Curious Inspiration
by Helen Tipton
4th Graders from Spartanburg County at Spartanburg Philharmonic’s LINK UP concert
When it comes to musical instruments and children, curiosity is never in short supply. Here are five ways to move your child from curiosity to connoisseur:
Hands On
Find ways for your child to experiment with musical instruments. In Spartanburg, SC, Converse College (Delta Omicron chapter) hosts an event for children ages 3-10 called “Instrument Petting Zoo,” where kids can try their hand at various types of instruments. Also, Grandma’s piano, Uncle John’s old guitar, or an inexpensive harmonica are great ways for children to experiment a little bit.
Culture Club
Help kids experience music with their friends! Spartanburg Philharmonic’s Heroes and Villains is the next (and perfect) opportunity for children in our community to hear great music in an environment that is welcoming and fun. They may shock you with their astute observations and will surely find unintended humor as the audience will wear capes and masks. Dinner and a concert is a super change of pace for our screen-watching kids.
Eye Spy
There are many online ways to explore instruments, and our children are very adept at navigating websites. One of my favorite websites for younger children (ages 5-12) is: http://www.sfskids.org/. There are animal avatars which act as guides to take kids through the site to explore instruments, conducting, and more. Another favorite is the NPR series http://www.fromthetop.org/ which showcases talented kids’ performances and life stories.
The Long Game
Learning to create music is so GOOD for the development of the human brain. You don’t have to be a musician yourself to help your child get the benefits from an early age. Sing their favorite tunes, clap simple little rhythms for your child to imitate, or make up silly songs. Starting early is the key to a lifelong love of music.
Armed and Dangerous
Enroll your child in music lessons! Local colleges, established studios, professional musicians, and music stores are all great places to get started. Weekly instruction with a qualified teacher is the path to success here, as the fine motor skills take time to master. Music educators are passionate about finding ways to keep the curiosity going, and give children the gift that keeps on giving- MUSIC!
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Helen Tipton serves on the Board of Directors for the Spartanburg Philharmonic and is Chair of the Spartanburg Philharmonic’s Education Committee. Helen and her team blog here once a month on Music Education to help other Music Educators, parents and students. Missed a blog? Simply click on the “Music Education Series” tag on the right column of our main blog page. Contributing Music Educators include Maggie Haggerty, Shelby Dickey, Janet Kuntz, Kelsey Grant and Jenny Shanks Nichols.