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Music is a powerful tool that can bring joy, happiness, and creativity into our lives. Playing a musical instrument can be a fun and rewarding experience for children, helping them develop focus, discipline, and self-expression skills. However, choosing the best musical instrument for your child can be challenging with so many options available. This article will discuss seven ways to select the perfect instrument for your child to learn.
1. Consider Your Child's Interests and Personality The first and most crucial step in choosing a musical instrument for your child is considering their interests and personality. Children are more likely to stick with an instrument they are genuinely interested in and feel a connection to. Some children may be drawn to the energy of drums, while others may prefer the delicate sound of a violin. Consider your child's temperament, as well. If your child is more introverted and reserved, they may be more drawn to quieter instruments such as the flute or piano. 2. Evaluate Your Child's Physical Abilities A child's physical attributes, such as size, strength, and coordination, will influence the selection of their musical instrument. For example, a small child may struggle to hold a large instrument such as a bass or cello. Similarly, a child with a shorter reach may find playing a guitar or piano challenging. Choose an instrument your child can comfortably hold and play for extended periods. 3. Consider the Cost of the Instrument Learning a musical instrument can be expensive, so it's essential to consider the cost of the instrument before making a purchase. Consider renting an instrument initially or buying a secondhand one to keep the cost down. Alternatively, consider purchasing a more affordable instrument and upgrading to a more expensive one as your child's skills progress. 4. Think About the Noise Level Some instruments are louder than others, which can be a factor to consider if you live in an apartment or have neighbors nearby. Instruments like drums or trumpets can produce loud sounds that may not be suitable for certain living situations. In contrast, quieter instruments like the flute or violin are more appropriate when noise is a concern. 5. Look for Instruments that are Easy to Learn Playing an instrument can be challenging, and some instruments are more difficult to learn than others. For example, the guitar requires complex finger movements, making it tough for some beginners to learn. On the other hand, instruments like the ukulele or recorder are much easier to learn and can be an excellent choice for beginners. 6. Consider the Availability of Lessons and Teachers Before choosing a musical instrument for your child, consider the availability of lessons and teachers in your area. Some instruments, such as the cello or bassoon, may be more challenging to find teachers for than others. Make sure to research the availability of teachers and lessons in your area to ensure your child receives proper instruction. 7. Don't Forget About Your Child's Goals Finally, consider your child's goals when choosing a musical instrument. Does your child want to play in a band or orchestra? Are they interested in learning to sing or write music? Understanding your child's goals can help you choose an instrument that aligns with their aspirations. In conclusion, choosing the best musical instrument for your child can be a challenging task. However, by considering your child's interests, physical abilities, cost, noise level, ease of learning, availability of teachers, and goals, you can make an informed decision that will help your child develop a lifelong love for music. For more information about music lessons, please contact us at 978.443.0480 or rbordner@note-worthyexperiences.com.
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Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental disorder that affects communication, social interaction, and behavior. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in 54 children in the United States is diagnosed with autism, making it one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders.
While there is no cure for autism, various therapies and interventions can help people on the spectrum manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life. One such intervention is music therapy, which has been shown to have numerous benefits for people with ASD. Here are some of the benefits of learning music for those who are neurodiverse: 1. Improved Communication Skills People with ASD often struggle with communication, including speech and language development, nonverbal communication, and social communication. Music therapy can help improve communication skills by providing a medium for expression and communication. Playing an instrument, singing, or composing music can also help individuals with ASD improve their language and speech development. 2. Increased Socialization Social interaction can be a challenge for people with ASD, but music therapy can help facilitate socialization. Group music activities such as singing in a choir, playing in an ensemble, or attending a music class can allow individuals with ASD to interact with others in a structured and supportive environment. 3. Improved Fine Motor Skills Fine motor skills involve using small muscles in the hands, fingers, and wrists. People with ASD often have difficulty with fine motor skills, affecting their ability to perform daily activities and participate in hobbies. Playing an instrument can help improve fine motor skills, as it requires precise movements of the fingers and hands. 4. Reduced Anxiety and Stress Anxiety and stress are common among people with ASD, and music therapy has been shown to reduce these symptoms effectively. Listening to calming music or playing an instrument can help individuals with ASD relax and reduce their anxiety. 5. Improved Cognitive Function Learning music can also have positive effects on cognitive function. Studies have shown that music training can improve memory, attention, and executive function in children with ASD. These cognitive benefits can translate to improved academic performance and overall functioning in daily life. In conclusion, music therapy can provide numerous benefits for people on the autism spectrum. From improving communication skills to reducing anxiety and stress, learning music can be a valuable intervention for individuals with ASD. For more information about music lessons for those who are considered neurodiverse, please contact us at rbordner@note-worthyexperiences.com or 978.443.0480. Do you ask student musicians, "Did you practice this week (or today)?" This question is often answered with a shoulder shrug, an eye roll, or even a no. Then the parent or instructor is left with a closed dialogue that can quickly turn negative. It can cause a child musician to feel like they let down the adult who asked the question. By nature, children like to please the adults around them.
But what if you asked your student musician open-ended questions such as, "How did your music practice go this week (or today)?" "What is it that you like about this piece?" "What do you believe was easy for you?" "What are the challenges that you ran into?" "How do you think you should work on that hard part?" "What is in the assignment log to focus on this week?" "What was the story the composer was trying to tell in that piece?" This growth mindset approach can help open a dialogue with student musicians, their parents, and instructors. When working with children who are student musicians, it is essential to have a collaborative approach to support each student with their individual goals and realistic practice expectations. Children are typically not intrinsically motivated to set up solid practice routines independently. The student, caregiver, and instructor should regularly discuss goals and set practice expectations accordingly. It is often helpful to start with small practice goals and small amounts of time. (4 days a week for 5 minutes can be a terrific starting point for students who are beginners). Some students need help understanding what practicing means and are often unsure where to begin. Setting up a clean and well-lit practice space is a good starting point. Creating a practice checklist also helps many students feel comfortable knowing what to do. Children can track their progress on the list with tally marks to pick up where they left off if they still need to complete everything on this checklist. I am available as a resource to assist our students in becoming successful in their musical journeys. Our studio offers free workshops for our caregivers and instructors throughout the year on various topics to support our students. Attendees may join these workshops in person or online. I also offer weekly office hours to assist our instructors and caregivers. Feel free to contact me at rbordner@note-worthyexperiences to find a time that works for your schedule to discuss this topic further. Musically yours, Renee Bordner By: Joel Roston
Guitar Instructor We recently received feedback from one of our instructors, Joel R. Here's what he had to say: Hello! I’ve been meaning to write this post for a while, but haven’t had a ton of time because: Apart from being a composer for media, I also teach music privately to people of all ages and abilities. Many of my students I meet through the normal word-of-mouth ways that exactly map to your conception of how private music teachers meet music students, but SOME of my students come through an agency called Note-worthy Experiences Music Studio—and that’s what I’d like to tell you about. Note-Worthy Experiences is run by a person called Renee Bordner, whose leadership abilities, in my opinion, should be studied, formalized, taught, and recreated in all of the businesses everywhere. I’ve been receiving group and personal emails from Renee at least weekly, usually daily, and sometimes multiple times per day for years now and—just taking a few minutes to look back at a random sampling—I don’t think I have EVER, ONE TIME, received a conversation-starting email that didn’t end with her thanking me for my contribution(s) to Note-Worthy Experiences or very genuinely letting me know that she appreciates the skills that I bring to what I do. Even when we’ve been in the middle of the VERY few [what I would call] “light conflicts” or misunderstandings, the content of those misunderstandings happened INSIDE of a spirit of collaboration and appreciativeness, which—as I’m sure you’re aware—just isn’t an overall setup one finds in the world too much. ON TOP of running Note-worthy, Renee is constantly posting to social media about her volunteer work and ways that she attempts to give back to society by offering her expertise and experience to other founders. I’ll confess that, when I allow my brain to wander a bit, I have thoughts like, “Ohhhhhhhhhhhh. Maybe there are actually THREE Renees and that’s how she gets so much done and seems to maintain such an incredibly collaborative disposition—one Renee gets overwhelmed, taps out, and a different, energized Renee steps in.” All of this said, I’m not enTIREly certain what I’m trying to do with this post; I just feel like (1) the world needs to know about Renee Bordner and (2) a, like, LinkedIn recommendation didn’t seem on-the-level enough for what I wanted to say. In closing, I’d like to give a public thank-you to Renee for all of your incredibly hard work and say: I know I owe you a couple of invoices—they’re ON THE WAY. By: Katrina Kwantes-Oliveira
Admin Assistant / Oboe / Piano Teacher There have been many studies on whether or not music can make you smarter or grow your brain. For a while, researchers thought that classical music increased brain activity and made its listeners smarter - this was known as the ‘Mozart Effect". We now know that just listening to music does not make you smarter, but that doesn’t mean it is without its benefits. Not only can listening to music slow cognitive decline, but it can also improve mood and alertness. I’m sure you can think of a time when listening to a favorite song made you feel better or altered your mood. As far as music growing your brain, you will have to do a little more than just passively listen. Studies have shown that learning a new instrument and then habitually practicing that instrument can actually grow parts of your brain. These benefits, although more pronounced when music learning begins in adolescence, are also seen when music studies begin in adulthood. To learn more and to learn how you can do even more to grow your brain, please read the following article: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/long-fuse-big-bang/202209/music-can-literally-grow-your-brain By: Renee Bordner NWE Music Studio Director Parents always want what is best for their children. As a mother and an educator, I always want the very best for our children too. I am frequently asked how to select the perfect music instructor for students. I try to ask potential families many questions about the student to help make the right connection. However, this list can also assist. I encourage our families to try 2-3 lessons before registering and encourage our teachers and families to have an open and honest dialogue throughout the entire musical journey. Take a moment to read this article and let me know what you think.
https://www.connollymusic.com/stringovation/finding-right-music-teacher Musically yours, Renee By: Renee Bordner NWE Music Director Over the fifteen years of Note-worthy Experiences Music Studio, I have been asked countless times if learning music theory is necessary. This question has been asked by students, parents, grandparents, and nannies. My answer is always the same with a bold and firm YES and then I state an assortment of solid rationales. I decided to collect these rationales and put them all together for you in one place. However, I discovered this article that was already complete and easy to read. So I share with your the 8 Benefits of Learning Music Theory as written by ThrivePiano.com Take a moment to read through it and let me know what stands out to you. Contact your teacher or me to chat further about how you can benefit from additional music theory study.
https://www.thrivepiano.com/benefits-of-learning-music-theory/ Musically yours, Renee By: Renee Bordner NWE Studio Director Parents often ask if their student musician is ready to perform at our events. Yes, is always the answer!
I highly encourage our brand new beginner students through our professional students to perform as often as possible. We offer many assisted living informal recitals to give all of our students a chance to play for others. While adjudications and competitions are more appropriate for our students with more performance experiences. For some of our students, starting with a casual recital for their parents and extended family can be thrilling. We find that some students are very motivated to create their own recital for their teddy bears complete with construction paper homemade tickets and programs. Some students, including my own son, can be very motivated by playing "Name That Tune" over the telephone with a family member. For our students who are more technologically inclined, they can be motivated to create a video to share with friends and family who will share it on their social media. All of these traditional and non-traditional performance opportunities can help a student develop more confidence in their playing. These skills can also be transferred to other life events in which students need to "perform" such as job interviews, presentations at their school or work. Whatever event your musician is preparing for, please connect with your instructor and work together to create a solid plan for preparing for success. Happy practicing and performing! Musically yours, Renee By: Renee Bordner NWE Music Director For many years we have heard that studying music can assist children to become smarter. We have all heard that studying music can increase children's math scores. But now, we have a new study from MIT.
https://bit.ly/3tqgRzA For parents who want their children to become IT experts, register them for coding classes and music lessons. For more information about music lessons or to chat further about the article in this link, contact Renee at rbordner@note-worthyexperiences.com By: Renee Bordner NWE Music Studio Director I am often asked if our studio requires all of our students to memorize their music for our informal and formal events. The answer is always the same for me. That answer is "it depends". There is a tremendous value in learning and performing memorized music which is explained very well in this article. https://mattixmusic.com/why-memorize-music/ However, not all of our students have the ability or desire to perform memorized music. Students who wish to memorize music on their own are always welcome to do so. Students who are preparing for adjudication or competition in which the music must be memorized are asked to do so. For some students memorizing a piece is a long-term goal. For some students, it is more appropriate to work on performance anxiety while reading music first and then work on performing memorized music. Wherever the student is at with their music memorization journey, is where our instructors will meet the student. We will set goals accordingly and celebrate the students' successes. Thank you to Liszt, Schumann, and Paganini for forging the path of memorized musical paths.
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About UsNote-worthy Experiences Music Studio LLC, located in 75 Witherell Drive Sudbury, Massachusetts 01776, provides private in home and online/virtual
lessons in the Boston MetroWest. Contact Renee Bordner at 978.443.0480 or rbordner@note-worthyexperiences.com. Not a member of our studio yet? Join our mailing list to receive news and updates! All Copyrights Reserved (c) 2015-2023
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