[HANASHIR:13501] RE: Learning Instruments

[Adrian Durlester <adrian...>]

I'm still a big fan of utilizing the recorder as a child's first instrument,
supplemented by singing. Although I started studying piano at the age of
five, the venerable Pre-College program at Juilliard, where I studied, had
all students start by learning to play the recorder and becoming familiar
with the fundamentals of music. They also had us all participate in group
singing, which was also used to begin to teach us pitch recognition, and
rudimentary solfege.

I would be hesitant to start out any student on the piano, violin or guitar
as a first instrument, and I, personally, would not accept a student under 8
years of age. I personally feel that some commercial music programs (and I
won't single them out by name) which start students on primary instruments
at very young ages, deprive the students of the opportunity to explore and
try different things in their quest to learn about music. These "results"
oriented program remain, from my point of view, entirely the wrong approach
to teaching making music as a lifelong skill. The old "how do you get to
Carnegie Hall" joke remains true.

Adrian

Adrian A. Durlester, MTS
E-mail: adrian (at) durlester(dot)com  URL:www.durlester.com
Director of Education, Beth El Hebrew Congregation, Alexandria, VA
education(dot)driector (at) bethelhebrew(dot)org
Past Conf Chair, CAJE 27, August 4-8, 2002, Trinity University, San Antonio,
TX
List Owner, hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org; Jewish Songleaders/Performers List
Co-Owner, l-torah (at) shamash(dot)org; Liberal Torah Discussion List


-----Original Message-----
From: owner-hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org [mailto:owner-hanashir (at) 
shamash(dot)org] On
Behalf Of cantorboxt
Sent: Monday, February 10, 2003 9:44 AM
To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
Subject: [HANASHIR:13495] Learning Instruments


Friends -- I need a little instrument advice.  5-6 year old child, wants to
learn an instrument.  Actually wants to learn piano, guitar, violin and
drums (which mom ruled out immediately).  Before they go buy rent
piano/keyboard, I needed a little help in terms of which instrument is most
advisable to begin with.  I think piano is versitile, but the kid has
songleaders in his family and might find guitar more useful in that regard. 
Is 6 to early to start guitar? Or violin?  I am not so knowledgable in this
area and would love some advice I can pass on to mom!

Thanks
Cantor Rosalie Boxt
cantorboxt (at) templeemanuelmd(dot)org





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