress. There are ways to develop musical skills, learn fundamentals, and build a positive relationship with music before making that investment.

A First Step: Dalcroze Eurhythmics

At Dalcroze Musical Arts, we offer a way for young children to begin learning music without immediately taking on the demands of traditional instrumental lessons.

Dalcroze Eurhythmics for Ages 4–7

Dalcroze Eurhythmics classes introduce children to music through movement, listening, singing, and active participation.

• Physical Learning: Children learn musical fundamentals and theory while experiencing music with their whole bodies. They develop a sense of rhythm and pulse, explore musical expression, and learn to respond to what they hear.

• No Practice Stress: There are no outside practice requirements for these classes. Children can focus on experiencing and understanding music without parents having to establish an instrumental practice routine at home.

Dalcroze Rhythmic Solfège (Starting Around Age 6–7)

For children who are ready for the next step, Rhythmic Solfège builds a musical foundation by combining movement-based learning with playing music on a metallophone (glockenspiel).

• Keyboard Visual: The metallophone keys are arranged like the piano keyboard, giving children an opportunity to begin exploring pitch relationships and the arrangement of notes while continuing to learn through movement. 

• Gradual Practice Routine: Home practice is introduced gradually, with a manageable goal of 10 minutes a day, five days a week. This gives children and parents an opportunity to establish a productive practice routine without beginning with a large time commitment. 

• Affordable Entry: The metallophone represents a relatively modest instrument investment compared with many traditional instruments.

Movement remains central to the learning process in a Rhythmic Solfège class. The instrument becomes another way for children to explore and express musical ideas they are learning to understand. Together, Eurhythmics and Rhythmic Solfège offer a progression from experiencing music through the body to making music with an instrument, at a pace suited to young learners.

So, What Is the Best First Instrument for a Beginner?

For a child who is 5-7 years old  I wouldn't begin by asking which traditional instrument they should play. I'd begin by asking how we can help them become a confident, curious, and expressive young musician.

• Give them opportunities to listen to different kinds of music. 

• Let them move, sing, explore rhythm, and discover the sounds they love.

• Help them develop an intuitive sense of how music works before expecting them to concentrate on all the technical demands of an instrument.

When they're ready, involve them in choosing an instrument. Consider their interests, their developmental readiness, the teacher's experience with young children, and your family's ability to support regular practice.

And remember that the goal isn't simply to teach a child how to press keys or produce the correct notes. It's to help them understand, listen to, and express music in a way that brings joy to both the musician and the people listening.

Anyone can learn the mechanics of pressing keys on an instrument. Becoming a musician involves something deeper: the ability to listen, express, communicate, and feel free in music.

Start with the instruments your child was born with—their body and their voice. Give them time to develop their musical understanding, and you may find that their path to a traditional instrument becomes more joyful, more informed, and more rewarding.

If you're looking for a musical starting point for your child, explore the Eurhythmics and Rhythmic Solfège programs at Dalcroze Musical Arts. You don't have to rush into choosing an instrument to begin a rich musical journey.