We absolutely love music in our family so it was no surprise when our tween began to be interested in learning to play guitar. Music is a gift that keeps on giving and there’s no cooler way for kids to express themselves than by shredding on the guitar (or any instrument). When it comes to music, learning at home can be a great way to spark their musical journey. If your kids are showing interest in learning guitar, nurture it! Music has so many wonderful benefits for little humans.
Here are some tips on how to help your child learn guitar & rock out in the comfort of home:
This post is sponsored by Rocksmith+. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Spark an Interest:
Music in the House:
Surround your child with music they enjoy. This will not only expose them to different sounds but might also inspire them to try and recreate what they hear. We love to switch it up with different genres so that they can learn different styles and sounds to find out what they really enjoy.
Make it Fun:
Learning shouldn’t feel like a chore. Let them explore the guitar, make silly sounds, have dances parties, find songs they love and most importantly, have FUN!
Gear Up:
Find the Right-Sized Guitar:
A full-sized guitar can be daunting for small hands. Look for a fractional-sized instrument that’s comfortable for them to hold.
Focus on Fun:
Colorful picks and kid-friendly straps can make the guitar more appealing (& more comfortable). Let them infuse their personality and style into their instrument to really make it theirs.
Learning Resources:
For the first month or so of our sons, music journey he was self-taught, but we wanted to challenge him further by adding other supplemental instruction. We were having a hard time finding guitar lessons available at a day and time that worked for our schedule, so we began to look for alternative options to learn how to play guitar. When we first found Rocksmith+ we were immediately intrigued!
Rocksmith+ is an award-winning music learning service from Ubisoft that gamifies the music learning process, allowing anyone from novice tweens/teens to touring professionals to pick up and practice guitar, bass and piano anywhere, anytime. Rocksmith+ uses an innovative game-like approach to learning guitar. Rocksmith+ can be accessed directly from the app store on iOS, Android or PC with no additional gear needed. You can practice with personalized real-time feedback and practice tools that you can control which make it a great option for those just getting started.
Here’s why Rocksmith+ is a perfect fit for budding young musicians:
Massive Song Library with Kid-Friendly Options:
Rocksmith+ boasts a continuously growing library of songs across various genres (over 7500+ songs). This means your child can pick from classic rock anthems like “Zombies” by The Cranberries to modern pop hits like “Can’t Stop the Feeling” by Justin Timberlake. There’s even a selection of soundtracks and theme songs from popular video games and movies!
Learning Through Play:
Rocksmith+ ditches boring sheet music for a dynamic, interactive experience. The game displays songs with a color-coded system that shows exactly which frets to press and when. This makes learning notes and chords intuitive and engaging for kids.
Adaptive Difficulty and Personalized Learning:
Rocksmith+ isn’t just fun, it’s smart! The game adjusts the difficulty based on your child’s skill level. They’ll start by learning smaller chunks of a song, like a single riff or chord progression, and gradually build up to playing the entire song. This personalized approach keeps them from getting overwhelmed and ensures steady progress.
Real-Time Feedback and Improvement Tools:
Rocksmith+ listens to your child’s playing through their connected guitar (acoustic, electric, or bass!) and provides instant feedback. They’ll see if they’re hitting the right notes and learn where they need to improve. There are also specific tools like “Riff Repeater” that allow them to focus on practicing tricky sections until they’ve mastered them.
Multiple Learning Styles:
Does your child prefer a more traditional approach? Rocksmith+ offers additional learning tools like traditional sheet music view and interactive video lessons featuring professional guitarists. This caters to different learning styles and keeps things interesting.
Sense of Accomplishment:
Rocksmith+ rewards progress with points and unlocks new songs as your child improves. This gamified approach keeps them motivated and wanting to come back for more.
Learn Together:
If you play guitar yourself, even a little, jam along with your child! It can be a fun bonding experience and a chance for you to brush up on your skills.
Keep it Positive:
Celebrate Small Wins:
Acknowledge their progress, no matter how small. Mastering a simple chord or strumming pattern is a big accomplishment for a beginner. This one of the big reasons why Rocksmith+ has been so great for my praise loving child! At the end of the practicing and playing, it gives a synopsis that shows the difficulty, accuracy and mastery. He loves seeing the feedback and seeing how his Mastery has improved over time!
Focus on Enjoyment:
Keep the mood light and encouraging. Learning an instrument takes time and dedication. Make the process fun so they’ll stick with it.
Remember, patience is key! With Rocksmith+ and a supportive environment, your child can develop a lifelong love of music, build confidence and become a little rockstar! Learn more about Rocksmith+ here.
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