Starting Music at a Young Age — 2

In my earlier article “Starting Music at a Young Age”, I said that piano and drums were the two instruments recommended for children aged five and under. That is not entirely accurate: instrumental education can begin differently around the world. Other countries offer many examples. With quarter-size instruments, children can start violin, viola, cello and even double bass, as well as percussion, plucked strings and keyboards such as piano, guitar or harp. But do not misunderstand: teaching any of these to children under five requires particular effort. How do families guide children towards them? In East Asian countries, for example, the bowed string family receives considerable attention, and the Suzuki method has enabled major progress. Yet this represents a substantial educational system in its own right.

As parents and family members, you have observed your child as suggested in the first article, bought rhythm sticks and noticed a constant interest in music: singing, keeping time with every tune and dancing. You now want to consult a specialist, a music educator, to guide your child further.

Now answer two questions:
1) Is at least one parent a musician, music educator or artist?
2) Can you devote a few hours every day to helping your child with this professional arts education, which can begin at age two?

If your answer to question 1 is yes, your child has already grown up in a home filled with music and developed an ear for musical culture. Alongside the instrument teacher, you can also teach them a great deal. As the saying goes, an artist's child becomes an artist too.

Answering yes to question 2 can be difficult. In daily life we may be so tired that we struggle to find time even to brush our teeth. Yet we would need to sit with our child every day without fail for an hour, or longer as training advances, while they do their instrumental homework. If necessary, we would watch lessons, explain the material again at home and guide the child like a teacher.

These and similar commitments are essential to professional instrumental education. When a child begins at two or three, the family has therefore already decided on an artistic future and chosen a profession, accepting the long, difficult challenges along the way.

If choosing a profession feels premature because your child is only at the beginning of the journey, a simpler approach may be better. Start with music at nursery or preschool and let them learn plenty of songs. At four or five, they can then begin piano or drum lessons. I wish you a happy musical journey.

Pelin Aşkın Kumova
Rekor Sanat – Piano Teacher