Unbiased Reviews by Real People
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Unbiased Reviews by Real People
First and Foremost Piano - Start 'em Young!Jul 15, 2002 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line Piano - Children - The music starts here.
First, a little background. I'm no expert pianist, instructor or performer giving you this advice. Who I am is someone who has played the piano since I was in elementary school. Actually, I've played the piano since I was a real little kid to be more accurate. But, I began structured lessons around first grade or so, and I consider that my "official" starting point. You could say I am an enthusiast, someone who loves music, and I'd like to think that I have more than a modicum of talent. As a child we always had a piano in the house, and not just any piano. My mother, a lover of antiques and anything old that takes up a lot of space had managed to get her hands on a beautifully crafted Victorian Upright Grand piano that dates back to the turn of the century (as in 1900ish). Neither my mother or father played piano well, but this instrument was too good to just sit idle. Who was to play it? That would be me. And from the time I was in elementary school through the time I moved out to go to college I continued with lessons on a fairly regular basis. I also dabbled in a few other instruments and settled with both the piano and the oboe. Not denying it, there were a few periods stop-time where I refused to play the piano, practice, etc. When I went off to college I no longer had access to my very own instrument and went for a few years without. I got married, got my own place, and all but left the family piano behind only to play occasionally on visits home. Only to find that "My Piano" had now been taken over by my younger sibling. Sure, of course there were some feelings of jealously but as I watched him foster and grow much of the same passion for music that I hold. Incidently he started with the piano and subsequently moved to a variety of instruments including the oboe, bassoon, saxophone, and more but still continues to learn the piano. So, now that the background is taken care of. Here I am, the mother of a young child who is exhibiting a lot of interest in the piano. Our home, currently blessed with the inheritance of my grandmother's piano (a spinet, actually) and a budding musician amongst us. Now, I have a toddler so he only gets to "play" the piano with me supervising however he has yet to bang the keys and he actually puts both hands on the keyboard at the same time taking delight in the sounds that it makes. Yes, we will commence lessons as soon as they'll take him (thats around the age of 3, actually) as long as he is still interested. Which brings me to the original question.. Why Learn Piano First? ~Learning to read music on the piano sets a foundation for you if you want to pick up other instruments later on, whether they are woodwinds, percussions or brass, you'll have an easier time of it. To me, learning the piano is the first step in building musicianship. Musicianship, in turn, fosters self confidence and a sense of accomplishment. ~A piano is a perfect platform for learning things via a structured, step by step method. This lends itself well to students of all ages, in particular children or grown-ups new to music lessons. For example, learning how to play first with the right hand, then the left and then putting the two together. Despite lending itself well to structure it also is easily adaptable for a non-structured learning environment for even the youngest of students. ~Tickling the ivories is also tickling the senses at the same time. Making and learning music first and foremost exercises sight and sound, analytics, tactile and gross & fine motor development. This is all "good-stuff", particularly for children. ~Practice makes perfect. Through regular (preferably daily) practice and routine exercises on the piano you or your child will improve their discipline and concentration. You might need to use a timer, or a star-chart, or some sort of reward system once kids get to be "that age". ~Playing piano can help with math. At a mimimum, it helps with counting. On the next level it helps develop a sense of rhythm and patterns. Studies have revealed that listening to classical music, like Mozart helps with math skills. This is why you should play music for your children. Why not take it one step further? Let your children make music of their own. How to start? If your child is interested in the piano, know that purchasing one for the home is a major investment and also takes up space. Start small but think big. My toddler son and I play with a xylophone and I've found it to be a great start due to its small size and portability as well as ease of cleaning, durability etc etc. Because we are lucky enough to own a piano that will be our next step. However, if you aren't lucky enough to have a full-size piano at your disposal - consider a keyboard. With a Plug to epinions member, Musicepinion. I hadn't even thought to include this. But he's right on. Paul opines that the keyboard is better for younger children and adolescents for several reasons. The ability to play with an auto accompaniment can make things more fun, just like playing with your very own back-up band. We all know that kids have a limited attention span and can easily be bored or distracted. The ability to shift your sound to emulate a variety of instruments makes things stay "fresh" and always changing. So, by all means do consider starting on a keyboard if a piano is not readily available to you. My personal preference is still for a piano over a keyboard. This is largely because, piano-playing is a family centric activity. Pianos are often gathering places that can be enjoyed by the entire family. In our case, the specific pianos in our midst are multi-generational instruments that have been passed down. With proper upkeep, maintenance, playing them and keeping them tuned they'll last for generations to come. Celebrate Music and Enjoy the piano with your Kids and Family!  |
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