Re: Giving kids musical pleasure was Re: Standardizing...Going to Spah etc

[Pierre <slavio@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Iceman's got a good point, you can encourage kids, but don't get your hopes
up too high. My kids got me started in music as they were both learning
guitar, now I'm the one still playing, my daughter hasn't touched her guitar
once in more than two years and my son who was a whiz by the age of 16
hardly touches his guitar now that he's 18. He can still play, but its not
like it was. He has forgotten every tune he learned. He needed a band to
play with and it never happened, he's not an organiser he's just a kid.
Maybe some day it will happen.

It does not matter what you do, kids will do what they like and there's
little you can do. Even if you get them to play music or sports or arts, one
day they will most likely stop and take up something else (hopefully it
won't be drugs or nose rings).  We did this all our lives and we are still
picking, choosing and eventually moving on. For me it was hockey, squash,
aerobics,  cycling, gardening,  mountain biking, music, harmonica, downhill
biking and one day perhaps golf. Once you get to a plateau, you often move
on because you can't get better without devoting your hole life to something
and if you don't improve, you lose your motivation and eventually you move
on to something new and exciting. Its just a normal cycle.

Such is life, if you forget this you will be disappointed and your kids will
feel it. Be happy with whatever constructive things your kids do.

Sorry to be preachy but I learned the hard way. I hope my perspective can
help people with younger kids.

Pierre.

PS: I got my son into road biking and today he is into serious downhill
biking, that's way better than drugs. The bike is so expensive he plain
can't afford them.








  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: IcemanLE@xxxxxxx
  To: jwdixon_sbis@xxxxxxxxx
  Cc: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
  Sent: Monday, June 14, 2004 1:16 PM
  Subject: Giving kids musical pleasure was Re: Standardizing...Going to
Spah etc


  In a message dated 6/14/04 11:30:29 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
jwdixon_sbis@xxxxxxxxx writes:



    How do you make sure this doesn't happen?  I want to
    give my kids the pleasure of the musical moments that aren't
    planned and everyone can get their groove going and magical things
    happen.  I also want them to have a good theory foundataion, but if
    giving them that foundation takes away the best application of
    theory and the most pleasure from music, is it worth it?  Maybe
    "band" isn't the way.  Private piano lessons?  Private guitar
    lessons?  We all know how hard it is to find a good local harp
    instructor.  Any input would be appreciated.


  Take them to hear live music - cocktail pianist, folk singer, jazz combo,
outdoor local blues show. Find out what turns them on. Have them talk w/the
artist. Make music approachable to them.

  Then, audition teachers - don't just take the first one that comes along.
Try to match temperament w/your children. If they like pop music, don't hook
them up with an old lady that insists on scales and classical music. There
is a whole market out there of instructors. The extra effort it takes for a
good match is worth it.

  The Iceman