Monday, September 3, 2012

One is Never too Young for Interpersonal Listening

Like vegetables, listening is in danger of getting a bad reputation by being canned most of the time.

I am frequently asked whether two is too young to start music instruction.  It all depends on what you mean by "music."  If it is canned it is not music.  If it is alive, interpersonal, and constantly variable (as is all real interpersonal activity) it is never too early.

Parental listening is at much in danger of a canning process as music itself.  I have taught some quite gifted children who will not practice because they are so aware of the tinned ear in the next room.  These children do progress but mostly as an internal process.  Nothing wrong with that, mind you, but it's not as much fun.

Therefore, I am offering coaching for parents together with their young children on how to cultivate an environment in which music is definitely out of the can -- the musical equivalent of the locavore.  I have experience with this as I taught my singer/songwriter daughter to sing from, literally, day one, just out of curiosity to see what would happen.  You can see for yourself what happened at www.rachellegarniez.com.