Hidden in Plain Sight
The benefits of playing music with others are awesome, but not always obvious.
By Jesse Tollestrup
Oftentimes, people think of learning to play music as a solo project. When we imagine music lessons, most people think of a one-on-one lesson between a student and a teacher. We imagine practice taking place alone at home, sometimes with the aid of a metronome or backing track, maybe in preparation for some far-off recital. While this sort of solo practice and one-on-one instruction is super valuable, it’s only part of the process. Here at Backbeat, we think playing music with other people is an important part of music education right from the start. Here’s why.
IT'S FUN!
We get it…practicing scales can be boring! Know what’s not boring? Using your pentatonic scale to shred a sick solo while jamming with your buddies after school. Similarly, all that boring music theory gets a lot more exciting when you can use it to write a song with a friend. It can be tempting to think that if kids are having fun, they can’t be learning. At Backbeat we think that if kids aren’t having fun, they’re not going to keep learning. Looking forward to playing with friends is a great way to motivate solo practice, too!
TIMING IS EVERYTHING
Learning to keep time and play in time is a foundational skill for musicians. Metronomes are awesome, but they’re also maddening. Anyone who’s used a metronome has felt like Captain Hook being stalked by Tick-Tock the crocodile at least once. Playing with others not only helps kids practice staying in time, it helps them learn how to bounce back when someone else misses a beat.
BIG EARS
In music, being told you have ‘big ears’ is a good thing! It means someone is excellent at listening. Not just to their own playing, but to their fellow musicians as well. Listen, and respond. This is how music becomes a conversation. And like in any conversation, balance is important. No one likes a conversation hog! Sometimes balance means less-is-more and other times it means simply waiting for the right time to let your solo fly.
THE ART OF GIVE AND TAKE
Your opinion is important…and so is the opinion of your bandmates. Learning when to give your opinion versus take the advice of someone else is a great life skill. From writing a hit single with your friends to the ever-so-feared (or should we say, greatly revered?) Family Band, making music with others is a fantastic way to hone your skills of compromise and communication.
PERFORMANCE
At some point in our lives we’ve all felt stage fright, if not for a performance then for a class presentation or job interview. For most people, those nerves never completely go away - and that’s okay! Feeling nervous before a show just means that you care. The good news is that with practice, performance anxiety gets easier to manage. Performing with others helps to build confidence because you're not on stage alone. At Backbeat, we offer multiple performance opportunities every year, but you don’t have to stop there. Check out an open jam night at your favourite cafe or all-ages community pub. These are great ways to meet other musicians, as well as to gain experience performing with your pals.
KEEPING IT FUN (for your kids) AND EASY (for you as their parent)
In order to really benefit from playing with others, you have to do it consistently. And this can be tough. Especially for kids. But we're here to help. Is your child ready to start a brand-new instrument? Register them online for an Intro Series class where they can learn the basics of drums, guitar, or piano while also meeting other young musicians. Is your child ready to join a band? Instead of coordinating with four other parents and renting a sound system, just sign your child up for one of our Rock Bands and we’ll take care of the rest. We'll make playing music with others fun and constructive for your kids and easy for you as their parent.