Guest Post By: Yuval Kaminka, founder of JoyTunes (www.JoyTunes.com), the developers
of award-winning interactive apps that help children and adults alike discover
and enhance their love of music.
Eighty-five percent of the population wished they
learned to play an instrument, but gave up from the frustration of learning the
basics. Mastering an instrument takes time, dedication, discipline and
concentration, so it’s no wonder getting a child interested in playing – and
practicing – an instrument is no easy task.
This is especially true today, with seemingly
unlimited distractions to take up attention spans. Learning a musical
instrument is just not at the top of many children’s priority list of preferred
activities. In order for a child to truly become interested in playing an
instrument they need to be engaged, they need to be motivated and they need to
have fun!
Not only is learning to play an instrument a
rewarding experience, research from Brown University shows that children who
play an instrument perform better on standardize tests and have overall higher
IQ scores than their nonmusical counterparts. This is because learning music stimulates
brain function used to understand math, science and engineering.
So how do you get your child excited about
learning music? As a leader of mobile games designed to teach children skills
that translate to real instruments, JoyTunes has 5 tips to help parents get their child
interested in playing an instrument.
1)
Pick Properly: Choosing the right instrument is perhaps the
most important way of getting children interested in playing music. If
possible, have your child test out a few instruments before they
choose a final one. While your child may think a certain instrument looks
cool, a difficult instrument might intimidate them at first, so try something
more basic when first starting out.
2)
Get
Involved: Be actively engaged in your child’s music lessons. Ask to hear what
piece your child is working on, if they learned any new skills recently or if
they know facts about the composer they are playing. Make sure they are staying
committed to their practice time and reassure them that their hard work will
pay off!
3)
Enroll an Expert: Choose a
teacher that encourages and inspires your
musician-in-training. A good music teacher will get kids even more interested
in playing and practicing, as well as make sure that your child is receiving
proper instruction needed to master their craft.
4)
Song Selection: Choose music that your child
will enjoy playing. Yes, the classics
are vital, but let’s face it, your child would rather play the latest chart-topping
pop song. The more they relate to a piece of music the more likely they will be
driven to perfect playing that piece. JoyTunes’ two
Piano apps, Piano Dust Buster and Piano Mania, both feature a wide
variety of songs ranging from Beethoven to One Direction and everything in
between.
5)
Be their Biggest Fan: Set aside
special times for your child’s performances – even if it’s just for one song in
the living room. Create a system of rewards to encourage your child. Anything to
encourage more practicing will help your child improve his or her skills, which
in turn will make them more excited to continue to learn.
Investing time and energy into your child’s music
education takes time and patience but is most certainly worthwhile. Sticking to
their lessons, improving their skills and mastering an instrument will be
something your children will thank you for in the future. Even during
the frustrating times, don’t let your child give up. Imagine if
Mozart’s parents let him throw in the towel, we may have lost one of the
greatest talents the world has ever known!
Let us know- How do you encourage your child
to practice their instrument?
