Musical Instruments

[Anonymous]

If I can get my child play music through childhood I will consider that a tremendous success. The knowledge of music will stay with them, even if they don't make music, they can still enjoy them at a deeper level. Incidentally, piano is a good beginning chioce because you learn more theory with it.

I do hear you in giving the child choice and create a musical environment. Most kids don't hate lessons, they love it in general. What they hate is practice, but to get good at anything. They need some of that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I can get my child play music through childhood I will consider that a tremendous success. The knowledge of music will stay with them, even if they don't make music, they can still enjoy them at a deeper level. Incidentally, piano is a good beginning chioce because you learn more theory with it.

I do hear you in giving the child choice and create a musical environment. Most kids don't hate lessons, they love it in general. What they hate is practice, but to get good at anything. They need some of that.

This. My daughter started piano in 1st grade and is still playing it in 4th. She enjoys the piano, but I think the big lesson has been the role of practice. She learns most academic things easily -- and in fact learns piano quite easily too, but the idea of practice to build muscle memory in your fingers and improve your skills has been a good lesson. I am sure you can get this lesson through practicing athletic skills, too, but we aren't particularly athletic.

FWIW, I started on piano so had her start on piano. I felt it gave me a good foundation, including keyboard theory, that helped as I moved to other instruments. I ended up playing my other instrument through college -- on a music scholarship -- but by high school realized I didn't have the drive to be a professional musician. In addition to knowing and enjoying music, I learned a lot about performing (preparing/practicing, managing anxiety, etc), collaborating with others, etc.