Age, interests, attention span, and more can all play a part into choosing the right instrument for your child. If your kid has shown interest in playing music and they’re old enough to hold a small instrument, the violin may be the right choice for them. Learning how to play the violin as a child has many benefits that go beyond their Toronto music lessons. Keep reading for the top 5 advantages of taking violin lessons as a child!
1. Improves Memory And Attention Span
If you have a young child in your life, you probably know that it can be difficult for them to stay focused on one task. In fact at 6 years old, the average attention span is only about 15 minutes! Learning how to play the violin can greatly increase that number. For children under 8 years-old, you’ll want to have them practice for 15-20 minutes a day. For children older, 30-45 minutes a day is advised. This regular practice will help improve their focus, concentration, and overall attention span to be able to reach the next step in their music journey. Usually a piece of music played on the violin is 2-3 minutes long which requires their undivided attention to play. The repetition of playing music and practicing will help them focus in areas outside of music such as at school and later down the line at work!
Playing the violin also helps with memory. Various studies show that playing the violin for just one year increases your brain's capacity to remember things. To learn a new violin piece, your child must memorize each note. Through the repetition of practice and learning new pieces, your child’s brain will be able to retain large pieces of information for longer. This increased memory function can help improve their test scores and grades in school!
2. Betters Social Skills
While it’s true that much of your child’s Toronto violin lessons and practice will be done alone or with their instructor, learning the violin can actually benefit their social skills. Firstly, having a passion such as playing the violin can help them gain a sense of belonging and feel part of a larger community. Whether it’s in person violin lessons in Toronto or online violin lessons, your kid will be able to meet people who share the same interests as them which can turn into lifelong friends. Having that sense of belonging can boost their self-esteem and confidence. Also, their practice with the violin allows them to have something in their life that they can control. The repetition and discipline that is required to play the violin can help better their conversational and social skills both at school and in their own social life. Plus, if they play in a group setting, they’ll be able to learn how to come together as a team rather than just play individually.
3. Increases Physical Health
As with almost all instruments, the violin can have a huge impact on your child’s physical health both currently and later in their life. The violin specifically can greatly improve a child’s posture and their upper body strength. This is because to play the violin, you must sit tall and use both of your hands and your upper body to play correctly. The repetition of this posture and practice will strengthen both the core and upper body. Additionally, playing the violin can help fine motor skills. Your hands are doing two different motions while your brain is thinking of what is coming next. This coordination is key during the developmental stages of a child's life and will follow them throughout their adult years!
4. An Emotional Outlet
Believe it or not, kids get stressed too! During their developmental years, children can feel stressed and anxious with their constantly changing lives. For many children, this overwhelming feeling of stress can cause them to lash out emotionally. Playing the violin gives children an outlet to release those anxious feelings in a healthy way. While concentrating on playing the violin, children tend to forget about any situations or feelings outside of their Toronto violin lessons that may be causing feelings of stress. In fact, playing the violin has even been found to lower blood pressure and aid mental health issues such as depression. Moreover, the violin can act as a creative outlet outside of school or home life. Children can become passionate about perfecting their skills which will lessen the chance of behavioural issues down the line. Instead of acting out because they’re stressed, they can put their feelings into their violin.
5. Less Space
In comparison to say a piano or drum kit, the violin requires much less space in your home. It’s also very easy for children to carry and take with them to their Toronto violin lessons or to school. Although a violin is small, it is still important to dedicate an area in their room or in your home to their practice. It could be an entire room or just a corner of their bedroom. Wherever it is, make sure that this practice space is free of distractions and actually feels like a space of their own. To be successful in learning the violin, children must practice about 15-45 minutes a day. Having their own dedicated practice space will help them get excited to play and will keep them focused for longer. Regardless of the size of your home, a violin is the perfect instrument to play because it doesn’t require a large area to practice in!
If you’re considering signing your child up for violin lessons in Toronto, we’d love to talk to you here at Greater Toronto Music School. We offer both online and private in-person lessons for anyone looking to play the violin regardless of skill level or age. We pride ourselves on having the best instructors in the area who can personalize lesson plans to your child. Reach out to us today to learn more.
