Getting your kids involved

[Graffiti62]

Hi Everybody--

I guess I'm way early in asking this, but I became a dad for the first time earlier today. My wife and I gave birth (actually she did damn near all of the work--I just let her crush my hand and I cut the cord) to a healthy baby girl with a very developed set of lungs. I found that one out when she was lifted above the sheet. I'm wondering if any of you guys have any advice or tips on how to get a kid involved into building, repairing or even playing the guitar.

Thanks for the help!

 

[NeilStryker]

Congrats to the new mom and dad!!!    ccasion14:   

 

[Mor Paul]

Congrats on being a dad!

You've got a 1 day old, I'm not sure there's much she can do. Expose her to the right music (I'm glad my parents did). If she's got developed lungs, get her a trumpet or sax   :hello2:

 

[m4rk0]

Congratulations Graffiti! that is fantastic news!
I'm sure everyone has told you how much your life will change going forward well it's true.. happened to me about 2.5 years ago!
On the music part.. Make sure to force... I mean encourage your girl to pick up an instrument..
I per example have already built a guitar for my son.... (no pressure kiddo)

Seriously, I grew up in a musical family so it's basically in my blood.. I am sure that if your daughter sees you enjoy making music, she will sooner or later love it too... I hope...

 

[riverbluff]

Congrats!

I didn't put any pressure on my boys to pick up an instrument, but I always had instuments around the house.  They just picked them up on their own.  Then my oldest son and I built an LP for him and that really perked his interest in playing.

 

[ByteFrenzy]

Congratulations !!!

If it's in the genes, she'll pick up music soon enough. The problem is that you never know what instrument they'll choose. I play bass and of all things my son decided that he wanted to be a drummer.

 

[kreig]

Congrats! ccasion14:

Her name ?

I'd suggest Ronni,Aria,or Randi - those are my faves.

My friends wife would be at our rehearsals alot when she was pregnant, so the baby probably was'nt sleeping through THAT.
and after she was born she was always watching and hearing her father play drums. Well, one day we sat her on the drum kit when she was 3 years old. She could keep a beat as steady as a metronome,and she knew exactly what she needed and wanted to do.
I was BLOWN away.

The lesson I learned is,introduce your child to some soft classical guitar, or piano or ? from day one! Just being exposed to hearing
it and it being a part of lifes experiences, it's enriching and inspiring.

My Grandfather played his Wurlitzer with a Leslie, my Mother played her upright piano and taught me at a very early age. I played
the trumpet and clarinet in elementary school, in junior high I was in boy's choir, then in Chamber Choir, then at 16 yo I saw KISS,
and KNEW electric guitar was IT! In College I took Choir alot and took Music Theory and ran lights and sound and got into a bunch of bands and took about 20+/- students. On hind-sight, music has been a huge part of my life, from my earliest years.
When I watch a boy's choir, it makes me weep to this day, it reminds me of my innocence.

Music, it's been a wonderful journey! :icon_thumright:

 

[dbw]

Congrats!

Piano lessons, starting early.  :icon_thumright:  Don't let her quit... I'd give anything to go back and not quit playing piano when I was 9.

That's not for 4 or 5 years though... don't blow out her ears by playing too loud

 

[RLW]

Mazel Tov!!!

And to repeat the above, I seriously regret not being able to read music.

 

[-CB-]

Same way to get them involved in smoking, doing drugs, fighting, cursing up a blue streak... just do it in front of them.

And, congratulations ya old fart~~

 

[TroubledTreble]

Wow! That's fantastic, congratulations!

I would expose them to it, make it available, make it fun and never push them. Maybe it wont be guitar, piano or flute but a banjo, ocorina, or obo that attracts them to it. They will have to find their own path.

 

[DangerousR6]

Same way to get them involved in smoking, doing drugs, fighting, cursing up a blue streak... just do it in front of them.

And, congratulations ya old fart~~

+1..... :laughing11: congrats.... :icon_thumright:

 

[mayfly]

Congratulations!  you know, you won't have time to post much anymore...

Everyone has some great advice.  The only thing I can add is don't get scared/mad when they do this:

I actually encourage this sort of behaviour  :icon_jokercolor:

 

[nathan a]

Teach them to love music. Expose them to really good music, and a lot of variety. Have instruments around that they are allowed to play with! Not just guitars. Kids love making sounds. If you let them do that, the 'bug' will catch.

 

[OzziePete]

Firstly congrats to you and your partner on your new family.

Hope Mum and bub are doing well. :icon_thumright:

I don't have kids myself, but friends do, and they do say that once the bub turns into a toddler all things have to be locked and you find the youngster everywhere where you are!

Seems at that time, too, they start realising what Mum and Dad do around the house more, so if you are in your garage or shed doing 'things' most weekends, then I'd suspect the youngster will find you! Ditto if you go to a spare room and play music for a while.

From my own childhood experiences, I can tell you that positive reinforcements when hanging around my Dad while he worked in his garage, rubbed off on me as I got my own place. Hence the reason I like trying my hand at assembling a guitar, or learning about electronics more.

The only thing I'd be wary of,  is your daughter's own safety if she wanders into your garage when you are using glues, paints or power tools and the like, or if you are in your room playing loudly on the amp and she walks in.

Happy times ahead.

 

[Nando Vallart]

Late on here... but I'm kinda sick this week....


Congrats!!!! One more baby to rock n roll  :guitaristgif:

 

[stratplayer1]

Congrats man, well im 18 and neither of my parents play an instrument but my dad always has classic rock blaring on the weekends when hes doin work around the house. first time i heard "Eruption" i knew i wanted to play  a guitar, that was all it took for me.

 

[GoDrex]

Until they get bigger than the guitar I don't think there's much they can do. But like was said above you can get them involved in some musical things very early.

Congrats on the baby girl!

here's a little tune for ya!
The Baby Blues

 

[Vol. Knob]

Congrats. 

My advice is to keep music on all the time.  Turn off the TV, keep the stereo playing.  And start listening to classical.  Seriously.  Some of my fondest memories of my kids when they were babies is walking around and around in the living room, holding them while they were sleeping, listening to Mozart, Holst ( The Planets ), Ravel (Pictures at an exhibition), Bethoven, and Bach.  For a while I started to become a classical snob and would call & pester the DJ at the local classical station for playing what I called "Boring" classical.

And Jazz...  Blues...  Irish...  etc.  Expose your kids to as many different styles as you can, it will sink in.  Don't just play rock around them.  Or Modern Country.

And be prepaired for them to play with your guitars and......  damage them.....    So make sure you keep the nice ones locked up and have a few beaters laying around.  Guess how I learned this lesson?

Can you pass on music to your kids?  Yes.  But you've gotta be involved. 

May 1999.  My daughter helps me finish the show.

I have two ex-stepsons in their 20s that I still hang out with, both play guitar because I kept guitars around, set them up with guitars, and taught them a little.  I have a 12 year old step daughter who plays the bass and a 13 ear old step son that plays guitar.  I have an 11 year old daughter who plays clarinet, guitar, and has the worlds most beutiful singing voice AND she's already writing her own songs.  I have a 10 year old son who plays trumpet, guitar, and drums.  And I have a 9 year old son who plays the bugle and can keep time on the bongos.

Daughter, 11 years old.  Epiphone FT-45, 64 years old.

My 10 year old

Nothing says "ROCK" like an 11 year old girl in a bridesmaid gown playing a strat.

If you make music a part of their lives, then music will be part of their lives.  It is as simple as that.

 

[blue313]

Little late to the party myself.  Congrats on the new arrival!

My father and grandfather both played guitar.  I agree that if its around the house, and their parents are making music as well, they'll assume its a natural part of life like walking and eating.

You all have beautiful kids!  :icon_thumright: