Sense of responsibility, attention, tenacity and perseverance, but also a lot of fun and passion. These are all elements that are enhanced thanks to themusical education.
A path that should never be forced: «It's right bring children closer to music since they are small, but without impositions. In the beginning it has to be just a game; later, if the little ones express the will to play, they can be introduced to the real study of an instrument, but always respecting their times "explains Yesenia Vicentini, violin teacher at the school of the Valentina Abrami Association in Sori in the province of Genoa.
Read also: Music and children. A pleasure without obligations
THE DIFFICULTIES OF PLAYING THE VIOLIN
Compared to the piano, which is a more immediate instrument (a simple gesture corresponds to a sound), the violin is a more complex instrument: "For the first two years there are no great satisfactions, because it is the time necessary to understand how to make it play . If you see that the little ones are bored and have no patience, it is best to let them change tools. Others, on the other hand, are passionate and despite this initial obstacle, they want to continue to understand how sound is obtained, without losing interest. Evaluate on the basis of your child's reaction whether to make him keep playing or give up ».
From the physical point of view, however, there are no particular characteristics to take into consideration: "What is really important in the study of this instrument is the passion steadiness el 'commitment in getting the right sound ».
WHY PLAY THE VIOLIN
WHY PLAY THE VIOLIN
In the field of stringed instruments, the violin is undoubtedly the most difficult: "But it is also the most fascinating, because it is always at the center of attention. It emerges when it is present in an orchestra and is always noticed. And then it produces wonderful sounds, which enchant the audience ».
Another advantage of this instrument is the fact that it is small in size, so it can be played anywhere: an important feature for those who get bored of always staying in the same place.
THE BENEFITS OF PLAYING THE VIOLIN
Attention, discipline and determination, but also tenacity and constancy: «These are all characteristics that are stimulated in children who play the violin».
More generally, play an instrument boosts brain activity. As a group of researchers from the Bicocca University of our city discovered, who published the study in the scientific journal "Music Perception": "When listening to the sound of a violin, the prefrontal cortex of a violinist must" engage "relatively little (because she is already trained, ed), that of another musician slightly more and that of a non-musician much more. This is because the prefrontal cortex encodes stimuli, reads reality and interprets it and is sensitive to familiarity. So it activates less if it knows that sound well and works harder if it does not know much ».
This is also confirmed by a research by Nina Kraus, a neurobiologist at Northwestern University (Illinois): who as a child has followed music lessons, as an elderly person has a brain that is more responsive to sounds and therefore younger than those who have not had music education.
Another study also found that children who have completed an instrument's course of at least two years have better language skills, as well as better reading skills.
WHEN TO START PLAYING THE VIOLIN
The first thing to understand is whether the child is interested in music, that is, if he has a certain musical instinct. «As in all things, some children have it more than others - explains the teacher -. Some, even at 2-3 years of age, approach any instrument, such as a tambourine, and wish to find out how it is used ».
If you notice this predisposition in your baby, sign it up first thing to a choir: «There you will be able to experience the voice and start having fun with music. Then, towards the age of 6-7, let them try out many different tools and observe which one prefers ».
Given this assumption, it must also be said that one cannot start playing the violin too late: "The last edition of the Paganini prize was won by Kevin Zhu, a seventeen-year-old violinist from the United States, who was already practicing the violin at the age of 6 ». (Here the video of her performance)
At the beginning the practice is not very demanding: «The important thing is to pick up the violin every day, even if only for 15-30 minutes. Practicing consistently is very important in order not to lose practice, otherwise you have to start over each time ".
Going forward, the commitment increases: "And that's where you understand where you want to go: if you want to play as a hobby or want to pursue an artistic career".
TAG:
- musical education
- 6-14 children years
