Before you send your child back to school this fall, consider encouraging them to choose an instrument and join the school band or orchestra. Find out what is offered at each grade level. In our district, children start learning bowed stringed instruments in second grade and band instruments in fourth grade. Later, they can join the fiddle club, marching band, and indoor percussion ensemble.
My kids all agree that there’s nothing like standing on stage in front of a cheering audience after they finish a performance. And performing in front of a crowd gives them the confidence to speak up in the classroom and strengthens other academic skills, too. Music might feel like the opposite of math but take a closer look. When your child masters scales, rhythm, and the beats in a measure, they are counting and learning about fractions. Memorizing music helps improve your child’s memory and attention span. It’s a workout for the brain!
Joining a band or orchestra and working as a team can cultivate lifelong friendships. Sarah Reilly, mom of three musicians, knows this firsthand. She says, “Learning a musical instrument teaches perseverance, dedication, and teamwork. Participating in marching band or a competitive drumline hones timemanagement skills and requires a level of commitment that looks great on a college application. But putting all of that aside, band has been a fantastic social outlet for my children. Some of their dearest friends are people they met on a hot August day at band camp.”
Keep in mind that your child might want to quit at the beginning. Before they have the confidence and skills, they will need to be pushed to practice. My best tip is to let them choose which instrument they will play. I’m still bitter about being assigned the clarinet in fourth grade when all I wanted was to play the drums. So, take them to see a marching band or orchestra and point out all the choices. Find rock stars who play your child’s instrument. We love watching videos of Mark Wood on the violin or Lizzo on the flute.
Joanne Lowe has taught violin, viola, and cello to children in Victor schools for the last two decades. She has played with the Rochester and Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestras and even played with artists like Josh Groban, Placido Domingo, Rita Moreno, and Itzhak Perlman. She teaches the Suzuki Program which allows the youngest learners to play many songs before reading a single note, building confidence and love for the instrument. Joanne says, “Learning to play a bowed stringed instrument at an early age is now known to have extremely beneficial effects on brain development in children. However, the social emotional benefits are just as important. There is simply nothing like seeing a student who struggles in school pick up an instrument and succeed. It’s the best gift you can give your child that will benefit them the rest of their lives!”
My kids learned to be very patient that first year as they practiced holding their instrument correctly and how to make a sound without squeaking. They learn how to accept criticism and work on specific skills, making positive changes each week. Playing a musical instrument also builds a sense of responsibility. Children must keep their instruments clean and tuned. They need to remember to bring their instrument to school on lesson days and carve out time to practice daily.
Plan a schedule that works for your family. My kids do their thirty minutes willingly because they get thirty minutes of screen time as soon as it’s done. You can start with five minutes and gradually increase. The rule in our house is if you practice school songs for twenty minutes, you can play whatever you want for the last ten. Now that they can read music, I look for songs from their favorite artists and musicals. It helps keep the love for the instrument going.
“My music teachers are so nice,” says Violet, age nine. “I love that I can play my viola whenever I want to, and it just sounds beautiful to me.”
Your children will get the opportunity to appreciate many different cultures as they play music from around the world. And don’t forget to let them put on a show! Kids love to plan a performance for friends and family, complete with programs and even props. It’s a great opportunity for self-expression.
The first few years of any instrument will take a lot of parental encouragement, but I promise there will come a day when they will be grateful that you didn’t let them quit.
Looking for instrument rentals?
- Payton Violins in Rochester Mobile Music in Canandaigua Stringed Instrument Services in Fairport
- The String House in Brighton Music and Arts in Pittsford