The Benefits of Music Lessons For Children
Most parents are keen for their children to be “well-rounded” – not just doing well in school, but also taking part in various other activities such as music, sport, art etc. Parents often look to music lessons as a way for their child to have fun and learn an important new skill at the same time. While considering the guitar as an instrument for their child, parents should be aware what the benefits are before enrolling them in lessons. Here are just a few of the many benefits of learning this fantastic instrument.
Learning Key Musical Skills
This is one of the most obvious benefits of learning how to play the guitar early in life. Taking lessons with the right teacher will provide children with a range of musical skills that can be transferred to other instruments and applied at school if they choose to pursue music further. Learning these skills correctly first time will ensure that children can easily deal with more challenging material as they progress.
Learning earlier is better
Another benefit of starting guitar lessons during childhood is that it will speed up the process of learning, as during this stage of a young person’s life it is easiest for them to pick up new skills. Many studies by education experts have clearly shown that children who take music lessons earlier in life are able to learn and master their instrument more quickly and effectively than if they begin the process later in life, such as during their teenage years or adulthood. Recent research has also shown that exposure to music can benefit a child’s reading age, IQ, and the development of certain parts of the brain.
Builds confidence and social skills
One of the most rewarding results of guitar lessons is the feeling of confidence children develop as they learn something new, whether they are mastering a new chord or learning how to play their favourite song. Knowing that they can do something others can’t gives them a lot of confidence, and this can often be transferred to other aspects of life such as attempting challenging school work or dealing with new social situations. Kids who attend their guitar lessons in groups with other children have an opportunity to spend time with others of a similar age who share their interest in music. It is likely that they will develop new friendships with children they wouldn’t have met otherwise and will also develop their social skills during lessons by interacting with their teacher and the others in their group.
Improves learning ability and self-discipline
Learning the guitar involves mastering new skills, memorising new pieces of information, and dedicating time each week to practicing what has been covered in lessons. Practicing regularly develops children’s self-discipline, and they will soon see the results of their practice when they are able to play something that they thought was quite difficult to begin with. It is very valuable for children to learn early in life that sometimes things can be difficult to begin with, but sticking with something and trying their best can lead to new skills and abilities they didn’t have before.
Playing the guitar is fun!
The guitar is a great instrument, and learning to play it in a fun environment with the right teacher ensures kids stay interested and motivated to keep learning more. As they improve, opportunities will arise for them to share their newly learned skills with family and friends. The skills children learn during lessons will enable them to progress further in the future with guitar or other instruments they might be interested in.