Joining a school band or orchestra is a great opportunity for kids to learn basic music and life skills. Though you may be sick of hearing it, by the time your student graduates, there will be many benefits to the endless hours of clarinet squeaking and violin scratching you've endured. Kids that pick up music early tend to perform better in mathematics and may even improve their listening and thought-processing skills. If your child has expressed an interest in joining the school band, you’ll be looking at spending more than just a few bucks on crayons and notebook. It’s a good idea to check out an online retailer, like Musician's Friend, before you make your instrument purchase.
Social Benefits of Music
If your child has a hard time fitting in at school, or is looking for a different outlet for his/her creativity, joining the marching band or school orchestra may help him/her meet like-minded friends. Band and orchestra classes foster a non-competitive team environment, which makes it a good opportunity for youngsters that have a hard time adjusting to the rough environment of sports. Going through a piece of music until it’s perfect and the commitment it takes to get a piece exactly right helps a student to learn time management skills and how to work independently. And though many parents cringe at the social implications of joining the band, it doesn't carry the social stigma it once did. Many of today’s schools have placed a greater importance on creativity, making being a part of the marching band a part of a well-rounded student’s repertoire. For talented students, it could lead to a scholarship or a career.
Deciding on Instruction
A major consideration in your child's interest in playing music is how you plan to have the child instructed. If you plan to send him/her to private music lessons, the options are endless. If you'll be relying on the school music program, the selection of instruments will be more narrow. If your child enjoys the sounds of an upright bass but his/her school band does not offer string instruction and you can't afford lessons, try to steer your child toward another instrument that offers the same melodic components in a wind orchestra or marching band.
Making the Best Selection
If he/she is unsure about which instrument to choose, ask your child to play a couple of his/her favorite songs with you and help pick out the instruments that make the song, such as percussion, strings, woodwinds and brass. Try not to criticize your child’s choice in music, but find a common ground of instruments that are found within it.
- Piano and Vocals - If your child loves listening to Alicia Keys, Lady Gaga, or Lady Antebellum, learning to play the piano would be a great way to get your child excited about playing musical instruments. These artists feature piano and vocals in their live performances. You may be able to parlay the child’s interest in the artist’s work into vocal instruction or piano lessons.
- Strings and Guitar - Bands like Panic! at the Disco and The Arcade Fire use guitars and classical strings in their work. If your child loves these bands or some like them, it might spark an interest in string instruments like the violin or the cello, or even the guitar.
- Horns and Wind Instruments - Cake and the Alkaline Trio use trumpets in their music along with the typical guitar and percussion instruments found in most rock and roll bands. If your child likes these bands, you may steer him/her towards a horn such as the trumpet or trombone, drums, or a wind instrument like the saxophone.
- Percussion and Electronic Rhythms - The drums used in the music of The White Stripes, Justin Bieber and Kanye West may encourage an interest in percussion or bass-type instruments. Depending on the type of sound your child prefers, they may want to start out with drums, bass guitar or even mixing music with the help of a DJ equipment and a computer.
Keep Early Expectations Low
After you’ve come to a consensus on the instrument that inspires your child, be sure to set expectations. In the beginning, however, be sure to remind your child that he/she will start out playing songs like, “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star." Practicing can be exhausting at the end of a long day of school, especially if it's music that feels childish or too easy. It’s important to remind your child that instruments are a challenging addition to his/her education and it's important to practice every day to keep skills fresh. Reward completed practice time with a book of sheet music with level-appropriate, popular songs. Playing fun and inspiring music will happen as proficiency increases and is a reward for many tedious hours spent practicing.
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2 Responses to “Unlock Your Child's Inner Musician”
I believe getting your child into music at an early age is a great way for them to build character and also express themselves artistically.
As a child, it was very hard to convince my parents to let me learn to play the saxophone.
I hope parents will be more open to their child's interest in music at a young age because music was such a big part of growing up for me.