Musical instruments are fun but they are not toys

In my previous post I mentioned a tip to help kids practice their instruments "(a) Leave your instrument case open and accessible, so you see it there and the instrument can be easily picked up and played."

It is important to teach young children in the family how to handle musical instruments so the instruments are not scratched or broken.  Show children the instrument and let them gently touch it.  Just like teaching a child to pet a kitten, we can guide them as to how to handle a fragile violin.  Show them that pianos are not for banging, but rather let them slowly press one key to hear the sound it makes. Children need to understand how an instrument works and that it does not need force to make it sound nice.

Exuberant young children may bang on a delicate instrument -- perhaps thinking they are playing rhythm  -- so it is always wise to store your musical instrument safely away from small children when you are not able to manage the interaction.

Children  as young as 4 can be learn how to handle a wooden violin without causing the instrument any harm.

Music Lesson Practice Tips for Kids

Practicing your  musical instrument can be a daunting task especially for young children.

These are some helpful tips I recommend to my students :

(a) Leave your instrument case open and accessible, so you see it there and the instrument can be easily picked up and played.

(b) Set a very short time to practise every day.  For example 5 minutes at 4:00 pm. Kids often do not want to be pried away from the tv shows they enjoy, but it is easy to play one exercise during a commercial break and one piece during the next commercial break.

(c) Keep your goals easy each day.  Choose one difficult part of a particular piece and go over it 10 times in a row.  The muscles in your fingers will remember even if you don't!

FREE Music Scores - Violin and Piano in Large print format

Find Free Music Scores here -- See NEW Beginner Piano and  Violin Music Scores in LARGE format -- easily print pdf.    NEW Large Beginner Music Scores

Web contact Errington Music http://erringtonmusiclessons.blogspot.ca/

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http://erringtonmusiclessons.blogspot.ca/

Colbert Report gives Itzak Perlman the Colbert BUMP!

Great great great violinist Itzak Perlman was on the Colbert show last night. I confess to staying up to 1:00 am to watching -- his playing was perfection as per usual.

When I was young I would often get discouraged by talented musicians but now I just enjoy listening and watching their seemingly magical skill. 

We all play our instruments differently, we all play the same notes our own way....some are just a bit more accurate and magical... oh there is that word again, magical.  Music is magical and I think that is why we add it to so many art forms -- dance is always better with music, movies and television shows seem more dramatic with music, celebrations and funerals both need music.  Music is the butter on the toast, the icing on the cake and the salt on the french fries !

In the interview, Colbert asked Perlman how come all these foreigners are playing violin but not north Americans, and Perlman said it goes in waves. Colbert said well perhaps I can help, and he gave Perlman the Colbert bump.  Now  Colbert nation fans are flocking to Perlman's facebook page and giving the bump - I suppose time will tell if this inspires more people to take up the violin!


Here is the link to Perlman's facebook page, where you can link to his youtube videos and get a chance to enjoy hearing the master.

https://www.facebook.com/Itzhakperlmanofficial


You can hear the Perlman's interview on the Colbert Report here http://www.thecomedynetwork.ca/shows/TheColbertReport?videoPackage=123840

Perlman RADIO HERE !!  http://www.myspace.com/perlmanitzhak/radio