I had to chuckle when you asked if 9 years old was possibly too young to begin guitar. I am an early childhood music teacher at a conservatory in Toronto. I teach classes for babies (aged birth to 3 years) and their parent/caregivers. A few weeks ago, a mother tried out one of my classes with her 2 year old. She left quite upset, because she had wanted me to teach her 2 year old to play the guitar, and I had said to her that I didn't think a 2 year old child was quite old enough yet to begin guitar lessons! She had the idea that since her son loved to strum a toy guitar, it was a sign that he was ready for the real thing. I tried to explain to her that it is very useful for a child to have a fun group experience with music, with all its singing and dancing and rhythm instruments, before settling into an instrument....I tried to explain that learning an enjoyment of music through body and voice is the best foundation for future endeavours, not to mention a darned good time for the child and parent/caregiver alike. She would have none of it! If I wasn't going to teach her 2 year old how to play guitar, she would look elsewhere!

I never saw that woman again.....(and I wonder what chord that little boy is practicing today?!)

~black walnut