What to Expect When Your Child Starts Guitar Lessons (Parent’s Guide)
- ryanboisselle
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
A realistic guide for parents of beginner students
So your child is starting guitar lessons. Awesome! Whether they begged for it or you gently nudged them toward a musical hobby, you’re probably wondering:
What should I expect in the first few months? How fast will they improve? What’s my role as a parent?
As a full-time guitar teacher who works with kids from 6 years old and up, I get these questions a lot. So here’s a realistic breakdown of what to expect — the fun parts, the frustrating parts, and how you can help your child get the most out of the experience.
✅ 1. The First Few Weeks Are All About Adjustment
If your child picks up a guitar and it doesn’t sound like music right away… that’s normal.
In fact, the early stages often feel more like coordination training than music. Your child is learning:
How to press down a string with the right amount of pressure
How to move one finger at a time
How to pick just one note cleanly
And yes, how to deal with finger soreness (it passes quickly!)
Progress in this stage is more physical than musical — but it lays the foundation for everything to come.
💬 Reassure them: “Everyone sounds like this at first! You're doing it right.”
✅ 2. Motivation Isn’t Always Consistent (And That’s Okay)
Some kids are excited for the first few lessons, then hit a wall. Others are hesitant at first, but catch fire later.
Totally normal.
There will be times your child says:
“This is hard.”
“I don’t want to practice.”
“It doesn’t sound good.”
This doesn’t mean they’re not cut out for guitar — it just means they’re human. Even pros go through those dips.
Your job isn’t to force practice, but to gently support it. Even 5–10 minutes a day makes a big difference.
💡 Tip: Ask them to “show you one thing they learned” — it’s way more fun than saying “go practice.”
✅ 3. Progress Might Be Slower Than You Expect (But It’s Still Progress)
A lot of parents (understandably) want to see quick results:🎵 “When will they be able to play a song?”🎶 “How long until they’re fluent?”
But musical progress isn’t linear. Some students zoom ahead, others take their time — both are fine.
In fact, the kids who progress steadily over time (even slowly) often develop better long-term fundamentals than those who rush into flashy songs right away.
The goal isn’t speed. It’s confidence. One clean note at a time.
✅ 4. Practice Support Starts at Home (But Doesn’t Need to Be a Battle)
You don’t need to be a musician to help your child succeed — but your presence matters.
Some simple ways to support practice:
Keep the guitar out and visible (not in the case)
Create a quiet, distraction-free practice spot
Praise effort, not perfection (“I saw you really trying — awesome!”)
Ask them what they’re working on, even if you don’t fully understand it
Kids don’t always self-initiate practice — and that’s okay.That’s where gentle reminders and positive attention go a long way.
✅ 5. The Role of the Teacher Goes Beyond Notes
A good teacher doesn’t just assign material. They:
Adapt to each child’s pace and personality
Help them work through frustration
Guide them toward musical confidence, one step at a time
I also make a point to update parents regularly and offer suggestions based on how the student is doing.
🎯 Learning guitar isn’t just a technical process — it’s emotional and personal too. We’re in it together.
🎯 Try This as a Parent
Here are a few things you can do to help your child stick with it:
Ask, “Can you show me what you’re working on this week?”
Set a reminder for 10-minute practice sessions — same time each day if possible
Celebrate the small wins (“That chord sounded way cleaner than last time!”)
Watch a guitar video or performance together to keep the inspiration going
✨ Want to Support Your Child’s Musical Journey?
If you’re looking for a fun and encouraging environment where your child can learn at their own pace, I’d love to help.
In lessons, I focus on building confidence, strong fundamentals, and a love for music — one small win at a time. I teach private and group lessons for kids in Tokyo (Takadanobaba) and online, in both English and Japanese.
Let’s help your child build a musical foundation they can enjoy for years to come. 🎸
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