A bit of a rant...
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Topic: A bit of a rant...
Posted By: mum2ollie
Subject: A bit of a rant...
Date Posted: 14 May 2011 at 9:17am
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Do you think this is normal behaviour??
Oliver will be two at the end of the next month and he has this incredible love of music. I know every mother thinks that her child is incredibly clever etc, but this just seems to go so far beyond that. He has an incredible fascination with instruments, particularly a guitar. From the age of one (when he could better tell us what the heck he was after) it has always been guitars. If we walk past anything, and I mean ANYTHING with a guitar on it there is a screaming match to get him away. For christmas he got a Ukulele because a half sized guitar is just too enormous and he plays it all day everyday. He holds it correctly, strums correctly, can us a pick, and attempts to do chords. My partner and I aren't musical and no one has ever shown him how to do this at all. He sleeps with his guitar and every morning he gets into bed with us and sings to us while playing. If his guitar is not around ie; he's at a friends place or something and hasn't taken it (which is very rare lol) he will pick up anything, such as a book, doll, pillow and play that like it is a guitar. He plays with all his other toys and rides his bike etc but his guitar is ALWAYS with him. It's like an extra limb. Has this attachment gone too far? I've looked for music lessons he can go to but no one will start teaching him, even Piano (which he has always loved since he was about 6 months old) until he is at least four. Guitar not until he is 5 or 6. As I said, my partner and I aren't musical and can't tell a music note from a carrot. So for the long rant. And the fact that it probably doesn't make a lot of sense! I guess I'm just not entirely what to do, a little bit out of my depth I believe. Edited to add- He's also quite a clever little guy but does tend to be 'off in his own world.' And he doesn't just walk or run, he seeems to dance. Obviously he can walk and run, and does do these normally :) But mainly, its a dance. -------------   
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Replies:
Posted By: Jaune
Date Posted: 14 May 2011 at 11:28am
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He sounds so cute! And so passionate about the guitar! I don't really think there is anything wrong with the level of attachment at his age...but it would be awesome if you could get someone who could teach him.
Maybe a wee musical prodigy?? ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: mum2ollie
Date Posted: 14 May 2011 at 11:30am
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I've rung private music teachers and proper little music classes and they all say the same thing - take him to music and movement and call back when he turns five. It's a nightmare. Music and movement is great, but I think he really needs lessons. -------------
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Posted By: Jaune
Date Posted: 14 May 2011 at 11:38am
Doesn't really seem fair does it? Sounds to me like he needs specific guitar lessons, not just a music and movement class (which I'm sure he'd enjoy...with his guitar  ).
Do you have friends or friends of friends who can play the guitar and might be able to offer some informal lessons? Any guitar players on OB who might be able to help, maybe? What about music students? They might be keen to do some lessons for some extra cash during holidays? ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: mum2ollie
Date Posted: 14 May 2011 at 11:41am
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The music students is a really good idea. I might ring the high schools in Tauranga and put an add in there notices.
I think the main problem have with teaching him is that he's not even quite two, so they worry about how his attention span would be I guess. -------------
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Posted By: STARZIE
Date Posted: 14 May 2011 at 1:04pm
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Or maybe you could get some lessons and then teach him what you learn if no one will teach him? (or take him along to your lessons so he can watch...)
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Posted By: Whateversville
Date Posted: 14 May 2011 at 2:16pm
| It's a shame you're not here in the Naki https://www.facebook.com/pages/West-Coast-School-of-Rock/109737941226#!/pages/Little-School-of-Rock-NZ-West-Coast-School-of-Rock/100437446691094 - Little School Of Rock is music for kids 3-6 but an incredibly talented 2yr old wouldn't be turned away I don't think! |
Posted By: mum2ollie
Date Posted: 14 May 2011 at 5:06pm
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You'd think a city the size of Tauranga would have something available. It's kinda shocking really.
I like the idea of me taking lessons, except for the fact that I would probably be outdone by a two year old lol -------------
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Posted By: sarasal
Date Posted: 14 May 2011 at 7:16pm
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That's awesome. He sounds really gifted. Finding a student tutor sounds like a great idea. Even if you can't find a teacher, you can still encourage him by letting him listen to heaps of different music & taking him to lots of musical events - not necessarily kiddie groups (which tend to offer pretty awful music), but things like the gypsy fair, those family concert-in-the-park type events, lunchtime cafe performances, street buskers etc. If he's so passionate already, he's bound to find his own way.
By the way, learning the basic chords is pretty easy, if you did decide to try to teach him yourself. It doesn't really take any musical talent. Just buy yourself a book with diagrams that show the chords. Also, make sure his guitar is well-tuned ... you don't want him learning music with an out-of-tune instrument. You can buy electronic tuners to make it easy. |
Posted By: mum2ollie
Date Posted: 14 May 2011 at 7:24pm
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Thanks sarasal. A close friend of mine can play so I'll get him to show me the chords, he's offered to teach Ollie but he works full time and by the time he actually can do it Ollie is in bed which sucks.And I'll get him to tune the guitar. I really want to encourage this but I was a dancer not a musician so I'm a bit lost. Thanks so much every for all your advice :) -------------
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Posted By: melopop
Date Posted: 15 May 2011 at 12:01pm
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He sounds amazing! What a clever little dude - and what a what a great mum for wanting nurture his talent. I hope you find someone suitable to teach him, until then I like sarasals advice. Also, maybe look it up on youtube. You could probably learn from watching stuff on there and your little man will probably love watching and strumming along too. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: mum2ollie
Date Posted: 15 May 2011 at 1:29pm
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All these great ideas are so obvious! Can't believe I didn't think of them haha. We went and tried on glasses frames yesterday. Looks like a litte accountant haha! Am off to look on youtube now, while he watches the wiggles and sings and plays guitar lol -------------
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Posted By: Hopes
Date Posted: 15 May 2011 at 4:59pm
How about student jobsearch? I'm sure you could find a music student willing to have fun with him and teach him a few things. Seems like it would be well worth doing - if nothing else, sounds like he'll have fun doing something he loves  -------------   
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Posted By: princesspumpkin
Date Posted: 16 May 2011 at 8:08am
| Oooh, I wish you lived here!!! I teach Kindermusik & it would be perfect for him - sadly nobody else in the North Island teaching aside from me right now! |
Posted By: crafty1
Date Posted: 16 May 2011 at 2:25pm
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Aw he sounds so cool. My boy is a bit the same but with guitar and piano - just loves them both but not as obsessed as your wee man.
We have no idea how to play either but are buying a piano and all going to learn. Guitar is trickier, but he is so obviously into it - don't give up!! Can you buy a learn to play guitar dvd? Or get one from the library and see how he likes it? A music teacher that really got kids would be awesome, could mix up proper guitar lessons with a bit of dancing and other instruments to make it less dry. We have a'jam session' every night at home and lack of ability doesn't matter too much. Anyone know of any places in Aucks that do this? ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: maisey
Date Posted: 16 May 2011 at 3:32pm
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I don't have any advice to add. There have been some great suggestions. I just wanted to say that your DS sounds like such a wee dude! And what a great mum you are going the extra mile so he can do more of what he obviously loves!! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: MummyFreckle
Date Posted: 16 May 2011 at 4:11pm
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How about something like this - http://www.amazon.com/Kids-Guitar-Course-1-DVD/dp/B002DZAMTO/ref=pd_sxp_grid_i_1_1 - DVD then you can go at your own pace and do it with him? An ad in the local paper looking for someone willing to teach a 2yr old might be worth a crack too?
------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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