Music
When To Start With Musical Lessons
As a child I have played the cello, one year later I exchanged this instrument for playing the violin.
My parents thought it would be nice to have a cellist at home. I didn’t want to play this instrument in the first place. I asked them why I had to play the cello. Their answer was they already have a violinist, pianist, flutist, guitarist. I just lay down on the floor while traveling to my cello lessons, screaming so much my father became angry. Now I think about it, it was insane I did this. I remember I had a student concert with all the students. I threw the bow on the floor and the bow broke, just before the concert and I couldn’t play the cello anymore. There were a few students who had an extra bow, but I insisted that I can’t play anymore. But I really didn’t like cello lessons at all.
I’d rather play the violin. I saw my sister practicing for her violin lessons. “I want that instrument too. I want to play that instrument, playing the violin as she does.”, I thought. She could play very well, her tone and sound were so beautiful. I told myself, if I can play just like her, I will be a happy kid.
After one year I really wanted to play the violin. I was pretty serious about it; I want to play the violin. As soon as I took lessons, I was a happy kid. I knew this instrument belongs to me. I knew that this relationship lasts for the rest of my life. And here I am, this year I’ll be 32 years old, still playing the violin, I still love playing the violin.
Being serious
In the last ten years, there is a discussion about whether your child pushing to practice the violin, or just playing for fun and which one is important. I believe your child needs to be very serious about practicing an instrument.
Your child develops an amount of discipline he or she can use in her whole life. The brain of your child expands much more when it’s playing an instrument. Your child is capable of solving problems in different ways.
Another reason for playing an instrument is that it is just very expensive. You have to hire an instrument each month, you have to pay the teacher every month, you have to take your child to lessons every week (this costs lots of energy and time).
Your child shouldn’t have to be a professional, but otherwise, as a parent, you’re switching all the time. Your child needs to learn to stick to one instrument. And it costs a lot of energy as a parent.
Besides all this, yes, your child needs to have fun playing an instrument, but also your child needs to be very serious when practicing and all. Tell also why if your child asks.
Instrument that exists
You have is a lot of instruments to choose from. The choice is very big. So, how do you let your child choose an instrument?
When there are music schools in your neighborhood, mostly there will be open days you can try instruments. The teachers will be there, your child can try an instrument, and your child can get maybe a lesson.
Look at the reactions of your child when trying on the instruments.
Watch your child how the reaction is. This tells you if your child likes the instrument or not.
What to look at searching for an instrument
As said, watch your child’s attitude when he/she talks about a specific instrument. It tells a lot if your child likes it, or doesn’t like an instrument. When looking for an instrument you then can eliminate instruments your child doesn’t like.
What instruments do exists? Look what instruments do exist. Search before going to the music schools, ask questions to different teachers with other experiences. Then you can a complete view of choosing an instrument.
Best age to start playing an instrument:
- Violin, age 6
- Viola, age 12, first the basics of playing the violin must be completed
- Cello, age 6
- Recorder, age 5
- Wood instruments (oboe, flute, bassoon and so on), mostly age 10, need big hands
- Brass instruments, about the age of 12
Agnes Laurens is a writer. She writes for the local newspaper. Agnes lives in Bunnik, The Netherlands, with her husband and three daughters. Writing is — aside from playing the violin — one of her passions since childhood. She is on Twitter and Instagram.
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