Unless you’re a prodigy and “gifted”, learning an instrument can be a frustrating for children and parents alike in the early years. This may be even more so the case if the parent already plays the instrument…with ears already tuned to hear perfection…and imperfection.
In the early years, things can get rough with progress and practice….wanting to do anything else but playing their instrument. During this challenging period, the key is finding a way to just stay with it because things will better as beginners move on to the next stage. Although this can be frustrating time, parents should focus on the bigger picture and the long term benefits of playing in instrument:
– playing an instrument boosts cognitive and intellectual abilities – memory, reasoning, math
– playing an instrument improves many skills and better equips children for all of life’s challenges
– people who make music experience less anxiety, loneliness, and depression and playing an instrument reduces stress and increases self-esteem
While it’s possible that a certain instrument might not be the right one for your child, there are actions you can take to try to keep them “in the game” and encouraged during the initial years of learning a new instrument.
As a parent, find the song on youtube that your child is learning so you can get familiar with how it’s supposed to sound. This will give you a reference point for knowing where their teacher wants to go and lets you make relevant suggestions to engage in their progress. Just don’t expect your child’s going to sound like that tomorrow 🙂
Practice together. Grab a chair, sit next to them and try to read the music together. If you don’t know how to read music, this could be a great opportunity to learn by following along and asking your kid a few questions.
Another fun way to grow a child’s engagement with a new instrument in their early years to to take them to see live performances featuring their instrument. Start a new family activity and make it even more fun by pairing it with something they already like. For example, if they are a Star Wars fan, choose a performance of Star Wars songs instead of classical compositions. Smaller venues are not only more affordable, but it’s usually easier to see and hear a specific instrument.
If you really want your child to stick with their instrument when the going gets tough, pull out all the stops and you’ll be rewarded. When things get tough, just be patient and know that everyone goes through challenging times when learning how to play a musical instrument…it can be quite complex at the beginning. One day, it will sound much better and you’ll be able to smile thinking back to the time when…
