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Teens
believe music is an essential part
of life as it reflects our culture
and society. As your child grows
older, choosing music that he or she
likes as well as music you can
tolerate will get more difficult.
Tweens will outgrow the kiddie
music, however you don’t want to
expose them to the negative
influence of much of the teen pop
music. For your middle schooler,
look for a mix of parent-friendly
pop music on compilation CDs. For
your teen that must pick his or her
own tracks, provide guidelines as to
what is considered acceptable and
unacceptable in your home.
In
addition to the tunes, musical
instruments and other musical play
toys are some of the most satisfying
for children of all ages. Research
shows that learning music can
provide for improved
spatial-temporal reasoning which has
therefore motivated both educators
and parents to push for more music
education for children.
Additionally, other studies show
that passive listening to music does
not have the strong effects on
intelligence that come with actively
making music. Along with the
intellectual benefits, there are
also social and emotional benefits.
Encourage your teen’s musical
interests and talents with the
following tips:
-
Expose your Teen to All Kinds of
Music: Try to listen to
music outside of your normal
range. Think classical, pop,
country, folk or even ethnic
music of other cultures! After
introducing a variety of music,
allow your teen’s own interest
guide the way to music lessons
and activities.
-
Seek Out Live Music: Attend
a concert with your teen.
Consider visiting local clubs or
other locations noted for unique
types of music.
-
Participate: Encourage your
teen to get involved in school
chorus or band.
-
Make a Tape: Have your teen
prepare a tape, CD or song list
on an MP3 player for you to
listen to in the car or on a
walk. Have your teen include
some favorite music that he or
she is currently listening too –
maybe he or she will even
include a song or two that
you’ll enjoy!
-
Ask Your Teen’s Opinion:
Encourage your teen to read
concert reviews and newly
released CD reviews in the
newspaper or magazines. Ask if
he or she agrees with the
review.
Some of
the best gifts for teenagers have to
do with music. Here are some ideas
to keep your teen listening, playing
and singing the tunes:
-
Acoustic/Electric Guitar:
Jam-along guitars make finger
pickin’ a snap as it teaches
your teen how to play in time
and tempo. These guitars
generally come with volume
control, guitar case and strap,
picks, strings and an
instructional CD.
-
MP3 Player Speakers: Most
teens have an iPod or other MP3
player that they listen to while
on the go, however when your
teen is at home, he or she would
probably like to lose the
headphones and experience the
sound at another level.
Purchase some speakers that can
plug right into the player.
-
Air Guitar/Drums Video Game:
Your teen can personalize the
guitar and/or drums and really
feel like he’s rocking out.
These games allow wanna-be
rockstars to jam to many songs,
even allowing them to improvise
at times.
-
Home Karaoke Machine: Teens
can sing along to old tracks or
now right along with music from
their iPod. Many allow for a
second microphone to enable
duets with friends.
-
Broadway Musical Soundtracks or
Tickets: Many of today’s
productions provide a slice of
popular entertainment that can
give a younger audience a
lasting taste of musical
theatre. Whether you’re able to
take your teen to a show or
provide the soundtrack for him
or her to enjoy – you will grant
your child the ability to
appreciate the art of music.
Music, in some form, will always be
a part of your child’s life. All
children should be exposed to music
even though they may not be
musicians in the future. Fun with
music and awareness about sounds
will initiate your teen’s
appreciation of music – and may lead
to further learning about history,
art and literature. |
