Yesterday evening Keira and a load more kids from four local schools put on a concert called Stringfest. All the schools in our borough (Sutton) are invited to take part in a year of learning either the violin or cello. There were lots of nerves and excitement beforehand, and you could see plenty of little hands shaking. The concert was great fun, a super mix of music, with the schools and teachers and kids interchanging, encouraging, flourishing and enjoying themselves. As is the role of an enthusiastic audience of parents and grandparents, we cheered the roof off.
One of the teachers who was facilitating the concert spoke about five reasons why it’s great to learn to play an instrument. These things struck a chord with me (ouch!) and I would like to share them with you:
5 Reasons why it’s great to learn to play an instrument
- It makes you smarter
- It’s enjoyable
- It aids concentration and focus
- Creates self discipline
- Helps you appreciate the challenge of performance
These things all manifested themselves through the evening, and there were certainly no little hands shaking nervously once the concert began to unfold.
Keira was allowed to take the violin home and she showed me how to play it. Keira is a much better violinist than me, and with her help I managed to extract a few notes, and yes, a few screeches too.
I read somewhere that learning to play an instrument, especially in later life was great for combatting the onset of dementia – if that wasn’t a good enough incentive alone i dont know what is!
I was never encouraged to pick up an instrument at school although i desperately wanted to, hence my recent twangings on the guitar. As a result I was very keen for both my kids to have the chance i didn’t have and we are all benefitting as a result. My daughter is totally immersed – she plays the violin and piano for which we pay for lessons and she has since also taught herself the clarinet and guitar. My son also plays the guitar.
From time to time we have what you could very loosely call a jam session which I love but im sure they dont share my enthusiasm 😉
Will there be a youtube debut of you scratching out a tune on the violin?!
Great feedback thanks Gareth, and I love that you all take the time to play together. As for a youtube vid, I’m sad to say the violin went back to school today 😉 Phew!