[HANASHIR:13520] Re: Learning Instruments

[Carol Boyd Leon <cbleon...>]

As the music specialist for 400+ preschoolers each year, parents often ask 
me when to start instrumental music lessons.

Here, for instance, is what happened in one of today's classes.  I was 
introducing 4 1/2-year olds to Peter & The Wolf.  We pretended we were 
playing violins.  One little girl piped up with, "Don't touch the hair on 
the bow.  I know that because I USED TO take violin lessons."  Four- 
and-a-half-years old and violin was from her past, not her present.

Similarly, a 4-year old brought me in a workbook from her group piano 
lessons.  What had she done in the previous week's class?  She'd colored a 
picture of a piano.  Not the keys, the whole piano.

In contrast, what does she do in my music class?  She claps and skips and 
marches and bangs on rhythm instruments so rhythm becomes part of her being. 
  She sings and laughs and helps tell seasonal stories incorporating the use 
of finger cymbals or drums.  She stands tall as she sings about growing 
Jewishly and she excitedly awaits the emergence of the toy challah as we 
sing songs incorporating Shabbat blessings.  She's joyfully learning about 
the world through music while gaining preparedness for instrumental lessons 
when she's older and more ready.

My own children are blessed with musical talent.  But an especially early 
start on an instrument in the long run has made no difference in their 
musical growth.  I can remember my frustration due to one son's immaturity 
(or perhaps it was actually age-appropriate behavior) -- he  began piano 
lessons in kindergarten as his request.  But he was too young to accept the 
responsibility of homework and practicing.  He didn't like being assigned to 
play a song when the graphic on the page was of a sad puppy rather than a 
happy one.  He dropped piano within a few years, much to everyone's relief.  
I'm glad, however, that he took up sax at age 12, was adequately 
performance-ready at age 13 to play at his bar mitzvah service, and at age 
14 excels at it.  My daughter waited till third grade to start piano 
lessons.  She's now a conducting/music theory major in college and a 
professional piano accompanist.  Waiting till third grade did not hamper her 
development one iota and may have been what kept her interested in piano (as 
well as viola) all these years.

-- Carol Boyd Leon
   CBLeon (at) hotmail(dot)com
   www.geocities.com/CBoydLeon



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