We all know there are countless benefits to early musical training. I recently read a very good article on the benefits of music education for children. I didn’t need any convincing, by the way; the article spelled out 12 reasons why a child should learn music at an early age. I was doing more of a mental checklist to see if I displayed any of those traits mentioned (spatial intelligence, reasoning ability, language proficiency, creativity, teamwork skills and discipline, just to name a few), since my parents also put me through some form of a music education when I was four. After reading that list, I didn’t feel that I was a good representation of someone having been put through classical piano training, because, seriously – spatial intelligence? creativity? logical reasoning ability – are you kiddin’ me? me? But that will be for another post another time.

Nevertheless, research has shown that a little music training, even if it’s for a few years, goes a long way in improving the adult brain when it comes to listening and processing complex sounds. According to a study, short-term music lessons may enhance lifelong listening and learning. Other studies also prove that listening and playing music benefits many areas of the brain at the same time. Music is able to activate the cerebellum, a brain area traditionally thought to coordinate only fine movement or motor behavior, in a very powerful way. Learning music has also been proven to help children mathematically and linguistically.

So we’re going to try to teach Ben and Becks some basics in understanding notation, scales, chords and keys since fatherkao can play the guitar and the organ, and I can still recall some things I learned from classical piano training. A good friend of ours recently picked up the ukelele and bought Ben one for his third birthday and now fatherkao is frantically learning how to play some simple tunes from Youtube to teach Ben. I recently chanced upon this website that provides free resources for teaching simple notation using worksheets and games. Let’s see if we can get a simple tune out on the keyboard and ukelele by Christmas next year.