5 Reasons Homeschoolers Should Learn to Play the Guitar

Have you ever told your child no to something just because you didn’t want to hear the noise? Or, maybe you didn’t understand why they really liked it in the first place? (I’m thinking of you, Wildcraft.) I know as a father that there have been many times I didn’t see the value in what my child was doing. But what if it was something that could really benefit them in the long term, far beyond the immediate advantages of a time-pass or hobby?

You might be feeling the same way about music, wondering if your child starts lessons now, will they grow up to be a rock star instead of doing their studies. Or, maybe you don’t want the extra noise in the house, or you think it might be too expensive. I’m going to be bold, but these could just be the kind of excuses that we use to deter our children from exploring music education.

But when it comes to music, there are many reasons for learning an instrument at a young age, especially if they are homeschooled and you want to create an enriching curriculum. Here are five of the reasons that we think your child might benefit from learning the guitar as part of their homeschool music curriculum.

Learning guitar helps develop motor skills

As a parent, you want the best for your child. You want to know they’re safe and learning new things that will help them throughout their life. Research suggests that one of the most important times in a young person’s life for these developments is from birth to six years old. (But I guarantee that all the way up to 12 years old, learning for kids is a walk in the park. They just absorb.)

By learning to play an instrument, your child will be developing their motor skills in ways they wouldn’t get from just sitting at a desk all day. Part of this sensory development includes learning how to build rhythm and use their bodies in new ways. Fun music activities can help them sense the rhythm and keep time with their bodies. Those fingers aren’t just for typing!

Playing instruments also helps develop intelligence, creativity and analytical skills.

There’s a lot more to playing instruments than simply making music. Music lessons teach children analytical skills and creativity and they can help develop intelligence and communication skills. And while playing an instrument is challenging at first, it gets easier over time. Even if they don’t want to become a musician, they will have a strong background in music to fall back on for other fields.

Develop a sense of musical appreciation

Learning an instrument like the guitar will also help them develop their own sense of musical appreciation. Guitar lessons can build foundations in music theory and classical music, but at the same time focus on songs the child loves from their favorite music group. They will be exposed to simple music ideas, mathematics, patterns and repetition, and may even learn to appreciate and express themselves through poetry.

I know that I first learned to appreciate music by listening to my dad’s old 1970s folk records, but the more that I explored music on the guitar, the more I was able to appreciate other kinds of guitarists and musicians. This was partly thanks to my early exposure to music as a child.

Learn discipline and creativity

When you take up any instrument, you can also develop skills such as discipline and creativity. These two yin and yang elements are not mutually exclusive; in fact, they’re complimentary.

Children need to learn discipline. Without it, chaos ensues. However, creativity is also important to children’s development. It helps them tap into their natural abilities and grow into confident adults. That’s why I encourage my students not only to practice daily and perfect what they’re learning but to find a creative space in their home environment where they can feel at ease while practicing. This way, they will want to practice more because they feel comfortable and in charge of their own learning.

Learn to work with a team

And while learning the guitar is great for developing self-reliance, it also helps with teamwork later on. In the early stages of learning, your child might learn guitar online with a group, which means they will have to listen and wait their turn. At other times, the class might practice together, so they have fun with a group.

Even if your children learn through private guitar lessons, there will come a time when they may want to join a band with other homeschoolers. The confidence that they have built on their own will come in handy here, and they will get the added benefit of fun, friendship, and teamwork..

Many benefits to learning the guitar

Homeschooled children are often told that they have the opportunity to pursue hobbies that other children are not. Learning the guitar is one of those hobbies that they can build into the curriculum instead of taking it up as a past-time.

Guitars are not just for rock stars! Learning to play the guitar is a fun and rewarding experience, and it’s one that will give your child valuable skills that he or she can use for the rest of their life. Playing guitar is a great way for your child to learn how to express themselves creatively, they can learn to appreciate different types of music, and learn responsibility and discipline. This will come in handy when they need to study or complete other tasks throughout their day.

We’re all trying to encourage children to become life-long learners, and what better way than by exposing them to an art they could really enjoy?

If you want to talk about starting guitar lessons for your homeschooling child, get in touch with me! I offer a free 15-minute meet and greet and would love to hear your story.

#homeschool #creativity #musicclasses #homeschoolers #guitar