It's important to expose kids to music from an early age. It doesn't have to be complicated. Playing music around the house counts. (Way more than you'd think.)
But as kids grow up, and we start thinking about making music a meaningful part of their lives, we want to make sure it's the right kind of exposure.
I'll often hear about parents of younger students deciding to go with the cheapest or most convenient option for a piano teacher. Not because they think a higher price won't be worth it for a better teacher.
But rather, "We're just trying to expose her to music right now."
This is a slippery slope, though. The irony of younger students is that the younger the student is, the more skilled the teacher needs to be to work with them.
The 6 and under crowd operates by a different set of rules in terms of how they learn. And the wrong choice of teacher can end their music journey before they've had a chance to begin.
It's the wrong kind of exposure.
Because if young children are pushed to read before they're ready, if they aren't taught healthy technique, or lack a direction in their learning, then it's inevitable they'll be turned off to music long term.
So remember, exposure is a good thing, generally speaking.
But like most things, it's not a one-size-fits-all.