Music is an art which can be enjoyed from a very early age, and careful
nurturing of a child's musical talent can develop into a lifetime of satisfaction
and enjoyment of music. The Hindhead Music Centre offers a carefully
planned approach to the development of children's musical abilities, which
are outlined in more detail below.
When to start ?
There is nothing very much that can or should be done in the way of formal
musical training until the age of about three. Before that time,
a child should be allowed to listen to as much music as he or she likes
- particularly classical music, which lacks the aggressive and monotonous
beat of much rock and pop music. If a child likes to play at the
piano or keyboard, then allow him to do so but do not attempt to teach
him the instrument !
For most children, formal musical tuition at the Hindhead Music Centre
begins between the ages of three and six. We also offer specialised
group classes for toddlers and disabled children.
Musical Bumps
"Musical Bumps" is a general introduction
to music and movement for toddlers (aged 18 months to three years) and
their mothers. The children are introduced to various forms of music,
with Nursery Rhymes and other suitable songs, with actions, rhythm games
and more.
Music is Magic !
"Music is Magic !" classes are for
children with physical disabilities. This is a unique programme of
musical activities, intended to allow even the most severely disabled child
to experience the joy of creating and performing music. If you have
a disabled child, please contact us to discuss the great benefits which
your child may have from attending these classes.
Mini Music Classes
At any point from the ages of three to six, we would recommend introducing
a child to the world of music through a couple of terms at our "Mini
Music" classes. The classes cover a wide range of musical
subjects, including rudimentary notation, reading and writing music, playing
the recorder, singing, aural and rhythm training, and so on. In addition,
a different orchestral instrument is taken into the class each week, and
the children hear it played to them, draw a picture of it, learn how it
works, and are given a chance to play it themselves.
After one or two terms of "Mini Music",
a child might be ready to start formal tuition on an instrument.
The instruments available to the child will depend very much on his age,
since different instruments make different demands in terms of the physical
development of the child. The options available are described in
the following sections.
Class Tuition
We are often asked if we can provide class tuition in musical instruments,
usually on the grounds of the high cost of individual lessons. There
are certain instances in which class tuition can work, primarily when the
pupils are very young or are just starting an instrument. The "Mini
Music" classes, the singing groups and the Preliminary
Piano groups described below are examples of this.
However, for most instruments or for older children or those who already
have a grounding in the instrument of their choice, the class approach
is rarely successful. There is too much variation between different
children, in the amount of practice they do, in the musical talent they
possess, and in the individual physical difficulties they may encounter
with their instrument.
However, group sessions are invaluable when taken in addition to individual
tuition, and all children should be encouraged to join ensembles and take
part in events such as our Saturday String Club, Flute Workshops and other
ensembles. Not only do these groups help to give children a great
deal of fun out of playing their instrument, but they also help them progress
more quickly.
Buying an Instrument
It is important to note that whatever instrument a child chooses to play,
it is essential (with very few exceptions) that from his first lesson he
has access to an instrument on which to practice every day. This
applies just as much to the piano (including Preliminary
Piano classes) as any other instrument.
Rental schemes are available from most music shops so you can delay
paying for the instrument in full until the child has proved genuine interest
and ability.
String Instruments
A child with dedicated and motivated parents might learn the violin from
the age of three, or the cello from around the age of four, following the
famous Suzuki method. This
relies on the fact that string instruments can successfully be miniaturised
without affecting their pitch or the technique required to play them, and
so as the child grows, larger sizes of instrument can be bought (or rented).
However, it should be realised that for a child to learn any instrument
at such an early age - when the child in all probability is not yet able
to read or write - does require considerable effort on the part of at least
one parent, who must sit in on every lesson, listen carefully to what is
being said, and then help the child with his practice every day during
the week.
As far as other string instruments are concerned, the viola is not normally
learned by children until they have mastered the necessary techniques on
the violin first, while the double-bass is now available in miniaturised
form and can be learned from the age of seven.
Harp
Surprisingly to most people, the harp is another instrument which can be
learned from a very early age - around four - but be aware that the small
harps which children of this age can learn are expensive to buy or rent;
and that after a few years of study the child will probably need to progress
to a full size concert harp, which is even more expensive. Click
here for details of our specialism in this wonderful instrument.
Piano
The issue of when a child can start the piano is open to some debate, and
teachers can be found who will start children at three. Our recommendation
is that no child should start to take piano lessons until the age of six.
Before then, his hands will not be large enough to cover the keys properly,
and it is likely that in an attempt to counter this physical limitation
the child will develop habits which will be difficult to correct later.
Besides the technical reasons for delaying the start of piano lessons,
there is the simple fact that most children will learn more quickly once
their physique is not holding them back. So a child who starts at
six will by the age of seven probably have caught up with the child who
started at five, thus rendering the first year of lessons rather pointless.
An excellent way of starting the piano is to take a term of our "Preliminary
Piano" lessons, which is a fixed ten lesson course taken in groups
of up to four or five children. The class approach helps to keep
the cost low, and in the first term it works well. After this, the
child will need individual tuition.
Guitar
Half size guitars can be purchased which enable children to start to play
the classical guitar from around the age of seven. This can be a
good way of handling a child whose real interests are in pop, rock and
heavy metal ! Incidentally, it is always a good idea to start with
the classical guitar and progress to folk, blues or pop styles later, rather
than the other way round. The more rigorous technical grounding which
a child will learn on the classical guitar will stand him in good stead
for other styles.
Wind and Brass
The flute, clarinet, cornet and trumpet can be started at around the age
of eight, provided that the front teeth aren't missing !
The remainder of the orchestra should wait until the age of nine or
beyond. For large instruments such as the trombone, the weight of
the instrument demands considerable muscle power to lift it, and for the
double reed instruments (such as the oboe and bassoon) the lip and lung
pressure required should not be attempted until the lungs and facial muscles
are strong enough.
Recorder
The recorder has two roles in musical education: it is in common use as
a comparatively easy instrument which can be used to introduce a child
to playing a wind instrument without the expense of buying a flute or clarinet,
and without the need to wait until the child is old enough to play these.
But for those interested in early music, it is also a very important instrument
in its own right.
The child will start to learn the recorder in the "Mini
Music" classes, and if he has started Mini Music early and
is therefore too young yet to take up the instrument of his choice, then
a few terms of recorder tuition can be an excellent way of channelling
his musical talent and enthusiasm while he continues to learn musical notation
and the basics of playing a wind instrument.
Fife
An interesting alternative to the recorder is the fife. Like the
flute, this is a transverse instrument (you hold it sideways and blow across
it !) and like the recorder, it is cheap to buy. It therefore makes
a perfect follow on from "Mini
Music" classes for those who think that they may like to
take up the flute when they are old enough.
For further details or to discuss any issues further, please click
here
or contact us by telephone (01428) 604941 or fax on
(01428) 607871
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