Broadening a child’s horizons by teaching them new skills and activities is a major part of parenting. However, parents can easily make the mistake of rushing the child to learn new skills that may not be age appropriate for them. So what about guitar playing?
It is important for the parent to recognize when the child is ready to learn more advanced skills. Music plays a large role in nurturing brain development and social skills for children of all ages.
Therefore, learning to play a musical instrument is an impressive skill that parents commonly want their children to experience. Guitar lessons are a popular choice. But before purchasing that half size guitar, there are a few things to consider.
Fine Motor Skills are Necessary to Play Guitar
The most challenging part of learning guitar for a young child is the ability to handle the instrument and switch chords. Hand strength and fine motor skills are necessary for the child to learn to play the instrument.
Children typically do not fully develop their dexterity until they are eight or nine years old. Another factor of less significance is the child’s hand size, but this issue is easily addressed by the numerous amounts of half size guitars available to fit even the smallest hands.
Learning the Guitar Takes (a Little) Patience
As with learning any new skill, patience and practice is the key to success.
However, with a small child between the ages of six and nine this creates a bit of a challenge. Children are not known to be patient. A lot of times they want and demand things in an instant. But as long as the parent is available to encourage and nurture the learning experience, the child will more likely be open to the challenge.
Guitar lesson instructors usually provide their students with “homework,” such as new chords and songs to practice. With a continual amount of effort and discipline, the child will become successful and improve their confidence.
Although learning to play a musical instrument may take some time, the benefits go far beyond simply being able to create beautiful music. Studies have shown that children who are musically inclined go on to do better in a wide variety of other areas including mathematics, problem-solving, and reading.
Children who learn how to play the guitar may never end up in a rock-‘n-roll band on the cover of the Rolling Stone magazine, but the benefits that they gain followed them into just about every other aspect of their life. A parent interested in encouraging their child to think creatively will definitely want to consider guitar lessons.
Don’t Make the Mistake of Pushing Too Soon
Parents have to recognize and understand the cues their child gives them. If the parent overlooks the fact that their child may be too young to start guitar lessons, this may cause an adverse effect. The child will become disinterested with the instrument and likely quit altogether.
That is why the parent must do their part and make sure that the child is ready with developed fine motor skills, hand coordination and an appropriate attention span. Keep in mind that each child develops differently, so the appropriate age range of eight to ten years old may or may not apply to your child.
Stephanie Frasco wrote this article about musical instruments. She is also the community manager on the www.myreviewsnow.net website.
Josh
May 28, 2013 — 1:23 pm
Stephanie, I like your points. I learned guitar as a kid but my parents never pushed me too hard. I think the key is to offer it as an option and find out if they’re truly interested.