In the 21st century, technology has progressed to the point beyond our wildest imagination. Almost everything is now within the tips of our fingers and life has never been more convenient. When apps came to the scene, everyone gained the access to a variety of virtual musical instruments. With a simple download, anyone can turn their smartphone into a piano.
These apps are a great way to introduce music to your child without making huge commitments such as purchasing musical instruments. A child might or might not fully utilize it and they might even lose interest in it. While it is a good starting point for newbies, is it really sufficient for a child to learn a musical instrument by using an app?
The answer depends on the purpose of music education for your child.
After all, these apps can only go so far until a music teacher will be necessary. At some point, guidance would be required to take the child beyond from just messing around and exploring to the realm of competition, examinations and public performances. Besides that, there’s also the factor of your child’s predisposition.
For children that are self-motivated and are driven towards progress, they’ll be able to make full use of these apps. With different difficulty levels (like video games), it requires a certain level of perseverance and discipline to press on without throwing in the towel when going gets tough. Some children are excited at the prospect of challenges.
On the other hand, a child that is restless or lacks the discipline to focus on a particular task for an extended period of time will probably do better under supervision. Guidance from an instructor/tutor as the tutor can improvise or modify activities and lesson plans for a child with different needs and attention span.
If your child enjoys learning via the iPad or any other smart gadgets, these apps can work wonders for them. There are plenty of music-themed educational games that are fun and interactive; effectively capturing their attention and imagination. Most children these days are technologically-savvy so it’s unlikely to find any who can’t use an app.
For a child who is a natural-born social butterfly, having a group-based music lesson in a classroom setting is recommended. It can be a holistic learning experience as it helps to build a child’s observation and listening skills, confidence and social etiquettes. An app might not be a substitute for the same social atmosphere.
In summary, learning thorough an app is fun and great for starters as a beginner. It’s a cost-effective way to introduce music lessons without fully committing to them. However, these apps have its limitations when it comes to techniques, articulations, dynamics, stylistic playing and more. This is where an experienced educator is necessary to instil these music fundamentals.
For music educators, it’s best that these apps serve as an add-on to your lessons. Expand and diversify the tools you use to keep with your student’s exposure to technology and make it fresh and exciting for them!
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