| Why
having your child learn a musical instrument is a good thing
Learning to play a musical instrument can be
very rewarding for a child. What starts out as an awkward
endeavor, becomes easier and more fun over time, as fine motor
skills develop and a better understanding of the structure
of music is acquired. Developing these skills helps children
gain confidence and self-esteem.
But I think what's most important is that it
gives a child a huge head start on a skill that will most
likely be an important hobby, and in some cases even a profession that they can enjoy forever. One of the most important things about
playing music, especially an interactive form like bluegrass
is the social rewards of playing with other people and building
friendships that last a lifetime. We live in an era that can
be very isolating, with children (and adults) spending more
and more of their time in front of a screen of one form or
another, and less and less time interacting with people. The
bluegrass community has informal jams in houses, pizza parlors,
and at festivals and camps all across the country. Most musicians
I know watch way less TV and spend more time with friends
than your typical non-musician types. This, I think, is a
good thing.
Back to Teaching Kids
|
