No — it’s not too late. Children who come to music education later absolutely can develop musical skills, and the social and emotional benefits of music-making are available at any age. What changes is the ease and depth of certain developmental outcomes, particularly those linked to brain structure and language development. The practical implication is not that late is hopeless, but that early is genuinely valuable — and that if your school hasn’t prioritised music in the early years, there’s real reason to start now rather than waiting.