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Enneagram Type 4 Board Archive Now that I have my wits about me....Posted by Amanda :) on October 31, 1999 at 10:11:02: In Reply to: Don't read this 'til you've slept posted by Karen on October 30, 1999 at 16:08:22: : Amanda (et al) : I'm hoping for some advice regarding my daughter. She is eight years old. When she was just months old, before she could crawl, she would scoot/ drag herself to my son's keyboard and try to play. At three she would cry for "my Moooooo-zart" (she was a huge fan of his Requiem) and say things like "Don't you hear the music in your head, Mommy?" She also has a nice voice, and has always made up songs- original words and, as far as I can tell, melody. : I, however, have no musical gift beyond appreciation... I want to nurture her interest, but I'm not sure how. Any suggestions? : You can e-mail me if this is too off-topic for the Board.
I think the nurturing of any kind of creativity has a place here in Fourdom....and, just for the record, I believe that appreciation of music is the best gift one can have - or pass on to one's children. I have 30 private students, learning various instruments - and teach part time at a local high school - and I consider that I have done my job successfully if I have imbued them all with a sense of appreciation for music in whatever form - over and above everything else....not to mention the fact that my children were raised on a steady diet of music from conception (I worked in various bands when I was pregnant) - so the fact that they love music - and are very musical - comes as no surprise to me.... Your daughter sounds very much like me as a child. I could always 'hear' music in my mind - even at times when there was no external music playing. It was no surprise then, when I began writing my own songs at the age of 16. My parents were both accomplished musicians - and had all us children taught to play the piano from quite a young age. I was always singing - right from the start - and it was as natural as breathing to me. My piano teacher (a crotchety old nun - but excellent piano teacher) decided on day that I should go into a local singing competition. She gave me a piece to sing that went too high for my alto range (she believed that ALL children are sopranos) - and I begged my parents to allow me NOT to perform - I couldn't stand the thought of the humiliation I knew I would feel if I was made to perform. Sister D. was so angry when I didn't show up - she suspended me for 2 weeks from lessons. She also told me that I had a dreadful voice and should NEVER subject anyone to it ever again. I believed her and, for a very long time, was afraid to open my mouth to sing. Thankfully, as a teenager I had a very positive experience that changed all that - and have made a career of singing (I only teach part time) ever since. It was only the encouragement of my parents and, later, peers, that helped me to overcome my phobia enough to use the gift that I had been given again. Singing, in particular, is such a personal gift - and young people are very sensitive when they are criticised about their voices. I do believe that there are those born with the gift of musical talent - but it is something that can also be nurtured. My suggestion is to make your home a musical place (although I suspect it is already) - play records - dance to the music - sing with the songs - at home, in the car, with the tv ads - whenever and wherever you can. Encourage your daughter to keep making up songs and put on impromptu concerts. Sing carols together at Christmas - sing in the shower.... Not only does this encourage your daughter (and any other children about the place) to appreciate music, it also gives her valuable ear training - not to mention some very happy memories of her childhood! A choir is a good idea too - if there's one around that she shows any enthusiasm for. Take her to see live music - and watch her become inspired! Take her to the symphony - the local musical theatre - open air concerts - whatever you can find that you think might appeal to her. I think it may be a bit premature to think about enrolling her in singing lessons at this age, though. While she may learn about breathing and music theory - her voice probably hasn't matured enough to be trained just yet. Females' voices go through a kind of change similar to males - although it is much more subtle, and doesn't really begin until between the ages of 14 and 17. (This is, of course, a generalisation - it's different for everyone). Is she interested in learning an instrument? Piano is a good instrument to learn because the theory is universal to every other instrument (the drums are an exception - although there are some similarities there too) and she will learn to read - and it will help later on if she takes vocal lessons. Hope this helps smiles
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