The benefits of music at a young age

Graci playing guitar at age 5 with a family friend
and recording artist Jeremy Rizer

Randi at her piano lesson.

Music is something we love in our house. My oldest daughter Randi, who is 13 years old, has been playing piano for the past four years and my youngest daughter Graci, who just turned 12 years old, has taken guitar lessons in the past and recently started voice lessons.

I sit in on the lessons and listen and it is truly amazing to see how professor Donovick works with Randi. She can read music, but also plays by ear.

I am amazed when they start playing songs at how fast she picks it up.We are so blessed to have instructors who are truly gifted in what they teach. Randi’s piano teacher is Jeff Donovick, a music professor at St. Petersburg College. Randi has been taking lessons for a little over a year and he is a phenomenal teacher and knows exactly what teaching method works best for Randi. I took piano when I was younger and stayed with it for a few years and never really excelled at it; Randi, on the other hand, is blessed with a musical talent and a teacher who is bringing that talent out.  

I know studies have shown starting kids in musical training when they are young not only benefits them musically, but it also helps develop their cognitive skills and do better at school in subjects such as math. I was reading on the website of the National Association of Music Merchants about a study done by the College Entrance Examination Board that found students involved in public school music programs scored 107 points higher on the SATs than students with no participation.

My girls haven’t taken the SATs yet, but I can tell you they do well in school.

Playing an instrument also helps with confidence building. I can see that in both of my daughters. Randi’s teacher has given her not only confidence in playing the piano, but in singing. He heard her sing while playing and she has a beautiful voice and now she sings while playing some of her songs.

Graci singing a few years ago
with her guitar teacher
Charlie Coffman.

Graci did take guitar a few years ago, but decided she like singing more. Taking guitar was good, because she learned how to read music and her teacher had her do a few recitals playing in front of crowds, which helped build her confidence and not be afraid to get up in front of people. Since she started out when she was young, she wasn’t as nervous as an older person getting up in front of people. 

Graci singing the National
Anthem at the 
Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast

A few months ago, she started voice lessons with a wonderful teacher, Lee Tong. Tong is a professional opera singer and soloist in her church. After just a few months of lessons, Graci’s voice has really developed and sounds beautiful. Tong is a great teacher for Graci because she knows how to bring the best out of her and Graci enjoys practicing something that sometimes can be hard to get kids to do. Not only has her confidence in singing increased, but she’s reading music more and singing has helped her with her poise when speaking in front of large crowds.

Both my kids take private lessons because their schools haven’t had piano or voice, but I do know there are schools that offer these classes. Most middle schools and high schools offer band and chorus to students. If your child has the chance to play an instrument, I encourage them to do so. Even elementary school sometimes offer students lessons on playing the recorder. The benefits of learning at a young age is such a wonderful gift and will last throughout their life.

Benefits of children playing musical instruments

In the past few months both of my girls started playing musical instruments. My oldest daughter Randi who is almost 9 years old plays piano and my youngest

daughter Graci who is 7 years old plays guitar. We were fortunate to find two wonderful teachers. I am amazed at how fast they pick up on learning to play. I have always heard it is good to start kids young if you want them to learn a second language and I guess that goes for musical instruments too. They pick up so much faster at a young age. I know that for a fact because I am trying to learn guitar with my daughter at her lesson and while she is strumming away, I just can’t seem to get the chords.  

Anyway, recently Randi had her first piano recital. She had to play two pieces of music. The first piece she had to memorize and the second piece was a duet with her teacher. Randi was a little nervous since this was her first time playing in front of a group. The recital was held inside a chapel and it was full with excited parents, grandparents, siblings and friends. There were about ten other students who played at the recital. Their musical abilities ranged from beginner to intermediate.

All of the students did a fantastic job. While I was watching these young students play, I could only imagine how beneficial this performance was for them. It was such a great experience for my daughter and for the other students. It built their confidence and their self-esteem. After the recital my daughter asked her teacher when the next recital would be because she had enjoyed this one so much.

I know the parents enjoyed it too. I was watching their faces as their kids were performing, some taking photos and videos. I know I was proud of my daughter and I could tell the other parents were proud of their children too.

 

I had a similar experience with Graci about a month before when she had her first concert after only playing guitar for a few weeks. Because she was so new at playing guitar her teacher just had her sing the song while he played. Vocals is part of her lessons, I think that’s why she loves guitar so much because she loves to sing. We heard Taylor Swift’s songs “White Horse” and “Never Grow Up” more times than we wanted to, but at least she was practicing. Her concert was at a local restaurant and there were quite a few people there too. When her teacher called her up to sing, she got up there and sang her little heart out. She had no fear whatsoever. I was shocked that she wasn’t nervous at all. I guess all those modeling and etiquette classes she’s been taking since she was three are paying off.  After she got done she said how much she loved singing in front of people. In a few weeks she has another concert and she will be playing the guitar and singing.

My kids take private lessons because their school doesn’t offer guitar or piano, but I do know there are public elementary and middle schools that offer guitar, piano and band classes. I know most high schools offer band. If you child has the chance to play an instrument encourage them to do so. It is such a wonderful gift and it will benefit your child throughout their life. Remember getting them involved when they are younger my make it easier for them to learn.