How To Help Children And Youth That Have Difficulties With Music
Can’t Remember Words, Tunes; Can’t Sing Or Play In Tune;
Sounds Hurt Ears; Not Interested In Practicing
The importance of creating music is very underrated–whether singing or playing instruments. Without support, children & youth can lose or not develop an important tool for increasing physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual well being. Creating music can stimulate and can calm. It can help children & youth with learning mathematics, language acquisition, increasing memory capacity, and refining physical coordination. It also promotes listening skills. Music can build self-confidence and give a tool for self-expression and connecting with others. A lack of musical ability can be due to and complicated by a combination of: hearing challenges; a lack of positive musical experience; ineffective, not-enjoyable instruction and practice; lack of encouragement/acknowledgement; criticism and teasing; mismatch of instrument and child or youth; unrealistic expectations; learning and developmental factors; focusing challenges; physical and/or emotional discomfort caused by unhealed accidents, traumas and abuses of all kinds; prolonged stress; lack of relaxation training; lack of good, enjoyable, comfortable instruction, experimentation and practice; nutritional imbalances; exposure to environmental pollutants. Challenges with music can be indicators of confusing emotions. Children & youth are also often intimidated by not being able to sound like professional musicians immediately with no practice.
Can’t remember words, tunes: This can make music an uncomfortable experience. With good instruction this can be overcome.
Can’t sing or play in tune: This can make music a not-pleasant experience. It can lead to being ridiculed and teased which can discourage. It can create a loss of an enjoyable, relaxing experience. With good instruction, this can be overcome.
Not interested in practicing: It is extremely difficult to get better at making enjoyable music without practice. Not practicing can often be a way to get a reaction from the parents, or can be about feeling lonely. With good instruction and parental non-nagging support, this can be overcome.
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First, We Would Investigate |
Second, We Would Investigate |
For Long Term Support |
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On Our Own We Would Try: • Less or No TV, Movies, Video/Computer Games • Wholesome Pleasures • Back Rubs and Foot Massages • Replace sodas, juices, sugars, fats, fast foods with water, veggies, whole grains, nuts, protein, fruit, slow food • Long Walks/Hikes • Bedtime Stories and Chats • Nature |
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For Parents: • Have family fun with music and song. • Make sure to pick a music teacher who the child or youth really likes. • Have a lesson with the teacher yourself. • Become involved with music yourself, however you are comfortable. Enjoyment is contagious.• Work with local schools and community centers to become involved in music education. • Protect your child or youth from having musical experiences that reduce their self-esteem and joy of playing. Being rejected from trying out for something too soon can be painful. |