There are many schools of thought on the question of the best age to start playing piano. Piano methods, such as Suzuki, can start students at a very young age. Other methods have an established age requirement. Since there is no one method of instruction that is absolute, there are several answers to the question.
NOW is Always a Good Time
The first key component is that NOW is always a good time to start playing piano. Whether teaching institutions are involved, or the pianist is self-taught, the place to start is right now. Procrastination has always been the enemy of practice, and practice is the key to performance. Just going to the piano and beginning to push the keys is often the biggest hurdle. Continuing to do so until something played begins to sound like music is a secondary hindrance to motivation.
Procrastination occurs at any age, and overcoming it is an effort. In this overcoming effort, as in many others, how old or young a person is does not matter as much as their determination and motivation to play. The older a person is, the more experience they may have to collect reasons to procrastinate, but youth can have equal motivation not to be motivated.
Critical thinking is great for the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue to form a judgment. Being hypercritical is not a musical motivation. Usually, the younger the student, the less critical they are of their musicianship. They are more interested in their ability than their lack of it. Older students tend to evaluate their attempts to play more harshly. This general rule is overridden by recording a performance and placing it on social media. There are plenty of “friends” that will negatively critique any attempt to play music.
Age 5 is the most Common Year to Start
Clinically, developmentalists recommend approximately age 5 as the most common year to start learning any instrument. The studies of motor skill development and mental capacity are documented. Yet, more 3-year-old prodigies are playing amazing piano than developmentalists saying they shouldn’t.
The Start of a New Learning Chapter
Often, the start of a new learning chapter is a proper start. When a student is beginning a new educational environment, their capacity to learn is increased. These environments include starting school at age 6-7, middle school at age 10–11, high school at age 14–15, or college at age 18–19.
Sometimes people start having an interest in playing piano when their children start. Then the cycle of starting again begins while adding 20 more years as parents. We can see that the best age is somewhere between 5 and 40. Well, except for those individuals who established themselves with schooling, careers, and families. When the time comes in life to explore what interests them, playing the piano is often at the top of the list.
The Best Age May Not Be an Actual Age
Simply put, the best age to start playing the piano is the one where interest, inspiration, patience, and dedication meet. The benefits of playing the piano are evident in many studies. From the cognitive advantages and increased motor skills to agility and flexibility, there is more to playing piano than pretty music. That said, there is also the therapeutic influence of music, as it influences the relaxation centers of the brain. The simplest benefit comes from listening to music. The longest-lasting benefit comes from playing music. The best age to start is right now.