From the time your child was growing inside your womb, he or she had the ability to hear sounds and melodies, and as children grow music can be an indispensable part of their development. Maybe you have young children and you’re considering purchasing an instrument for them to play. Perhaps you are trying to decide whether or not to invest in music lessons after school. Maybe you just
Photo: Steve Snodgrass
want to make sure your children are well rounded and have good exposure to different genres of music. Regardless of your motives, introducing your children to music at an early age is a smart idea and it’s easy to save money on a future instrument if there’s been an opportunity to try out the different instruments. Here are ideas to get started:
1. Have your child draw while listening to classical music. If you’re looking for a fun afternoon activity, give your children some paper and crayons and put on some classical music in the background. You can choose pieces that show a particular emotion, whether it is happiness, intensity, or sadness. Have your child draw what they are hearing so they stay engaged with the music and begin to interact with it.
2. Spend time at music stores. Many music stores have a variety of instruments your children can try out, so take a couple of hours and let them explore one near your home. You can see if they are really interested in pursuing a particular instrument or get bored quickly after playing it for a few minutes. Music stores also have a large variety of beginning music books your children could work through on their own.
3. Make band instruments with household items. A fun family activity to try with younger kids is to encourage your children to form a band using instruments they create with items they find around the house. They can beat pots with spatulas, blow into a straw with finger holes, tap on glasses with different levels of water, or be creative with other instrument ideas.
4. Play music around the house. Instead of turning on the TV for background noise for your day, put on some good classical music or another CD your family might enjoy. You can also encourage your children to fall asleep listening to music or put it on while they’re working on their homework.
5. Get moving! You can create priceless family memories—and expose your children to some great music—by cranking up some fun, upbeat songs and encouraging your children to dance and have fun. Be silly and enjoy one another as you dance together and experience the joy music brings to your family.
If you want to get your children involved in music lessons, a choir, or another sort of musical outlet, talk to your local music store about what options are available. You can also check local newspaper listings or discuss it with your child’s music teacher at school.
There are plenty of ways to allow your children to learn about and enjoy a variety of different music genres while saving money. Do you have some tips, too? Share them with us here!
