When I speak to parents of young children I am often asked what the right age to start playing the flute is.  Although there are notable exceptions, I do not think that it is advisable for a young student to take the flute before he/she is five or six.    When a flute beginner is very young it can be useful to start with the recorder rather than with the flute straight away.   There are also U-shaped flute headjoints to help children with holding the flute until they are comfortable with the instrument.

 

 

 

 

 

Playing music is fun! In teaching  young people, I take a very special approach.   It's extremely important that young students learn to love music at the same time as they learn to play any instrument.   At a young age strong motivation and curiosity are vital, because you do not decide to study music rationally, but following an inner instinct. Musical instinct thus must be cultivated carefully, and any technicality which can be counterproductive, rather than of help, must be avoided at the beginning.