educators offer these points to bear in
mind when considering an instrument
for your child.
A musical foundation
For children and adults alike, having
a foundation in music makes the
process of learning an instrument
far more enjoyable. It’s never too
early to start on the road to music
education. From the time a newborn
hears a mother’s lullaby, the child is
building a framework by which he
relates to music. Much like how a child
learns his native language, he teaches
himself music by being surrounded
by a musical environment. But unlike
language, how music is consumed
has changed in the last few decades.
Passive listening doesn’t support
musical development as effectively as
the active learning that comes from
playing with basic instruments and
making sounds.
A key player in this musical
foundation is the parent. Young
children are more likely to enjoy the
process of learning if they see it as an
interaction between themselves and
their parent or caregiver.
Tricia Buser, founder of My
Musical Studio, says, “Exposing
children to different music variations
sets a foundation for children to
love music.” Early childhood music
programmes such as Kindermusik,
Music Together and Musikgarten
have created developmentally
appropriate approaches (through
materials, songs and techniques)
that support “audiation”– which is
considered the basis of deciphering
the language of music. Audiation is
to sound as imagination is to images.
Tricia says that kids start with shakers,
but between the ages of three and
five years they can start to tell the
difference between pitches.
Choosing the right instrument
(
and teacher)
Giving a child a new instrument
can be akin to giving him a new
toy. To an untrained eye (or ear, like
mine), it’s difficult to differentiate
your child’s genuine interest from
novelty. A teacher who has observed
your child’s early music aptitude
or talent will be able to suggest an
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