harpwrench
732 posts
Nov 25, 2013
5:52 AM
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My grandson will turn 5 soon and has had a harp since he was teething. He has his own workbench and tools and likes to pretend he's my apprentice lol. I'm interested in hearing about when and how you've transitioned kids from noisemaker to playing them. He's pretty good with learning songs in preschool and off the TV. Mind like a sponge!
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The Iceman
1295 posts
Nov 25, 2013
6:08 AM
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Six seems to be a good year to begin, but the kid needs to be a bit self motivated.
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The Iceman
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Komuso
226 posts
Nov 25, 2013
6:37 AM
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My son is 4 & has been "playing" with a hohner kids harp for a year, but I just gave him a big six folk.
It's a little smaller for his hands, and he was bugging me for a "real harp like daddy".
Interestingly he nailed hole 3 floor bends straight out the door on the big six, just wailing on it.
I'm not too anal about "teaching" him any songs at the moment, just give him some guidance now and again and let him play with it to develop as per Iceman's "bit self motivated" comment.
Him seeing/hearing me play (as well as youtube videos) lets him know naturally what it is possible to sound like, and they try to copy as well.
The last thing I want to do at this stage is knock the fun of music creation out of him.
There are many schools of thought and practice around now on music skills development, from hard core rote like suzuki system's to other more loose methodologies.
I'm not interested in turning out a Little Mr Sunshine though.
Being in Japan he's big on the trains, which are actually a fantastic teaching resource across real life, model trains, videos and games as there is continuity of subject that lets kids explore/create at all levels.
He was imitating train whistles on the Big Six yesterday, so now I can use that as a base to naturally develop some skills by stealth.
The harp is also just one instrument we have lying around, with others being a casio keyboard, drums, shakers, iPad games, my guitars etc so he can pick up and play what interests him.
I also have HarpNinja up on the iPad when he plays so he gets some visual feedback of his playing and I can more easily help start to connect the harp in his hand with his head. Early days.
I have some more things in development on that front as I explore the possibilities.
There's some good research coming out the last couple of years validating early music skills development to crossover development of language and higher order thinking skills.
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Paul Cohen aka Komuso Tokugawa
HarpNinja - Your harmonica Mojo Dojo
Bringing the Boogie to the Bitstream
Last Edited by Komuso on Nov 25, 2013 6:54 AM
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LIP RIPPER
713 posts
Nov 25, 2013
6:55 AM
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Make sure you teach him your magic.
LR
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harpdude61
1906 posts
Nov 25, 2013
11:18 AM
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I have harps, small guitars, many types of percussion, electric keyboard, and room to dance and play.
I have two grandsons that are 4 years old and right now I'm just encouraging a good time. Let's get Nana and do the family band thing!
They pretty much just make noise with the instruments now but I can already sense good rhythm from what I hear in drums, dance, and inhale/exhale harp chugs.
I want then to have fun when they play. They watch me with my band and at home and see how much fun I have. I would love it if they start asking for more as they grow older, but it's up to them. All I can do is create a good environment where we all have fun.
This is my oldest of three grandsons. I call him Catfish Jack. Look what happened!...and he has never even heard of Howard Levy! Notice how naturally he puts the harp in deep and at a slight tilt. I gave him no verbal instruction other than watching me.
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The Iceman
1298 posts
Nov 25, 2013
11:50 AM
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Look to a child's innocence to discover a most natural and relaxed approach to some techniques.
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The Iceman
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Pistolcat
560 posts
Nov 26, 2013
1:00 PM
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He must have had other influences harpdude! He is most definitely tongue-blocking! ;P
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Pistolkatt - Pistolkatts youtube
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harpdude61
1909 posts
Nov 26, 2013
2:15 PM
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lol....dang! knew I should have gave him a lesson or two!
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