Happy Halloween! We hope our students enjoy their day of school parties and Halloween parades along with their evening of trick or treating and other Halloween festivities. Personally, I’ll be giving out candy with my husband to the trick or treaters in our neighborhood. We can’t wait to see all the cool costumes that appear. 🙂
Now, onto today’s topic. There are so many types of music out there – pop, jazz, rock and roll, classical, country, just to name a few. In my opinion it’s best to have a love and appreciation for all types of music even if you prefer playing or listening to a certain type. So with so many different genres to choose from, how do you help your kids develop an appreciation of all the great ones out there? My thoughts are as follows:
1. Start exposing your kids at a young age
The younger your child is when they begin listening to different types of music, the better. Young children are so impressionable, so take advantage of this precious window and expose them to as many styles and genres of music as you can.
Listen to music as often possible — in the car and at home. Vary the type of music you put on. Perhaps you listen to a piano concerto by Beethoven one day and rock and roll by the Beatles the next. Show your love and appreciation for the different genres of music. Kids usually like what their parents and role models like, so if you show that you like it, chances are, they will as well.
Educate your kids on the composers and artists. Talk to them about who wrote the piece you heard and what style of music it was in. If possible, find a children’s book that tells the story of a particular composer. Do whatever you can to make listening to and learning about music fun and game-like. After a while your kids will exhibit a natural curiosity about music and will want to learn more on their own.
2. Go to concerts and shows
While listening to recordings are wonderful, there’s no substitute for live music. There’s something so special about being there watching the creation of music. Take your daughter to the Selena Gomez concert she’s dying to go to with her friends, but also check out the BSO (Baltimore Symphony Orchestra) concert at Strathmore. Again, variety is the key. If you vary the styles of music for the performances you attend, your son or daughter is much more likely to develop a love for a wide range of musical styles.
3. Learn to play different kinds of music in lessons
When lessons are new, you need to get some basic note and rhythm reading under your belt. Once you’ve picked up some basics, try playing different types of music. Recitals are a wonderful opportunity to learn pieces of different styles. For one recital try that great Joplin tune you hear so often. For the next play the Star Wars theme you love from the movies. We encourage our students to play the music that they love the most, which is why our teachers and I happily arrange whatever piece our students most want to learn. With that being said, it’s important to vary things a bit. Don’t play Taylor Swift for every recital. Try something different as well. If you are not familiar with classical music, I encourage starting with a well known piece rather than something very obscure.
Now I want to hear from you. Have you used any of these tips or any of your own to help your kids develop a love of different types of music? Share your ideas in the comments below. Thanks so much for reading! Don’t forget to “like us” on Facebook and subscribe to the email newsletter. Have a spooktacular day!
Sincerely,
Cassie
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