For me, the ideal beginning cello student is a child who loves music, who is approximately 9 years old and who has had some choral training and physical (involving body awareness) activity. This is ideal but I'm a big believer that a highly motivated student can learn and make progress at any age.
I don't teach the cello to children under age 6. Read below to find out why. In this respect I differ from many Suzuki cello teachers.
No matter what the age, these are the ingredients for success:
There are other aspects that aid development such as opportunities to play in orchestras and ensembles and access to seeing and hearing live musicians.
Here are the reasons that I do not teach the cello to children under age 6: