When should my child start studying voice?
Music is wonderful for the developing mind - it helps with language skills, math skills, emotional development, and many other things. I am all for babies and toddlers being exposed to music! Private voice lessons, however, are different.
A private voice lesson requires attention throughout the entire lesson. Skills learned in lessons must be practiced regularly, ideally every day, in order to fully develop the voice and to build/maintain healthy vocal habits. Vocal folds in children are still developing through puberty and the larynx isn’t typically done growing until the early 20s. Intense vocal training isn’t ideal for children whose vocal folds are not done developing.
Personally, I prefer not to teach children under 8 and will only do so on a case by case basis, after meeting and working with the student in question. Youth voice lessons in my studio focus primarily on breathing and rhythm (using games to keep the attention of the student), as well as some introductory solfege training. Most lessons are similar to one another, as repetition is key at young ages. We stick to a few select, fun, gentle warm ups to build pitch matching skills without overworking the vocal folds.
Most of the time, I recommend parents seek group classes until the child reaches a more appropriate age/mindset for lessons. Group music classes are usually more beneficial for young children anyway; they provide a socialization component, more stimuli, and tend to shift topics fairly quickly. Having taught both group music classes for ages 6 months-4 years and private voice lessons, I can see when a student is thriving in either setting. A private voice lesson spends much of the lesson focused on 2-3 vocal exercises, ear training, and possibly material - a very different format than young children are used to.
Children younger than 10 tend to have a difficult time focusing for an entire 30 minute voice lesson. This is completely normal, but can make teaching a lesson to a very young child difficult. Certainly there are exceptions to the rule; however, generally speaking, it is not worth your money to pay for a private voice teacher for your child if they aren’t going to be getting much out of the class. Group classes tend to be a bit more affordable than a private teacher as well, so it’s a win-win for you to introduce your child to music in a group setting, then move into private lessons when your child is a bit older.
I say all of this in 2021, when Covid has thrown an even bigger wrench into music exposure for youths. It’s difficult enough for a child to focus for an in-person lesson, being virtual creates an even bigger obstacle. Not to mention that group classes are not even close to being safe currently. In a Covid-free (or, more realistically, a world in which Covid is stable like the flu), your child should start in group, maybe even mommy-and-me, classes any time from 6-8 months old to preschool. After a few years of music exposure here, seek out a voice teacher who specializes in youth lessons. Once your child has reached either puberty or an age in which they can focus and learn well for at least 30 minutes at a time, you can seek a more advanced, private setting.