Today's children have a wider variety of free-time activities to choose from than ever before. Nearly every middle-class household in the U.S. has cable television with hundreds of channels, sophisticated gaming systems like Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3, or Xbox 360, and a broadband Internet connection that keeps them wired to the rest of the world. With all of these entertainment options at their fingertips, it's sometimes hard to convince youngsters to put away their tech toys and develop some other skills. Creative pursuits such as drawing, painting, or playing an instrument have definitely taken a backseat to other activities these days, which is a shame. As a parent, I think music lessons for kids are as important to development as anything else.
When I was growing up, music lessons for kids were very popular. Almost everyone in my elementary school class played an instrument, be it drums, violin, piano, guitar, or what have you. The school even had special practice rooms that students could sign up to use during lunchtime or recess. In other words, music lessons for kids were a big deal back then, and schools did their best to accommodate and cultivate musical interest.
But that sort of thing is sorely lacking on today's campuses, leaving it up to parents to find group or private music lessons for kids. Fortunately, there are many easy ways to do this, so getting your child signed up to learn how to play doesn't take much work. And this is something that should not be neglected, as children with musical backgrounds often exhibit greater creativity and sensitivity than those who never study the subject.
The first place to look would be the local Yellow Pages to see if there are any teachers or institutions in the area that offer music lessons for kids. Try calling nearby high schools or community colleges as well, since these places often serve as hosts for piano, guitar, and drum classes. Running a Google search for the string "music lessons for kids", along with your city and state, will likely yield good results.
As an alternative, many websites offer online music lessons for kids. Some are free, while others require a paid membership or subscription. The quality of the content varies significantly, however, so if possible you should request a demo or free trial period before parting with your hard-earned cash. Bear in mind too that since online classes don't provide the same kind of feedback that you'd get from a real teacher, they might not be the best option for beginners.
If you're concerned about your children drowning in a world of high-tech toys that stunt creativity, then now is your chance to do something about it. Start by finding affordable music lessons for kids in your area, and get your young ones excited about playing an instrument!