Music is not only a great creative outlet for kids, it’s also a powerful tool for cognitive development. Whether your child dreams of strumming strings or playing the piano, nurturing musical skills at home is crucial. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you get started.
Table of Contents
- Get An Instrument
- Set Up a Practice Space
- Get Good Lessons
- Create a Practice Plan
- Join My Music Workshop
Get an Instrument
When it comes to music, the instrument is at the center of the action. Here’s how to choose the right one for your child:
Choosing the Right Instrument
Consider starting with instruments that are age-appropriate and align with your child’s interests. There are lots of great instruments for kids to start with, but we recommend the piano, ukulele/guitar, or drums for most kids.
String instruments like the violin and wind instruments like the saxophone are great, but they require a little more dexterity and breath control, so they are usually better suited for slightly older children.
Finding a Good Quality Instrument
When choosing an instrument, quality is important to ensure a positive experience for your child. Look for an instrument that is well-made and durable. Choose an instrument from a reputable brand if you can.
Don’t hesitate to visit a local music store and allow your child to try different options. You don’t have to spend a lot, but finding a quality instrument not only enriches the learning experience it also helps keep your child excited to play.
New vs. Used Instruments
Deciding between a new and used instrument is an important choice. New instruments will be in perfect condition, reliable, and should last a long time. However, they can also be more expensive. On the other hand, used instruments can often be found at a fraction of the cost and can be just as good if they’ve been well cared for. You can look for used instruments on Craigslist, Facebook marketplace or in other local marketplaces in your community.
When considering a used instrument, it’s essential to thoroughly inspect it. Look for any major wear and tear, breaks, cracks, or damage. For pianos or keyboards, be sure to test all the keys. For wooden instruments like guitars, ukuleles, or drums, look for cracking on the wood and be sure that the instruments aren’t bent, dented or warped. Be sure the instrument plays well and is in good shape overall before buying a used instrument.
Trust your instincts, and don’t hesitate to reach out for advice from local musicians or music teachers. Remember, the right instrument is one that will be your child’s partner on their musical journey. It’ll help them stay inspired and be their musical voice as they learn to play.
Renting vs. Buying
If your child is just starting out, renting an instrument can be another economical choice and allows flexibility if their interests change. Many local music stores offer rental programs with an option to purchase later. It’s worth checking out these options for instruments that are generally priced higher, like pianos or orchestral string instruments. There are also some good online options for renting instruments, be sure to check these out too, if you decide to go this route. Check out local music stores or Sweetwater.com online for rental options.
Maintaining the Instrument
Proper maintenance is key to ensuring that the instrument stays in good shape and keeps sounding great. Regular cleaning, tuning, and care can prolong the life of the instrument. It shouldn’t take too much time or effort. Just like taking good care of a car will help it last longer, the same is true for instruments. We’ll be releasing some tips to care for different instruments soon, so stay tuned (no pun intended 🙂 )
Set Up a Practice Space
Once you have your instrument creating a designated practice space in your home can greatly benefit the learning process for your child. Here are some tips for setting up an effective practice space:
- Find a quiet and distraction-free area in your home where your child can focus on their instrument.
- Keep the instrument set up and accessible if possible. This way, your child can easily play whenever they feel inspired. When it’s practice time, there will be no delays, and they can get right to it.
- Encourage your child to personalize their practice space with posters, pictures, or other items that inspire them. This can help create a positive and motivating environment for them to learn in. Relaxing lighting can also help them stay focused.
Find Good Music Lessons
Quality instruction is vital to effective music learning. Here’s how to ensure your child receives the best lessons:
In-Person Lessons
In-person instrument lessons can be a great option if you find a good teacher. Look for instructors who have experience teaching children and can be flexible to your child’s learning style. Recommendations from other parents, or online reviews can be valuable. It’s also important to connect with the teacher and make sure you and your child feel comfortable with them before starting.
The downside of in-person lessons is that they can be pricey, and you only get 30-60 min per week of time with the teacher. Students are still asked to complete their practice on their own time, at home.
Online Lessons
Online music programs have become increasingly popular due to convenience, affordability and flexibility. There are good options available depending on the age of your child, their learning style, and the instrument they play.
Many programs offer a free trial. This is a great way to test out the program and how your child responds and enjoys learning in the online environment.
One of the great things about online programs is that many offer built-in practice and rewards. This helps parents because their children can learn and practice in the same sitting. Also, children can use the online program for practice instead of practicing on their own. Rewards can also be a highly motivating factor for kids when it comes to practicing their instrument.
Create a Practice Plan
Consistent practice is key to improving any skill, especially when it comes to music. Encourage your child to practice on a regular schedule, even if it’s just for a few minutes each day. It’s better to be consistent, with a few minutes 3-4 times per week, than doing long practice sessions 1-2 times per week.
Here are some tips for making practice time efficient and enjoyable:
Practice Routines
- Set aside a specific time each day for practice. This could be before or after school, and on the weekends. Aim for 3-4 days a week to start. More is better but too much can make children burn out, so it’s important to find a balance.
- Break the practice time into smaller chunks. For younger children, 15-20 minutes is usually plenty, while older children can spend 30-45 minutes practicing.
- Keep track of progress by setting goals and milestones. Milestones can be accomplishing a new skill or simply meeting the goal of practicing 3-4 times a week.
- Be patient and encouraging. Learning an instrument takes time and effort, so it’s important to support your child and celebrate their progress along the way.
- Lastly, don’t forget to have fun! Remember that we “play” an instrument. So, keep the fun in there. One great way for kids to have fun is to “jam” along with their favorite music. It can be totally unstructured and playful. Just put on their favorite song and let them play whatever they feel.
Finding Motivation
If (and when) your child becomes frustrated or loses motivation while learning an instrument, here are some ways you can help them keep going:
- Encourage them to listen to music that they enjoy and try playing along with it. This can help keep their interest in the instrument.
- Attend concerts or live performances together to inspire and show them what’s possible with practice.
- Set realistic expectations and remind them that learning an instrument takes time and effort, but it’s worth it!
- Celebrate achievements together to keep motivation levels high.
Make Listening to Music with Your Kids a Habit
Music is like language; the more you hear it, the more you understand it. Immersing your child in a rich musical environment can stimulate their interest and understanding of music. Here’s how to make music a shared experience at home:
Explore Different Genres
Expose your child to a variety of music genres, from classical and jazz to pop and rock. Use the tools that are available on streaming music services. Things like playlists, discover music options, and recommendations can really help broaden your musical horizons and find great new music with your kids!
Create playlists of your children’s favorite songs and play them when you are hanging out, eating breakfast or dinner, in the car, playing games, or playing outside. Keep the music playing, and your kids will surely benefit.
Attend Live Performances Together
Experiencing live music can be inspiring and educational. Look for local performances, concerts, or recitals. Check out local cafes, coffee shops, schools, and colleges for great musical performances you might not otherwise think about.
Join My Music Workshop
Ready to take your child’s music learning to the next level? Join My Music Workshop!
We have built the best online music program for kids offering piano, drum, ukulele, and singing lessons. Practice is built into the lessons, and kids get rewards for every lesson and practice session they complete. Musical avatars join them on their journey, they can discover and learn about different instruments in the virtual music store, build their own music rooms, and play musical learning games. It’s built to be educational and fun, so kids enjoy learning to play an instrument.
You can explore and try everything with no risk by grabbing a free 7-day trial. We want to make sure you and your kids love it before committing. But, it’s a game changer for learning music, and we’re pretty sure you’ll love it 🙂
Helping your child learn music at home can be a rewarding experience. By providing the right tools, environment, and encouragement, you are setting the stage for a lifelong love of music. Join for free!
