What age did your child start learning an instrument (and what was it?)

[HorridHenrietta2]

As title says, ds is 4, I would definitely like him to learn an instrument but when should I start him and where do you find a music teacher that teaches little ones? Thank you.

Dd and ds aged 3.5 Yrs and 4 yrs suzuki violin.
Second instruments at age 8.

My nieces started violin aged 5, and both are in the school choir.

DS1 is nearly 15. He started drums around age 7 or 8. Began flute aged 11 and tuned percussion at almost 12. Bass guitar started at age 13. He's working at grade 6 level on all of them apart from flute, which he dropped around grade 4.

DS2 is 11. He began piano around age of 7, I think. Cello followed age 8 1/2 following a demonstration of cello and bass at school. He was too little for the mini bass so chose cello!

DD started recorder at 4 or 5, progressed quickly but stopped age 10. Did no music for the next 2 years before taking up guitar (at age 12) and piano (age 13), initially self-taught in both cases. She's now 15 and is a pretty competent all-round guitarist and (after only 18 months of formal tuition) working on post-grade 8 repertoire on piano. She also plays a bit of sax (simple to learn for an ex-recorder player), but much less seriously - perhaps because she likes singing and you can't sing and play sax at the same time .

My conclusion is that it doesn't really matter what the first instrument is, as progress on a second or third instrument will be very rapid.

We had a piano at home, so age 2 DS was already wanting to play it, therefore it's hard to find a starting point. More or less:
DS1
Piano weekly lessons started at 3/4 with his dad.
Drum Kit at 6
Tuned and orchestral percussion at 11
Jazz piano at 12

It depends as much on the child and whether they want to play it. Genuinely want to play it, not want to play it because mum/dad has sold it to them.

Dd1 started piano at 6yo, singing at 9yo
Dd2 started trumpet at 7yo, singing at 7yo.
Ds started violin at 7y, drums at 8yo.

Apart from ds with the violin they all came and asked and waited a little and asked again. Ds sort of fell into playing the violin when he saw one in a charity shop.

Piano at 6-ish
Euphonium at 8
Guitar at all hours of day or night

I'm a music teacher and I'd say 7 is a really good age to start for most instruments. Before that, if there are any colour strings classes near you, they usually do nice singing and age appropriate stuff for younger children.

Dd started clarinet at just turned 8 and has just started bassoon at 10.

OP, I hgly recommend reading the following books - it gives plenty of info about instruments, and ideas what is involved into learning music
www.amazon.co.uk/Meet-Musicians-Prodigies-not-Pros-ebook/dp/B005BOYXOE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478082473&sr=8-1&keywords=meet+the+musicians

www.amazon.co.uk/Right-Instrument-Your-Child/dp/1409138127/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1478082606&sr=8-6&keywords=raising+musical+child

www.amazon.co.uk/Raising-Amazing-Musician-child-music/dp/1860963935/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478082729&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=raising+a+talented+musician

My DS started trumpet at age 7. He's been playing over a year now and is going great guns. He has very severe dyslexia and is left handed (trumpet valves are operated by right hand), but neither thing has held him back. He can make sense of the sheet music but he also plays a lot by ear. It has really boosted his confidence and he loves performing.

My DC started the piano at the beginning of year 2, so age 6.

Singing at 6
Piano at 7
Flute at 8