Teaching Children Music- First Steps to Maximize Your Teaching Efforts

Teaching children music can be both fun and rewarding on so many levels. There are many different methods to teach children effectively and maximize your teaching efforts, so that they retain what you teach, enjoy performing for others and gain self-esteem.

It is a known fact that when a child learns to sing a song, or learns to play an instrument, their self-confidence literally “goes through the roof.” That is why is so important to introduce a child to music as early in life as possible.

But did you know that before you can teach a child music, (or anything else for that matter), you have to take some very fundamental First Steps in preparation so that your teaching efforts are effective? Before you can effectively teach a child anything you have to first appeal to their emotions, show them that you care and always treat them with respect.

Case in point: If someone asked you, “What was your first-grade teacher’s name?” would you be able to remember it? You ability or inability to remember his or her name probably has a lot to do with the way that teacher treated you. I can remember my first grade teacher’s name. It was Miss Clarkson. I can remember because I can still “see” her kneeling down to my eye-level and asking about my well-being. She showed me that she cared and I’ll never forget her or the way she wrote perfect alphabets on the chalkboard.

Before, during and even after class, use these 3 techniques for making sure your students succeed and enjoy learning music.

1.       Appeal to their emotions. Smile and be pleasant and easy-going. When they enter the room, SMILE. When they make a mistake, SMILE and say something like, “That’s okay. Let’s try it again.” If they refuse to cooperate or participate, SMILE and go on to the next thing. Never be pushy. Let them be themselves. Remain pleasant and easy-going.

2.       Use their name when you speak to them. If you can’t remember their name, never call them by another title. Just say something like, “What’s your name again? Sorry I keep forgetting it.” They are young and impressionable. They need to know that their name is important to you.

3.       Show them you care. Ask them how was breakfast, how they are feeling, compliment them on their hair, their clothes, their shoes, anything to build their pride.

We all need some reassurance sometimes. But children are special and they need to be reassured that they are special. If you do this, when it’s time to perform in front of others, the child will shine if they have confidence in themselves and know that they are accepted. 

So when teaching children music, you can maximize your teaching efforts so that the child will remember the words to the song, or remember the techniques you taught them for playing the instrument, if YOU remember to always take the time to appeal to their emotions, treat them with respect and show them you truly care. 

Then they will respect YOU and fearlessly share their music with others.

For more information on ways to succeed in music, log onto www.SaintAndrewProductions.com today.