We have all heard the story about the toddler who, when given a toy violin for a birthday gift, then proceeds to carry it with them everywhere they go.  If you have a child who has expressed a strong desire to play violin or cello and you are not sure that they are old enough for lessons, you should know that even children as young as 3 can make good students.

The exposure to music at such a young age can be a gift you give your child that will last a lifetime.  Hopefully, you child’s love of their instrument will follow them into adulthood.  When you are seriously considering enrolling your very young child in lessons, there are a few things you may want to remember:

Teach Self Control

In order to benefit the most from lessons, especially group lessons, it is vital that your young child know to concentrate on the task at hand and avoid disrupting others.  Your child should be stimulated by their teacher with games to engage them on their level.  The use of rewards and diagrams are also helpful to the naturally curious toddler.  The challenge will come with preventing boredom and encouraging practice.

Expect Gradual Results

The learning curve can be steep and just mastering how to stand and hold the instrument correctly can consume most of the first lesson.  The young child will also benefit greatly from finger and wrist exercise so incorporating that into the daily practice session will encourage the habit and result in better control and less frustration.  Only then can creating and holding a tone on the violin be approached.  Patience and repetition are key during the early learning period.

Encourage At Every Turn

Because young children are so eager to please, learning a musical instrument can be fairly easy for most.  The key is for the teacher and the parents to work together, always remembering that kind and gentle encouragement will get the best result.  As most of us are aware, forcing or demanding can mean the student will withdraw before they find the joy and love of music necessary for musical growth.

Playing the violin will teach your child very valuable life skills such as self-discipline and patience.  It will also give them the gift of self-entertainment which can be a very beneficial form of light meditation. Creating music on their own is a life-enriching endeavor and we would like to invite you to contact us to find out how we can help make it possible for you and your child.

photo credit: origamidon via photopin cc

We have all heard the story about the toddler who, when given a toy violin for a birthday gift, then proceeds to carry it with them everywhere they go.  If you have a child who has expressed a strong desire to play violin or cello and you are not sure that they are old enough for lessons, you should know that even children as young as 3 can make good students.

The exposure to music at such a young age can be a gift you give your child that will last a lifetime.  Hopefully, you child’s love of their instrument will follow them into adulthood.  When you are seriously considering enrolling your very young child in lessons, there are a few things you may want to remember:

Teach Self Control

In order to benefit the most from lessons, especially group lessons, it is vital that your young child know to concentrate on the task at hand and avoid disrupting others.  Your child should be stimulated by their teacher with games to engage them on their level.  The use of rewards and diagrams are also helpful to the naturally curious toddler.  The challenge will come with preventing boredom and encouraging practice.

Expect Gradual Results

The learning curve can be steep and just mastering how to stand and hold the instrument correctly can consume most of the first lesson.  The young child will also benefit greatly from finger and wrist exercise so incorporating that into the daily practice session will encourage the habit and result in better control and less frustration.  Only then can creating and holding a tone on the violin be approached.  Patience and repetition are key during the early learning period.

Encourage At Every Turn

Because young children are so eager to please, learning a musical instrument can be fairly easy for most.  The key is for the teacher and the parents to work together, always remembering that kind and gentle encouragement will get the best result.  As most of us are aware, forcing or demanding can mean the student will withdraw before they find the joy and love of music necessary for musical growth.

Playing the violin will teach your child very valuable life skills such as self-discipline and patience.  It will also give them the gift of self-entertainment which can be a very beneficial form of light meditation. Creating music on their own is a life-enriching endeavor and we would like to invite you to contact us to find out how we can help make it possible for you and your child.

photo credit: origamidon via photopin cc