programs teach students how to
play the recorder, a simple musical
instrument in the woodwind family.

Through learning to play notes and
read music on this basic instrument,
budding young musicians are laying
the groundwork to learn to play
other more complex orchestral and
band instruments.

Around fourth grade, students
usually have the opportunity
to choose an instrument and
participate in the school band.

This choice can often be difficult.

Which one to choose? What is
the best fit?
The good news is that choosing
an instrument doesn’t need to be
complicated. “If your child gravitates toward
a certain instrument, let them play
that instrument!” says Urzynicok.

“Too often, I see parents negotiate:
‘If you play this certain instrument
for a few years, then we’ll let you
play the instrument you actually
want to play.’”
According to Dr. Miles Brown,
assistant professor of string
bass and jazz at the University
of Delaware, there’s no wrong
answer, especially by the time the
kids are in their later elementary
school years.

“When kids are much younger,
some of the easier instruments to
learn are violin, piano, classical guitar
or the drums,” says Brown. “Some
of the brass instruments are heavy,
and younger kids may not have the
strength to hold them. But by third
or fourth grade, they should have
the stamina to play any instrument,
especially when instruments are
sized appropriately.”
Brown should know. He plays
the giant of the orchestra, the bass,
with the nationally recognized
contemporary chamber orchestra
Alarm Will
Sound. Most
elementary-aged kids could barely
reach the top of Brown’s standard
size bass, let alone play it. But
that’s where finding the proper fit
becomes important, since many
fourth graders can manage a
quarter-sized bass. For this reason,
parents of young musicians may
consider renting their child’s first
instruments so that they can size
up as their child grows.

HOW DO YOU CHOOSE
THE RIGHT PRIVATE
MUSIC TEACHER?
For younger musicians, finding a teacher with an
impressive resume is less important than finding one
who works well with your child.

According to Jenine Brown of the Peabody Institute,
“When my friends ask me who they should hire as a
private teacher, I ask, ‘Well, what kind of teacher do
they gravitate toward at school? Do they like a more
structured teacher, or do they run to greet the one who
is more warm and friendly?’ Find one whose personality
is a good fit for your child.”
Don’t get discouraged if your child needs to switch
teachers a few times until you find the right fit. n
MAKING MUSIC
After your child has chosen an
instrument, you can help them
succeed at learning to make music.

First, their school music teacher
is a great resource. She or he will
usually work with your child a few
times per week in individual and
small group lessons. Typically,
teachers and students work toward
a final concert.

If you find that your child
is energized by their music
studies, you might consider
hiring a private instructor. More
frequent one-on-one instruction
will help them progress more
quickly. The local preparatory
programs, colleges or orchestras
in your area are a good place
to begin your search for a
private teacher.

Both private teachers and school
music programs usually encourage
young musicians to practice outside
of school. Making time for this extra
practice can be challenging, given all
of the other extracurricular activities
that most families are already
managing. But according to Jenine
Brown, assistant professor of music
at the Peabody Institute of The
Johns Hopkins University, it doesn’t
have to be. She is also a mother of
two school-aged musicians and
understands that the struggle to
encourage practicing is real.

“I am not ashamed to say little
16 Washington FAMILY AUGUST 2021
candies go a long way! Bribery
doesn’t hurt anybody. Honestly
that is the number one go-to that
works,” she says with a laugh.

“I don’t think a 7-year-old can
necessarily see the endgame 20
years from now. My daughter
loves playing and is proud of her
progress, but day-to-day practice
is hard. You should also keep
in mind the attention span of a
younger child: Just 10 minutes
per day may be enough for a
beginning musician.”
The Withers family also
unashamedly embraces bribery
to encourage young Elliott’s
progress. Together, they agree
on a daily practice set list. When
she completes the set, they mark
her practice chart. When she
completely fills in her practice
chart, she gets a prize.

“It’s amazing!” Cheri Withers
says. “A $5 stuffed animal bought
us a whole month’s worth of
practicing!” And, apparently, it’s paying off.

“Most of her lessons this
last year were virtual (due to
COVID-19), but her progress has
been remarkable,” says Cheri.

“She’s having fun, and we’re
so proud of how much she’s
already learned.” T
Dive into Fall with Early Learning Academies
Now Open!
• Registration fee waived for new families
• Serving children from 6 weeks to 12 years
• Two convenient locations: Ashburn and Sterling
Learn more or schedule a tour: elacommunity.com
Early Learning Academy