[HANASHIR:13521] Re: Learning Instruments

[Sholom Simon <sholom...>]

At 09:59 PM 2/10/2003, Moss5533 (at) aol(dot)com wrote:
>In a message dated 2/10/2003 3:40:02 PM Central Standard Time, 
>adrian (at) durlester(dot)com writes:
>
>>Let's avoid the temptation to become "soccer moms (or dads)" or "stage 
>>parents" in the rush to propel our children into musical skills. Nurture, 
>>yes. Urge, no. I find the "strike while the iron is hot" philosophy just 
>>a little bit scary when we're talking about such young children.
>
>
>I did not mean for the "iron" comment to be "scary"!  Just that the child 
>needs to have the interest and not for the parent to force their own 
>agendas on their child.  I am definitely against "stage parents" 
>especially having been a casting director for several years!    I think 
>Rosalie's question was regarding the fact that the child wanted to play an 
>instrument and that's what it's all about - the child wanting to.  And if 
>they don't want to play, well, we need listeners, too!

Agreed.

I started piano around age five -- but it started because I started picking 
out tunes on the piano myself (and not very well), and I was driving my mom 
crazy.  Luckily, my dad was a part-time-on-the-side piano teacher.

My theory (gut level, just based on experience) is for folks that young -- 
teach them just enough so they can experiment and have fun.  Let them make 
a list of songs that they want to learn, and see if you can pick one from 
there.

-- Sholom





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