Help Your Child Enjoy Playing a Musical Instrument
Some schools are beginning to encourage children to start playing as low as the second grade. When I was in third grade, our music class was required to pick and instrument and we played it for the whole year. For the first year, the school supplied the instrument and allowed parents to purchase instruments if their child was interested in continuing on. Many school have band classes that are worth school credits and/or provide free daily or weekly music lessons.
At first an instrument may seem like a large task or too changeling to your child. With your help, encouragement, and support your child can soon be playing their hearts out. To allow your child to perform up to their potential, you should also be interested in helping them practice. Once your child is able to play well, you could ask him or her to teach you. This will allow you to become familiar with the instrument that they love and it will be quality time together. If you keep on talking about the instrument you may keep on instilling excitement in your child. When discussing it, be careful not to sound too pushy. You could starting by asking how the music lesson went or ask your child to play you a new song that they learned.
Children love to hear encouragement and praise. If your child plays for you be sure to compliment them and acknowledge any improvements that you have seen. A fun way to encourage your child to play their instrument is by setting up a makeshift concert at your home. If you have friends or family that are willing to listen to your child play, you can use that time to boost their confidence and allow for positive feedback and compliments.
If you child’s school does not offer free lessons and private lessons are too expensive, you may wish to purchase learn to play music videos. Whether your child is having a lesson at home or practicing by themselves, you should have a quiet area set up for them to practice. Although many people assume the basement would be a good place to practice, depending on it’s appearance, it may be an uncreative environment. Allow your child to play in the home and in a comforting space. A living room or den area would be a good spot for this to occur.
Another way to encourage your child is by attending any concerts or events involved with the band. Many schools have different types of band grounds. Some groups will just perform live concerts, there are the marching bands, and pep rally bands. The live band concerts will encourage your child to play as a team and learn many new songs. The marching band will allow your child to travel, get exercise, and meet students from other schools. Many students who play an instrument love to play in the pep bands. Often times this band group will play during football or other school sporting events.
There are children who start out playing an instrument fairly early and later decide to no longer play. If your child decides that they wish to give up their instrument, you could encourage them to continue, but do not pressure them. If you child is interested in perusing other activities too, you may wish to sit down with them and develop a schedule that would allow your child to participate in more than one school organization.
Even if your child decides to no longer play an instrument, you should be pleased that you at least gave them the opportunity to play. Composing music not only helps to boost a child’s confidence, it will also give them a sense of teamwork, self-expression, concentration, and encourages them to set goals. Spark your child’s creative, give them an instrument to play.
