Thursday, August 23, 2012

Children's Music Education

When I was in grade school, I took piano lessons for about 4 months. In 6th grade, I played the trumpet for one year (and was first chair I might add). I later bought drum sticks and a drumming pad and would have become a world famous percussionist if I had actually started the drums. Despite my limited dabbling with musical instruments and my willingness to quickly abandon practicing them, I still enjoy music, even if I can't remember how to read notes.

Before I proceed, here is a quick lesson on genetics for you. If a woman who is a professional violinist has children with a man who played sports, then music will be the dominant gene for their kids as long as the woman is the one wearing the jeans.

My oldest boy started playing the piano over 16 years ago and I put up with a lot of twinkle twinkle little star and other monotonous practicing that beginners go through. Over the years he got better until I actually enjoyed hearing him and my other kids practice. He recently earned a music scholarship to college. I find it ironic that as a classically trained musician he also have quite a  following on his YouTube channel for all of his piano covers he has done of death metal music. My fifteen year old daughter is an amazing pianist and violinist and could get a scholarship for either instrument too.

Our family does not have boats, ATVs, big screen televisions, campers, or any of that other fun stuff. Instead we have instruments. All of my kids play the piano and most play a second instrument like the violin, cello, and my five year old just started the harp. One reason my wife is so adamant about music is because she says "we don't have cows to milk."

I credit my family's musical talent to hard working kids, music teachers, and their mom who comes from a very musical family. My mother in law even wrote a book about that exact topic entitled "How to get your kids to practice without resorting to violence".

By the way, I am still working on my book called "How to waste countless hours online". I will let you know when it is finished, but I can't ever seem to break away from Facebook to work on it.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Music is great for kids. I wish we had done more with it.

Mary said...

I'm still laughing from reading the genetics lesson in the second paragraph!
I definitely think two things that children should be exposed to in the home as much as possible are BOOKS and MUSIC.

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Dr Zibbs said...

That's great. I wished I played something. My girlfriend is a classically trained flutist and can play about ten instruments.

I played clarinet for one year in 3rd grade and hated it.