There have been countless studies proving the benefits playing a musical instrument can have on a child’s development. Playing an instrument has been shown to:

• Enhance memory
• Improve readings and math skills
• Boost responsibility and time management abilities

Furthermore, important social skills can be learned from attending band or orchestra practice. It is for these reasons that parents across the world encourage their children to play musical instruments, and the benefits are often unparalleled by other extracurricular activities. Despite the numerous benefits of playing an instrument, it can be difficult to get children involved in music if they have little or no interest in it. It is important for parents to help their child develop mentally and socially, so listed below are a few ways of getting children excited about musical instruments and ready to start learning.

Attend Concerts

Attending concerts is a good way of instilling the value of music into children from an early age. It also gets them thinking about the wide variety of musical instruments they can learn to play. Regularly attending concerts doesn’t have to be boring or expensive; look in the local paper to help find local orchestra concerts or even rock band concerts. Parents should also consider taking their kids to family-friendly festivals to expose them to a wide variety of musical genres.

Lead by Example

Children will often see their parents as the ultimate role models, so the best way of encouraging them to get involved in music is to lead by example. Parents who play instruments are more likely to pass on the value of music to their children, and be better able to help them with instrument practice.

Choose the Right Instrument

Choosing the right instrument is perhaps the most important way of getting children interested in playing music. It is a good idea to remember that orchestral instruments are not the only options available and more modern musical instruments are often favored by children wanting to be “cool.” The drums, electric guitars and keyboards are just as beneficial as more traditional instruments, and many kids prefer to play something that is more appealing to their generation. For less affluent parents, music lessons and musical instruments are not entirely out of reach; there are affordable and practical learning materials available on the internet and many stores have rental instrument options. For parents who choose to buy their child their own instrument, it is essential that they take out musical instrument insurance to make sure that all levels of accidents, thefts and damages are covered.

These are a few ways of getting children interested in playing a musical instrument. Playing music is a great way to help children develop mentally, socially and physically. Parents should make the effort to encourage their kids to pick up an instrument and play.

This article was written by Claire Cavanagh on behalf of Music Guard, the home of online musical instrument insurance.