Visions of a rock guitarist need not put you off the idea of trying guitar for your child’s choice of musical instrument. The guitar is an inexpensive and popular choice that has kept audiences captivated for centuries. Your child will gain a whole new perspective on music, as well as life-long skills to help them along the way. Here are some of the benefits of your child learning to play the guitar.
Learning Guitar is Accessible
If guitar lessons aren’t possible, your child can learn guitar basics via books, DVD’s, CD’s or the internet. They are an excellent way for your child to learn guitar in a relaxed atmosphere with no pressure whatsoever – they can learn at their own speed.
However, face-to-face lessons are perfect for monitoring progression and getting expert instruction. A guitar teacher will be able to teach your child how to do the finger patterns and teach them how to read music, chords and scales. All of that detail can be complex, and often frustrating to learn alone.
A correct foundation can teach your child the important skills and techniques. Finding a guitar instructor who specializes in teaching children will also be a bonus. When they learn the guitar a teacher will need to hold their attention, while ensuring the lessons are fun. If your child isn’t enjoying it, guitar will be hard for them to learn and they won’t progress so quickly. Further, their attention span of most children is not long, so keeping lessons to around half an hour is ideal.
It’s New and Exciting
Learning to play the guitar is going to be new and exciting. It will take your child time to get to know how music works, understand the guitar and find out how all the different elements fit and work together. It’s important for your child to retain this excitement about learning to play the guitar, and having a patient teacher who knows how to keep them interested is usually key to your child wanting to stick with it long enough to become good at it.
The guitar is a difficult instrument to play and many give up within the first few months since their playing is so bad in the beginning. To prevent this, it’s a good idea to set aside time for your child to practice – start with just a small amount of practice each day, since you don’t want to turn your child off guitar lessons by pushing them too hard and turning it into a chore.
Guitar Skills Can Lead to Better Skills in Other Areas
If your child is learning to play the guitar, chances are that they are also working on and improving their academic skills. They learn to concentrate, coordinate, have patience and understanding, as well as gain confidence. Reading and focusing will become easier and they can improve on skills such as spelling, grammar, and math.
Learning the guitar can help develop brain activity that your child will use later in life too. They tend to develop critical thinking, solve problems creatively, communicate better and understand how to work as a team.
The Role of Parents
Pushy parents are the last thing a child needs when learning the guitar. They should learn at their own pace and in their own time. It’s more important that they’re enjoying it and learning new skills. They are going to make mistakes and that’s part of the learning process. Mistakes are good since they will learn from them and remember what is correct. Encouragement and patience is key.
Learning Guitar is about Having Fun!
Parents who provide their child with the gift of guitar lessons are not only helping them to have fun. You will see your child aim for a goal and work towards it. They may learn a new song to play for you or be asked to perform – there are many great experiences that can come from the act of learning to play the guitar.
You never know, by encouraging your child to take guitar lessons you may find that they have a hidden talent that you could never have anticipated.
If you’re interested in learning more about learning guitar and live in the Burlington area, contact Capstone Music today or drop by our music school!
