Take a bow! That’s right; the ability to play the violin is a journey from hearing the instructor asking the student to take the bow of a violin into the hands to taking a bow to the audience after a brilliant performance.
When a child does it, though, the awe has no bounds. The benefits of a child learning to play the violin are numerous. Missed or wrong notes can pierce any listener’s ears harshly, much like the screams of pain and discomfort of the child can pierce his/her parents’ ears.
Fortunately, there are ways to mitigate this and ensure that your child will be on the path of dreams without the screams. Here are the tweaks that can help with it:
- Straighten Things Up with Them
Just a mention of the time a child has to spend on learning to play the violin can make them slouch with exasperation. That shouldn’t stop them, though, as a slouching position can hurt them in the long run. Whether you’re standing or sitting, keeping a straight back is imperative to avoiding back problems in the future. Leaning either to the back or front or the sides can put a lot of stress on the spine resulting in the poor development of it. Playing in front of a mirror will help with self-correction.
- Running Free
Playtime shouldn’t be restricted to playing the violin for any child. Perhaps the most important part of childhood is playing games outside. It’s the best way for them to learn things and build the physique they require to play the violin as well. Violin playing gets easier as muscles develop, and what better way to do that than to allow some trips to the playground. Playing also brings down any pain that might already be affecting them.
- Take that Breath Away
It might seem unrelated, but the right breathing techniques will ease and relax your child before, during and after play. That cute face of a child biting the lips and staring at something as if spears are coming out of their eyes is not a good sign while they are playing the violin. It only helps to hold tension and add more stress to their fragile arms and shoulders. Make them breathe every now and then. If that doesn’t work, there’s always candy to make them smile.
- Don’t Eat it Whole
Kids will do something they are passionate about for a very long time. While that quality will work wonders while practicing violin, it could turn them into mannequins for good. Taking breaks while playing is of utmost importance, especially to children. One can’t expect them to be all grown up the very next day after they are born; one shouldn’t expect them to become maestros either the very next day. Their fledgling fingers and muscles need time to recuperate after all that they go through during practice.
- Choose the Right Accessory for the Right Story
Only the right teddy and the right bedtime story can put a child to good sleep. Likewise, the right accessory is crucial to script the right story that their dreams are made of with respect to playing the violin. Invest in the right stand that is of the correct height to them.
Putting a carpet or rug underneath their feet while playing helps bring down the discomfort that they are likely to experience. Stuff a cuddly cushion behind them when they are sitting on a chair which has a back support. It can help ease the strain that their backs will experience. It’s a bonus if that cushion has the picture of his or/her favorite superhero or Transformers. Hopefully, it is not Starscream!
- Consult! Don’t Insult
Some parents get louder than the violin when their children don’t meet their expectations. They might even put them through a barrage of insults that’ll strip away their confidence in no time. The scars of these insults can cause pain to them for a lifetime. It’s thus most vital to counsel the child to find out the difficulties or reasons behind them not being able to play to their best potential. Consult, and you might just end up with the required result.
Consult the child’s tutor and doctor regularly for constant feedback as well. They will cover aspects of your child’s musical journey where there might be a blind spot for you.
Featured Image: Image Credit
Aged 13
Speaks 4 languages
Played violin at
10th world Down syndrome congress.
Set 6 world records #PeopleOfWonder pic.twitter.com/WdgKDpAXIx— janakiraman (@periyakulam) September 14, 2016
#letmeloveyou @djsnake @justinbieber ? Thanks to @KielyCarbon for this amazing fiber violin! pic.twitter.com/UHjZUSiGjA
— Robert Mendoza (@RobertMendoza_) September 10, 2016
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