What's the best age for my daughter to start learning an instrument?


While it is never too early to enroll your daughter in a music class, many instruments require fine motor skills (like the dexterity required to press clarinet keys) that aren’t yet developed until later in life. However, some instruments, like pianos and guitars, are made in child-appropriate sizes making the instruments accessible to children. Since young children are not developmentally ready to sit and listen to music instruction until they are at least 5 years old, I recommend finding musical experiences that allow her to explore different instruments and learn about rhythm, melody and movement.   

Jennie Ito, Ph.D.

Child Development Expert

Jennie Ito is a mother of two and a child development consultant who specializes in children’s play and toys. Before becoming a consultant for LeapFrog, she was an intern at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, and later worked as a content expert for the Association of Children’s Museum’s “Playing for Keeps” Play Initiative. Jennie earned her doctorate degree in developmental psychology at Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada.