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MarilynW
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| Posted: June 18 2008 at 8:41am | IP Logged
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We pay for our kids to have piano lessons - and we want to continue this.
The older ones have all started a second instrument - violin or clarinet and they do an intensive 4 week orchestra camp over the summer. We cannot afford (money or time) to have lessons in a second instrument during the school year.
I am wondering whether it is possible to just learn at home with these.
Well Trained Mind mentions at learn at home violin program (www.violinbook.com)
Is there anything similar for clarinet?
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Marilyn
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folklaur
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| Posted: June 18 2008 at 11:43am | IP Logged
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There will be people who will say "absolutely not"....but I don't happen to be one of them. My oldest daughter taught herself how to play piano, ocarina, banjo, drums, and violin. I can not play a lick of music. Except for violin, where she had lessons a few times, she did this all on her own.
Of course, it is likely they will get to a point where lessons are necessary to learn advanced things. And a teacher may want them to "unlearn" what they taught themselves "the wrong way." BUT - that can happen even between teachers - dd had two different violin teachers over the years - the second felt that the first one had taught her some things "wrong."
If you are using a program like what you mentioned - and they can already read music due to piano - I think it would work, at last for beginning levels. 
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Isa in Michigan
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| Posted: July 10 2008 at 1:39pm | IP Logged
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I have played the violin for many years. I think the violin is one of the harder instruments to learn on your own due to posture and the numerous bad habits that can develop.
That being said, if you or another child really learn what the correct posture is supposed to be for holding the violin, and for the right and left hands than you can spot check the child who is learning to play the violin. I really do think there needs to be a second person there watching to check for bad posture because when you first start out there is so much to think about that it is easy to get into bad habits.
It's great that your children are so interested in learning to play music on different instruments.
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TracyQ
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| Posted: July 11 2008 at 8:24am | IP Logged
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We may say no (which we don't), but even if we did, our kids find ways to learn instruments on their own in spite of us! 
Sarah takes formal guitar lessons, and has done quite well with them. But she's also teaching herself how to play the keyboard and piano, because her father's supposed to teach her, but, well...you know.  He will, but she's even writing music on her own on there.
Our oldest is teaching himself the electric and acoustic guitar, and plays pretty much by ear. He and his younger brother are writing a lot of music, and want to record (dreams, dreams, dreams are grand!  ). He is definitely improving, and having tons of fun!
Our youngest son (and middle child) taught himself how to play the harmonica and is becoming VERY good! Really, it's not just me being biased, he's heard it from others as well. He's also teaching himself how to play the electric bass, and is doing very well with that. He also goes downstairs and will play the keyboard often, so he's teaching himself that too! He's the one who's not had any formal lessons ever. But he's EXTREMELY tenacious, will work through a *how to book* in earnest, will practice constantly, and has a natural bent toward music, and a great ear, maybe because he only has one. Truly, he has one ear, was born with an ear deformity called mycrotia, and has a moderate hearing loss in that one ear that has no canal, and no middle ear, and he has full hearing in the other. I often wonder if his natural musical ear comes from that or not. 
It amazes me what kids will do when left to their own devices, and when we get out of their way! I'm not against formal lessons whatsoever! My husband is a pianist and organist, and had lessons for years! He is an organist now, and has been in several bands throughout his life. And Sarah's guitar lessons have helped her tremendously to become quite a good guitarist!
We can't afford too many lessons for all the kids though, and some really prefer/want to learn on their own. I think you have to know what your resources are, and what you can afford, and also what your goals are too. But I think it's a shame if kids aren't exposed to the CHANCE to learn an instrument if they really want to be, even if that's to try to learn it on their own. And MANY excellent musicians come from both...formal lessons, and not. 
All I know is that there is music of some kind wafting in our home constantly (Ok, not usually when we're sleeping). Music is a HUGE part of our home, and it has come in many ways. Our goal though hasn't been to have professional musicians. We MAY have that one day, but it isn't our goal. Our goal has always been to instill a love of all kinds of music in many different ways into our children, so that they'll understand God's love for them through the creation of music. I think we've already achieved that goal, and then some! And I really look forward to what God still has in store for them as we journey into the future!
Hope this helps some.
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Tracy Q.
wife of Marty for 20 years, mom of 3 wonderful children (1 homeschool graduate, 1 12th grader, and a 9th grader),
 homeschooling in 15th year in Buffalo, NY
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MarilynW
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| Posted: July 11 2008 at 8:31am | IP Logged
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Thanks everyone for the encouragement. My dd taught herself clarinet (library books, internet fingering charts etc) - and when she was auditioned made it into upper level band this summer! She does have some music talent and the piano experience - but I am seeing that a child's interest is one of the biggest factors - eg we see kids who only play instruments because of parental pressure and they are not succeeding or interested. The twins made it into level 2 orchestra for the summer - and I am going to try and figure out a way to make sure they practice during the school year.
Now my 4 year old is clamoring to learn violin..he just climbed on a stool to lift the little violin down... I am hoping one of his older siblings will teach him..
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TracyQ
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| Posted: July 11 2008 at 8:49am | IP Logged
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MarilynW wrote:
| - but I am seeing that a child's interest is one of the biggest factors - eg we see kids who only play instruments because of parental pressure and they are not succeeding or interested. |
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I think you hit the nail on the head here, Marilyn! I see the same thing as well. I didn't want to do that to my kids, because I wanted them to LOVE music!
Even now, I DO struggle, because Sarah doesn't WANT to take guitar lessons necessarily, but wants to be in the homeschool ensemble. I told her that in order to get into the higher type of music, she NEEDS to keep taking lessons. But I don't want to pressure her with the guitar either, I want her to like it.
So this summer, because she was becoming lesson weary, we decided to take the summer off. Her teacher said she was doing so well, that it wouldn't be a problem for her to take the summer off, and come back to the formal lessons in the Fall. She's been SO enjoying playing other things, including picking up my violin and 'trying it' for fun. I just think it was really important at this time in order for her not to hate guitar, that we allowed her the break she really needed. She'd worked so hard all school year in her lessons, and in ensemble.
So go with your gut! The interest is HUGE!!!! Loving music is the goal! If they don't, one day they'll put their instrument down, and walk away for good. How many adults do you know that say, *I wish I'd kept with the piano/guitar/________(fill in the blank), and regretted not having stuck with it. We're really trying to avoid that from happening, to create the balance which is not always easy, and to listen to our kids, and allow them to make these decisions with us.
I hope we're doing the right things. I guess we can only do what we think is best for each child. That's all anyone can ask of us, right???
I think you're doing GREAT!!!!
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Blessings and Peace,
Tracy Q.
wife of Marty for 20 years, mom of 3 wonderful children (1 homeschool graduate, 1 12th grader, and a 9th grader),
homeschooling in 15th year in Buffalo, NY
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4Real Forums : The Arts in the Everyday
Topic: Music Lessons at Home
