Thankfully, the days of only a select few children having the opportunity to learn a musical instrument are gone. With the amount of free resources available online and schools having the chance to offer communal instruments of children to practice with, it has become something all children can get involved with if they wish and if they do, there are many benefits!
Learning a musical instrument has several benefits, including helping with their cognitive development and helping with improving concentration, memories, pattern recognition and other transferable skills. Developing a musical skill, you’ll learn how to understand and connect with others, which helps with socialising and will be an added advantage as they get older.
Music is something that is enjoyed by people no matter what their ethnicity, age or ability level. Music therapy is a great way to help children who have additional needs and can be an effective way of coping with a whole range of conditions, including autism.
Research has found that creating music helps mental integration, which contributes towards enhanced cognitive function, hand/eye coordination, muscle memory and because those playing in an orchestra will need to learn cues and listen carefully, it also helps teach patience and the importance of listening and taking turns.
Learning a musical instrument won’t come easily to everyone and developing skill in your chosen instrument will need regular practice, so it can come across like a chore when first starting out but sticking with it will prove to be rewarding over time. Letting your child learn casually using free internet resources will help with this rather than structured lessons, though those can come in handy when an interest has been established. You’ll also need to be supportive of their choice of instrument, even if they have decided on the violin.
If your child has an interest in music and has mentioned wanting to learn an instrument, they will need one of their own to practice on, which can be expensive depending on the instrument they have chosen. It might be tempting to head to a cheaper online retailer, but when it comes to a musical instrument, heading to a specialised shop is a better idea, as depending on your child’s size, they might need a smaller instrument and as they progress and grow, they can move on to full-sized instruments, especially if they’re planning on going for the double bass or cello. Some instruments are more affordable than others and a specialised shop can offer this advice. Clarinet, for instance, is cheaper than a saxophone, and popular instruments such as guitars, ukuleles and keyboards come in a variety of sizes and budget options.
If your child has expressed a desire to be a soloist, choosing a woodwind or brass instrument would give them this opportunity, but be aware that brass instruments can be difficult to get to grips with, so you’ll need to make sure your child is physically fit before starting out. Perhaps they have decided they would like to study music later in life, learning to read music will be an important step they’ll need to take and learning the piano is a great way to get involved.
If you’re worried that your child will find the coordination involved in learning an instrument challenging, they don’t have to miss out, singing in a choir is equally as useful with developing skills and learning similar techniques as you would with an instrument. Also, being part of a group will eliminate any insecurity about their voice and will give them the chance to develop a new circle of friends with similar interests.
The most important thing, of course, is that your child is doing something that they love and that you support them in creating as much noise as possible, even if it isn’t as melodious as you’d like!
