Few human abilities inspire as much awe, fascination and joy as the talent to play beautiful and contemplative music, and it seems that one only need to visit YouTube to witness dozens of very young children playing the violin with jaw-dropping finesse.
But is that kind of musical ability strictly a natural gift, or can your child also develop the skills to play that well?
Violin instructor Rigo Murillo of Love Nurtured Music believes that musical talent can be developed as young as three years old through listening, imitation and repetition, and has designed a successful curriculum based on this idea.
“We assume that every child can develop abilities to play the violin,” says Murillo.
Based on a concept developed by Shinichi Suzuki, a Japanese violin teacher who taught violin to infants in Matsumoto in 1946, Murillo proves that children can develop their musical abilities beyond what most parents think is possible through group classes and daily direction — similar to how students memorize multiplication charts or the periodic table.
But for parents who aren’t too concerned with their child becoming the next Yo-Yo Ma, is there another compelling reason to enroll your child in musical studies so early?
A recent report by the Scientific American suggests that you should if you want your child to have the best advantage in life, as playing music makes us significantly smarter, and the earlier the better.
According to a recent Scientific American article, neuroscientists found a direct correlation between music learning and increased learning ability, leading to improved memory and concentration throughout one’s life, boosting the ability to multitask, work in disruptive environments and learn other languages.
The researchers found that disciplined “instrument training from an early age can help the brain to process sounds better, making it easier to stay focused when absorbing other subjects, from literature to tensor calculus.”
This information comes at a pivotal time when students are competing more than ever to get into the best colleges and graduate programs, and recent graduates vie for limited jobs, while many schools continue to cut music and arts programs to save money.
A recent report shows that, for example, the number of students enrolled in music programs in California dropped by 50% from 1999 to 2004.
Perhaps that’s why the Lake Higlands-based music establishment has lately flooded with young students’ parents wanting to try the all-inclusive musical approach.
Nolan Clark, parent of one young violinist says, “under Rigo’s guidance I’ve watched my daughter progress tremendously, and we look forward to a continued partnership with Rigo in the future.”
Through dedicated weekly one-on-one violin lessons, regular group sessions and performances, Murillo is determined to give students and their parents the best possible future and carry the remarkable gift of music with them for the rest of their lives.
As a requisite for children to be admitted in the program, Murillo simply asks parents to always be present during the program’s activities so they can conduct effective home practice sessions, and to play a prearranged musical recording playlist at home.
To find out how to give your child the gift of music, call Love Nurtured Music at 214-269-8545, or visit www.LoveNurturedMusic.org.
