How to Encourage Your Child to Play a Musical Instrument
Most parents hope their child will choose to learn and play a musical instrument in school or through private lessons. Music lessons not only teach the skills for playing a certain instrument, they teach self discipline, focus, and can instill a lifelong love of music. It is wise to encourage your child to play an instrument at an early age, especially since many schools do not offer orchestra or band until the fifth or sixth grade.
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Things You'll Need
- Musical instruments
- Paper plates
- Bells
- Cardboard
- Empty milk carton
- Empty oatmeal carton
- CDs or cassettes
Instructions
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If you have a toddler or preschool-aged child, begin by making simple musical instruments. You can make a tambourine using a sturdy paper plate, small bells and round cardboard discs, a drum using an oatmeal or other round carton, or a horn from an empty milk carton. Show your child how to use the instruments and put on a CD or cassette to accompany their playing.
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If you have some time, you should play an instrument with them. You can also buy xylophones and keyboards for children in the toy department of most stores. This exposes your child to both music and the concept of musical instruments, as well as giving them something fun to do.
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Take your child to middle school, high school, and college orchestra and band concerts in your area. This will give your child an opportunity to see how much fun and pleasure can be derived from playing an instrument, how the sounds of different instruments can blend in together to create a beautiful sound and to feel the rhythm of the music.
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If you have a high school or college in the area, take your child to sporting events where the marching band will be playing at halftime. Point out the choreography and the instruments.
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If you have a community orchestra or band, take your child to those concerts as well. The exposure to music will encourage them to consider playing an instrument when the time comes.
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Talk to your child about different instruments, how they sound and whether they are played in an orchestra or a band.
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Make music part of your home life. Expose your child to all kinds of music at home and in the community and they may well decide to play a musical instrument when they are old enough.
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