I have had some time to think about the topic after writing my previous post on encouraging your kids to develop their musical talent and appreciation. I have also found a few other cool and inexpensive instruments for them to bang and/or play on.
I briefly mentioned that music is very mathematical and playing and learning music can have an effect on a child's intellect. I didn't reference any specific literature on this subject, but in case you are interested, there is a good roundup of relevant info here.
One bit of more practical advice is for the other non-musically inclined parents out there. While pounding on a drum or cymbal or guiro, etc... may keep your kid entertained briefly, it is not likely to keep them interested for long, and it is also not likely to develop into anything beyond noise making all by itself. My guitar teacher used to play a "jam track" sometimes while we practiced. A jam track is a song played by an ensemble/band, except one of the instruments has been removed. In our case it was the lead guitar part, so I could jam along and solo while the backup band kept the base of the song moving along. Commercial karaoke songs do essentially the same thing with the vocals removed. This is a valuable tool to use after you have mastered the basic mechanics of the instrument and allows you to understand how the music you create as an individual fits into the music created by a group. Since the basic mechanics of most percussion instruments are pretty simple (in most cases it involves hitting them with a stick - which our baby mastered at 6 months) a jam
track can be used almost immediately for kids. I suggest playing one of their (or your) favorite songs on the stereo and playing along with it. Keeping a beat and having fun are the two most important goals here. Singing along and getting fancy are secondary, and add not only a level of complexity but make it even more fun.
For some extra music, I suggest getting some free kids mp3's at: freekidsmusic.com. Just in case you are looking for one, the first song in their catalog - The Pancake Song by Abby and the Pipsqueaks has a guiro part. Don't worry if you can't find a real jam track for a particular song, you are just playing along and trying to have fun.
There may come a point at which you are so impressed with your kids progress that you are ready to try another instrument. What instrument that is depends on a lot of factors, such as the age, size and personality of the child. If there is a piano in the house it may be good place to start training your child's "ear" for pitch. Beyond that, if you have a musical sponge or prodigy on your hands, I suggest you begin looking for a professional music teacher. Recommendations from friends, music stores, and schools are a good place to start. After you've gone through all of this, don't forget that they have to understand that to get better they have to practice!
If you made it this far you must be a true music lover, and someday your child will thank you sharing your love for music with them. In the meantime, get out the pots and pans (or buy one of the inexpensive instruments below) turn on the stereo, and start making some noise!
If you have something that you are particularly proud of, send me a recording! I'd like to hear it and if it's OK with you I might share it with everyone else too.
Single 5" High Cage Bell, Assorted Colors
Remo 1 x 8" Lollipop Drum
Basic Beat Egg Shaker
Plastic Finger-Size Castanet
I briefly mentioned that music is very mathematical and playing and learning music can have an effect on a child's intellect. I didn't reference any specific literature on this subject, but in case you are interested, there is a good roundup of relevant info here.
One bit of more practical advice is for the other non-musically inclined parents out there. While pounding on a drum or cymbal or guiro, etc... may keep your kid entertained briefly, it is not likely to keep them interested for long, and it is also not likely to develop into anything beyond noise making all by itself. My guitar teacher used to play a "jam track" sometimes while we practiced. A jam track is a song played by an ensemble/band, except one of the instruments has been removed. In our case it was the lead guitar part, so I could jam along and solo while the backup band kept the base of the song moving along. Commercial karaoke songs do essentially the same thing with the vocals removed. This is a valuable tool to use after you have mastered the basic mechanics of the instrument and allows you to understand how the music you create as an individual fits into the music created by a group. Since the basic mechanics of most percussion instruments are pretty simple (in most cases it involves hitting them with a stick - which our baby mastered at 6 months) a jam
track can be used almost immediately for kids. I suggest playing one of their (or your) favorite songs on the stereo and playing along with it. Keeping a beat and having fun are the two most important goals here. Singing along and getting fancy are secondary, and add not only a level of complexity but make it even more fun.For some extra music, I suggest getting some free kids mp3's at: freekidsmusic.com. Just in case you are looking for one, the first song in their catalog - The Pancake Song by Abby and the Pipsqueaks has a guiro part. Don't worry if you can't find a real jam track for a particular song, you are just playing along and trying to have fun.
There may come a point at which you are so impressed with your kids progress that you are ready to try another instrument. What instrument that is depends on a lot of factors, such as the age, size and personality of the child. If there is a piano in the house it may be good place to start training your child's "ear" for pitch. Beyond that, if you have a musical sponge or prodigy on your hands, I suggest you begin looking for a professional music teacher. Recommendations from friends, music stores, and schools are a good place to start. After you've gone through all of this, don't forget that they have to understand that to get better they have to practice!If you made it this far you must be a true music lover, and someday your child will thank you sharing your love for music with them. In the meantime, get out the pots and pans (or buy one of the inexpensive instruments below) turn on the stereo, and start making some noise!
If you have something that you are particularly proud of, send me a recording! I'd like to hear it and if it's OK with you I might share it with everyone else too.
Single 5" High Cage Bell, Assorted Colors
Remo 1 x 8" Lollipop Drum
Basic Beat Egg Shaker
Plastic Finger-Size Castanet
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