Saturday, January 25, 2014

How To Select An Instrument For Your Child

By Madeleine Bridgeman


Many studies have demonstrated that playing a musical instrument is beneficial for children. It has been shown that students who participate in some type of music instruction have higher grades and score higher on college entrance exams. In addition, music is an excellent tool for self-expression and a fun, creative outlet. If your child wishes to learn how to play an instrument, here are some options to consider.

Prior to purchasing or renting an instrument, you need to think about what type of instrument best suits the personality of your child. For example, if your child is very shy, then you might want to steer away from the trumpet, the saxophone or the flute. The flute players generally sit right up in front of the band, which might make your child uncomfortable. Trumpet and saxophone solos often are common and this will place your child at center stage, which they might not want.

Age and size also are a factor, as smaller hands and tinier bodies place a limit on which instruments are best. After all, imagine a five-year-old attempting to handle a tuba or a bassoon. When the age ranges from 3 to about 8 years, stringed instruments often are a great option because there is a range of sizes available that other instruments simply don't have. You can choose from a violin, viola, cello or perhaps a guitar or ukulele. The piano also is always a good idea, as students learn a lot about music playing the piano which can help them play other instruments in the future. Not only will your child learn about scales and chords, they will learn how to read the treble and bass clefs, which can make learning a new instrument much easier.

While most kids know a little bit about common instruments, such as the piano or the violin, they probably don't know a lot about other instruments such as the piccolo, the French horn, the trombone and the many different options when it comes to the percussion section. Provide your child with some examples of what each instrument looks like and sounds like, so they can find an instrument that sparks their interest. You also can select something modern, such as a guitar or keyboards or something a bit more old fashioned such as the harp or the accordion.

While most schools typically only provide basic instruments such as violin, viola, cello, clarinet, flute, saxophone, tuba and trumpet, taking private lessons can open up many other options for your child. For instance, the electric guitar might really be what your child wants to learn or perhaps they would like to take vocal lessons or learn how to play the drums like someone in a rock band.

There are many choices for a music school in Laguna Niguel or music lessons in San Clemente or music classes in Dana Point, but if you find a fun way for your child to learn, he or she is more likely to stick with their instrument. One option would be to find a school such as the Los Rios Rock School, which is centrally located in San Juan Capistrano. Not only will children enjoy a weekly private instrument lesson, they also can participate in a true rock band. These bands are made up of students only, and they actually play at well-known locations such as The House of Blues.




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