Musical Instruments for My Kids

[BigPiney]

I've decided to surround them with musical instruments so that they can try and pick them up in their youth. We now have a piano, drums, a piece of crap guitar, a violin, a mandolin (a nice one), and a recorder. LOL.

My son is actually kind of good on the recorder. When played well it has a cool, haunting sound.

[Shaka]

Sure. Maybe the best way to think about it is to list the pros and cons of each approach (with vs without a teacher).

I simply think that the benefit of regular lessons and mandatory practice FAR outweigh the hope that a kid will show the kind of personal discipline and have the degree of motivation to learn an instrument on his/her own. My thinking is that virtually anyone can learn to play an instrument with decent degree of competency with regular lessons and practice, whereas only gifted/highly motivated/disciplined folks are going to reach the same level of competency on their own.

I think you have a point. However it depends on what kind of musician you want to be. I have a sister that in her prime was a concert caliber pianist. You could set a piece of music that was insanely complex and she could dig into it and end up with a beautiful performance in complete harmony with the vision of the composer. She had incredible discipline practicing hours a day.The big problem with my sister is if you asked her to compose a piece of music she was lost. Creativity simply wasn't part of her training. This can be the big flaw of the musician who relies solely on lessons. Most schooled musicians have chops for days but when it comes to creativity or passion they get lost.

Piano didn't resonate with me. I struggled through three years of lessons hating it the entire time. The instrument didn't speak to me and the regimented style of teaching didn't play to my strengths as a creative person. Had I taken a year of beginner lessons and then switched to a teacher who used a jazz approach (learning chords and scales similar to how a guitarist does it) I would have probably stuck with piano. Fiddling with a chord progression while being free to make chord structure changes and inserting notes based on the appropriate scale and key is very creative and the basis for composition.

For the record I loved rock music as a kid and that's what I wanted to play. Naturally I needed a guitar to do it. My parents fought it and never really supported it. At the age of twelve I found my first guitar, a crappy Kay, in a dumpster. The headstock was broken in half. I took it home and repaired it using glue and steal plates. That's what I learned to play on. My first real guitar was a Kramer strat with a Floyd Rose trem that I bought with my paper route money. Up until the day they died my parents never bought me a piece of guitar related gear. However my parents had no problem plunking down $20k on an organ for my sister. Frankly it pissed me off and this anger coupled with my desire to play what I wanted drove me to excel at the instrument.

What I'm saying is that lessons are well and good but they will only get you halfway there.

[RobinFinderson]

What I'm saying is that lessons are well and good but they will only get you halfway there.

I don't think we really disagree.

Let's also state another obvious point in this discussion -- the choice of teacher makes a HUGE difference.

[Shaka]

I don't think we really disagree.

Let's also state another obvious point in this discussion -- the choice of teacher makes a HUGE difference.

Indeed we do. Teacher is huge. The guy teaching my sister (an ancient German) also taught me. That guy was as nice as could be but he and I were on completely different wavelengths. He was fantastic for my sister.

[wuapinmon]

[Donuthole]

Wuap, those two hanging toms need to be tipped more toward the drummer. As currently situated it would be awkward to play them without hitting the rim. Also, the inner leg of the floor Tom needs to be lowered as well.

Looks like a pretty sweet set, though. Probably nicer than the one I used to bang my way through high school (not THAT way, sickos!).

[wuapinmon]

Wuap, those two hanging toms need to be tipped more toward the drummer. As currently situated it would be awkward to play them without hitting the rim. Also, the inner leg of the floor Tom needs to be lowered as well.

Looks like a pretty sweet set, though. Probably nicer than the one I used to bang my way through high school (not THAT way, sickos!).

We adjusted the hanging ones already. I'll do the floor one tomorrow. Thanks. They sound pretty good.

[Viking]

We adjusted the hanging ones already. I'll do the floor one tomorrow. Thanks. They sound pretty good.

Good for you Wuap. I read the post about him setting up pots and pans. There's something to that...I used to set up pots and pans thinking I was Peter Criss when I was 5 years old...drums have been a constant in my life and the only instrument i can legitimately play despite years of piano and a couple of years on guitar (guitar is something i can pick up quickly with some practice, however).

Next up in your household: Rush albums. No drummer of any age should be deprived from hearing Neil Peart play.

[wuapinmon]

Good for you Wuap. I read the post about him setting up pots and pans. There's something to that...I used to set up pots and pans thinking I was Peter Criss when I was 5 years old...drums have been a constant in my life and the only instrument i can legitimately play despite years of piano and a couple of years on guitar (guitar is something i can pick up quickly with some practice, however).

Next up in your household: Rush albums. No drummer of any age should be deprived from hearing Neil Peart play.

I've got 2112. What can this strange device be?

[Viking]

I've got 2112. What can this strange device be?

<skipping a bit> ...

listen to my music and hear what it can do. there's something here that's as strong as life. i know that it will reach you...

[HauteCoug]

I want to chime in on this discussion about lessons and creativity or lack thereof. There is no doubt in my mind that nothing can replace the value of regular lessons with an excellent teacher (it's worth paying a large price for a phenomenal teacher) and consistent, daily practice. It should certainly be geared toward the age, but don't be afraid to push your children to practice what might seem like extraordinary amounts of time. Obviously I have a rough relationship with my mom, but that woman made me practice the piano and I will be forever indebted for that.

Can I compose? Not necessarily. Do I want to? Nope. But if I did want to, I also do not doubt that the foundation I was given was the appropriate one. Some of the greatest rock musicians are classically trained; they understand theory the way a classical master understands theory, and therefore their songs are better crafted. Of course there are individuals who don't have the training and are still fantastic - but there are always anomalies in each profession and/or skill set.

My teacher didn't really encourage me to compose, but that's because I showed zero interest in it. However, there were other students who, after reaching great technical skill, added in jazz repertoire, and that helped to harness more creativity for composition. Some of the kids that I trained around would write their own versions of cadenzas, which is pretty remarkable for teenagers to be doing for Mozart concertos or the random Liszt piece.

Those pictures are pretty adorable Wuap. I wish I could play the drums - percussion is so awesome.

[wuapinmon]

So, the boy wants to learn the bass, as in the upright bass. He starts a magnet program next week and they will give him a violin and lessons, but the teacher says she'll teach him the bass instead, if we buy our own. She has shown us the model of that to get and grandma is giving him a 'scholarship' if he'll agree to play "Happy Birthday" to her come March.

I want to get a bass guitar and an amp to have in the house so he can leave the big bass at school. I'd love some suggestions about what kind to get for an 8 y/o boy with fat fingers. I have amazingly small hands for a grown man. Size 12 feet and hands so small I can't palm a basketball. His hands are already the same size as mine, but his fingers are really chubby, even though he's not fat (or even big boned).

Would something like this work? http://www.amazon.com/Squier-Fender-...ds=bass+guitar

[MarkGrace]

Is he still playing drums?

[wuapinmon]

Is he still playing drums?

No, but the 6 y/o has taken to them. He's been picking out songs on the piano. From now on, a new instrument will include professional lessons. We're finally in a position to afford shit that seemed luxurious a few years ago.

[Commando]

So, the boy wants to learn the bass, as in the upright bass. He starts a magnet program next week and they will give him a violin and lessons, but the teacher says she'll teach him the bass instead, if we buy our own. She has shown us the model of that to get and grandma is giving him a 'scholarship' if he'll agree to play "Happy Birthday" to her come March.

I want to get a bass guitar and an amp to have in the house so he can leave the big bass at school. I'd love some suggestions about what kind to get for an 8 y/o boy with fat fingers. I have amazingly small hands for a grown man. Size 12 feet and hands so small I can't palm a basketball. His hands are already the same size as mine, but his fingers are really chubby, even though he's not fat (or even big boned).

Would something like this work? http://www.amazon.com/Squier-Fender-...ds=bass+guitar

I think so- for your purposes. The thing about the bass is that with just 4 fat strings, fat fingers are less of an issue- it's more about the ability to play in time with the music. I do know that they have child size bass guitars, though; I'm not sure how big your 8 y/o is. You might go to a music store with him so he can size up the instruments.