Over summer break, kids often complain they are bored. Without the daily structure of school, it's a challenge for parents to keep kids occupied, let alone stimulated and learning. Fortunately, parents can help their kids stay mentally stimulated and ready to learn over the summer.
"Playing a musical instrument is a great way to keep kids in learning mode", says Heather Scott, an ocarina performer and instructor at the St. Louis School of Music and who is known worldwide to fans of popular video game The Legend of Zelda.
"When a young person plays a musical instrument over summer break, they are doing more than polishing their skills on their particular instrument," she says. "They are using their brains in ways that will boost their ability to learn when they return to school for the fall."
Here are some tips for parents who want to introduce their child to a musical instrument:
- See which instrument excites your child. It's never a good idea to just pick an instrument and tell the child they are going to learn it. Taking your child to a concert is a great way to introduce a number of instruments at once. If they like a particular one, take them to a music store or someplace they can touch and try it. If they are not enthralled with a particular instrument, show them others until you find one that sparks their interest.
- Find your child's favorite style. Don't be disappointed if classical violin or piano is not your child's favorite. They can get the same benefits from learning various different styles of music.
- Make music part of your home life. If a mom has been singing to her child since infancy, the child will have a more developed sense of pitch and timing. Music is like a language. If you are really immersed in it, constantly listening to it, you are going to pick up the language much more quickly than by studying it as a separate part of your life.
- Make the timing right. When a child can begin learning an instrument depends on the instrument and the child. For violin I recommend most students start between 3 and 5 before they have school and other activities vying for their attention. Depending on methodology, 4 or 5 is a good time to start learning piano or guitar. Guitar, violin and cello come in fractional small sizes suitable for little ones. Students need to be a bit older for most wind instruments — about 7 for flute, about 9 for clarinet. The exception is the ocarina, which can be started as young as 3.
- Be involved with your child. Younger children especially won't know how to practice without some parental guidance. Kids often want to play through a song – if they get stuck at a certain spot, their inclination is to go back to the beginning. Parents can help by encouraging them to work on the difficult parts separately, and then put them back into the song.
"With music, parents have the wonderful opportunity to share with their children an activity that is creative, stimulating, inspiring and fun," adds Heather. "Music is also the perfect avenue for children to learn the discipline, skills and confidence that can help them in academics and all areas of life."
Taking music lessons teaches kids the importance of precision and accuracy as well as patience and discipline, says Laura Yeh, an instructor at the St. Louis School of Music.
"As they master these details, music students learn the skills that will help them be successful in school, work and life," Laura says. "The poise, confidence and problem-solving abilities they gain are some of the greatest advantages of learning a musical instrument."
Laura and her husband Dennis have collaborated with ocarina makers around the world to design and produce many unique and innovative ocarinas. If you are interested in more information or to purchase an ocarina, please visit http://www.stlocarina.com.
