Is your child ready to learn an instrument?

Who is the article for:  If you have a toddler or child between 4 and 7 then this article is perfect for you.

I want to give you an in depth video to help you figure out your next steps with your little one.  There are 5 things we look for at Creative Soul to see if your child is ready for music lessons.  But I also want to share with some crucial resources that have helped us to raise our kids and nurture their unique gifts and talents.

Listening Cues are 

• Focus and Listening Skills

• • Can they sit for 3 to 4 min at a time.
  • Can they look at my hands, the instrument.
  • Can I give them basic direction
  • Can they clap or sing
  • Listening cues differentiate each child and if you have a boy and girl.  Typically you will see better listening cues from the girls.  But it doesn’t always mean that the boys are not listening.  Boys sometimes just have to move around more.
• Communication Skills
  
  Can your child respond to these questions?
  
  • Do you like this sticker?  
  • Do you like ice cream?
  • Do you like this sound?
    
    
• Gross and Fine Motor Skills
  
  
  • Can they move their arms around?
  • Can they move their fingers around?
  • Depending on their response, if they can only do gross motor movement then they need to be in our young music class program.  If they can move their fingers they might be able to take on learning an instrument.
• Interest Level
   

There's a great book to help you navigate your child’s interest, called 8 Great Smarts written by Kathy Koch PHD.
My son was always making sound, I called it noise at the time.  He made sound by banging on anything and everything.

If he wasn’t doing that, he was singing or humming or making any noise he could. 

I once thought that it was a sign of disrespect, but after reading this book, it revolutionized how I nurtured my room. 

In the book it talks about how easy it is to squelch or discourage music smart because as parents we sometimes see their noise for sound, and though my child needs to learn when it is appropriate to make sound. 

It is crucial that I acknowledge his music smarts and nurture it.  I think quite a bit about all the adult students that have passed through our doors who say the same quote every time.  “I wish I never quit piano lessons.”  

I’m doing this article because after 15 years and thousands of kids walking through our doors I am privileged to watch and learn these patterns and share with you.  So you can benefit and bless your family.   

• Parent Participation
   
  • This is typically after a recital or a performance but it is crucial to the transformation from I’m going to lessons to ownership and identifying themselves as musicians.  Helps with practice, helps with seeing value and gifting in this area.  All of this helps springboard excellence which in turn can build confidence in academics, once you understand this concept.
  • Here’s where the rubber meets the road.  If your child doesn’t practice one day outside the lesson time, your child still grow musically.  There is no question.  However, if you sit down to help with practice and make this a routine, then you will see tons of improvement.  In fact over a short period of time you will see your child go from “I take piano lessons or drum lessons,” to I’m a piano player or I’m a drummer.  

Here at Creative Soul we often take students who are exploring different instruments before purchasing an instrument and choosing a direction.  I hope this information is helpful.  Please reach out to me at Casey@creativesoulmusic.com if you have anything to add or any questions.  I love to help.