Teaching children music is always an exciting challenge
. While some kids love music and can't wait to learn it for themselves, sometimes you have to struggle to teach the basics, knowing that inevitably they will take to music despite some initial resistance. In the latter instance, it's all about making music fun and supporting kids to realise it is something that they can learn easily over time. All it takes is small, steady steps and practice.
So how do you make music fun?
The best approach is to find out the kind of music they listen to. For tween and teens it may simply be a matter of choosing their favourite band or singer but for preteens and younger children, music is not such a large part of their consciousness. One approach to take is to ask their favourite movie or TV series. Then get an easy version of the sheet music and play it for them. Teach them a few of the notes and see how that goes.
Learning music takes time so don't expect instant results, that mindset will help your child too. Our modern world is obsessed with instant gratification; if something doesn't work out now then it's not worth pursuing. How wrong can we be! Music can teach kids the value of taking small steps each day to learn a little more towards a larger goal.
Having said that a little instant gratification can go a long way! Musical toys that require a little bit of musical knowledge for a highly satisfying musical output can help kids engage with music. Toys from Fisher Price and Leapfrog are recommended for younger kids while tweens will be drawn to the electric sounds of Power Tour guitars and Paper Jamz guitars and drums. These easy to play toys provide ways for teachers and parents to access music through children's play and teach them skills while they are having fun.
Teaching kids about music is a lifelong skill they will appreciate long after the first lessons are over.