Worship Musician June 2020 | Page 134

VOC WAITING FOR PROFESSION Last month I wrote about staying home with your children during the pandemic and taking advantage of the opportunity to teach your children to sing. I was hoping, at the time of that writing, that the pandemic would be behind us. At the time of this writing however, we are still full swing in shut down mode with a few states beginning to loosen restrictions. This leaves us with a unique opportunity to influence our kids musically, Singing is a very uplifting activity. I recommend lots of singing during these difficult days. Singing together as a family is a wonderful way to bond, worship or just have fun! Many parents wonder what the course of action for training their kids in music might be. In today’s world of crazy activity (although now quite affected by the pandemic!) our tendency is to fill our children’s’ lives with lots of activity outside the home. Lots of parents are of the mindset that the earlier they can get their kids lessons in music - the better. But is that true? I know its tempting to think that you just might have the next Mozart sitting at your kitchen table, and of course that’s always a possibility… but the likelihood is quite small. I would caution pushing children too soon into musical lessons of any kind lest the child burn out before he is even mature enough to benefit from the lessons. That said, my best advice to you is to offer opportunity to engage in musical activity at home and see how your child responds. Your children tend to imitate your behavior, so if your child sees you enjoying music, singing, playing an instrument, etc, it will be easier to see whether or not the child demonstrates a genuine interest. Home is the best place to start. WHEN DO I START PRIVATE LESSONS? When it comes to private lessons and singing, I think parents often put the cart before the horse. Hoping to get a jump on the game, parents often think voice lessons for their greatly improve their ch musical career. I see jus voice lessons for you unnecessary and poten the voice too early ca strain and damage. Wh suggested age for priva 14. By that time most puberty so it is a good tim the maturing voice. Ple the voice doesn’t reach age 25. It reaches full m sad fact today is that s have already damaged ever see full maturity. So vocal technique early is voice lessons aren’t the training and experience. I recommend school an whenever possible. Lea blend) in a group, dev sing harmony are all in be learned at a young a offer opportunities for ch musical productions and long as the children aren are actually learning go these can be invaluabl time your child is in high late middle school) th even more opportunitie singing. By then your ch a great interest in singin in private lessons. This protect your child fro directors at school. It g how high school music students way too hard countless young peop vocal nodules (or worse 68 June 2020