The Joy of Teaching Music to Young Children
I had such a very special experience yesterday that I just have to share it with you. Three and a half years ago, I received a call from the mother of a 4 ½ year old boy who is mildly autistic. She wanted to start him in piano. I told her that I use Animal Notes to start children 8 or under in music, and asked her if she was still interested. She was, so Kyle started taking lessons from me.
Last summer Kyle, who is now 8, wanted to play guitar instead of piano. We talked about the difficulties associated with playing the guitar. He wanted to try it anyway. His Mom had a guitar from her youth which seemed to be the right size for him, so we started toughening up the end of his young fingers. He is already a good note reader, and knows timing, half steps, whole steps, sharps, flats, and intervals from his study of piano (we are now splitting his piano lesson time with guitar lessons). This fundamental knowledge has made his advancement in guitar much easier. To my delight, he is able to understand the fundamentals of chord formation and applying it to his guitar.
Yesterday he was playing Jingle Bells when we ended with a nice “chord.” He was so delighted with his accomplishment. I asked him how many in his second grade class played an instrument. He thought a few seconds, counting on his fingers, and replied, “Six of us.” I then asked him if any of the others played two instruments. His eyes got as big and shiny as new silver dollars; his smile lit up the room; “No, I am the only one that can do that!” He then hugged me and said, “Thank you for having the patience to teach me.” Yes, my heart swelled with joy!
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