Start'em young

LMinnie

Ok so some of you guys obviously have kids...right?

As a parent I hope that my daughter has picked up some of my musical talent(or lack thereof).
At what age do you guys think kids should be encouraged to start playing an instrument?

(WARNING - Shameful family photo ahead!!)

I think my daughter has already decided!!!

http://www.box.net/shared/9h6lfqhsy6

Btw..its her guitar!! Dont try to take it away!!

It was an old acoustic that I bought in 2003..but the neck started to warp so I scavenged what I wanted and in a stroke of genius(methinks)I gave it too her so that she'd leave me be while I was playing.
Now its sorta turned into a ritual...I setup my gear and she hauls out hers....(no strings of course)and we "jam".

MiKeZilLA

I've heard of unplugged but unstrung!! That's genius!!

LMinnie

Hehehehe...yeah she had a habit of grabbing my strings while I was playing.

While I dont want to discourage her,I also want to play without being interupted.
Now she sits and bags away on the neck and body of hers and sings away with me...

Sickening ..I know ?

Riaan

I reckon you can never start too young...see my profile pic... ?

My oldest daughter, now three, does the same whenever I play. I end up fingering chords only while she strums. So maybe she'll be a good rythm guitarist one day!

Renesongs

I teach young people guitar. I find it's best to start teaching only when the hands are fully big enough (10-11 years) a good rule of thumb is when you can play a C major chord you are big enough to play guitar. You can get smaller guitars for kids but you go through an agonizing transition period when you swap to a full size guitar and most kids are too impatient to go through that so they just give it up.

My own little darling only took to guitar at 13yrs even though she had been playing piano since she was 7.

Riaan-Combrink

[quote author=Lawrence link=topic=937.msg7963#msg7963 date=1219927559] (WARNING - Shameful family photo ahead!!)[/quote] OK, [b]YOU[/b] started this !!!! ;) My son, Dylan, (almost 4) has been at it since day one. Progressed from some cool plastics to a genuine acoustic. His favourite song is Van Halen's [i]Jump[/i]! Check out his progres on the web-album below!! :) http://picasaweb.google.com/Synchronicity.RSA/DylanMuso Riaan C [img][/img]

Renesongs

Malmsteen only started guitar when he was 5 so If I were in your shoes I would give up the guitar and take up the accordion to save myself future embarrassment. ?

Riaan-Combrink

Yeah,

I'm eyeing a second-hand kazoozaphone on gumtree!!

FatBoy

You guys are making me want a kid! Well I first need that girlfriend thing I suppose, great work guys! Just think about it, when they hit their late twenties they will put you to shame, but at least you can claim that the kid got the talent from you ?

Renesongs

when they hit their late twenties they will put you to shame,

LOL - they might be doing that in their mid teens - But there is the down side - your favourite plectrums disappear, you pitch up at a gig and none of your guitar leads work - you have to buy her her own electric because your one is becoming inexplicably reliced but in the end it's all worth it because ultimately you become a legend in your children and your grand childrens eyes ?