The Importance of Music in the Life of a Child
The following article is from EPCGT NEWS, March 2002, written by Susan Robertson about her son’s experience with GTCYS and MacPhail Center for the Arts.
As most of us know, it has been proven that exposing a child to music at a very young age has many positive effects. Studies have shown that children enrolled in a structured music program have increased self esteem, do better academically and have a finer appreciation of the arts. Here in the Twin Cities there is an abundance of opportunity to enrich children through music.
My 13-year-old son has studied cello since he was four years old. He takes private instruction through a qualified Suzuki teacher at MacPhail Center for the Arts in downtown Minneapolis. The Suzuki Method, a form of musical training developed by the late Shinichi Suzuki from Japan, targets the very young child. Dr. Suzuki’s philosophy was based on the Mother Tongue approach, which is that all children have the ability (not talent) to learn their native tongue. Just as you teach a child to speak through constant repetition, praise and the involvement of the family, these ideas have been applied to Dr. Suzuki’s method in teaching music to children.
MacPhail Center for the Arts offers music classes starting with infants and continues through preparatory classes for college-bound musicians. There are opportunities to study music, both traditional and through the Suzuki Method, and to join a variety of ensembles and classes on musical education. For further information on what MacPhail Center has to offer, see www.macphail.org or call (612) 321-0100.
My son has also participated in the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies (GTCYS – pronounced GITseez). GTCYS is one of the largest youth orchestra groups in the nation. They have seven different levels of orchestras that include over 700 young musicians through the 12th grade. There are several opportunities for these kids to perform within the Twin Cities. There are fall and spring concerts that take place in Orchestra Hall, winter concerts that have taken place at a number of different locations including the Mall of America and the Landmark Center in St. Paul. The regular season runs from September through May. Auditions are required and cost $30 (price in 3/07). There is an additional fee once you are placed and commit to a particular orchestra. GTCYS also sponsors several orchestras each summer. The summer program has weekly rehearsals, the same as they do during the regular school year. No audition is required for the summer programs. You can find out more about GTCYS at www.GTCYS.org
Over the years, I have found the commute downtown to MacPhail is not that difficult. Individual (private) lessons are offered once a week. If you participate in the Suzuki program, you also attend group lessons, instrument choirs and orchestras that fill each Saturday morning. GTCYS offers several locations throughout the Twin Cities depending on which orchestra the child is placed in and where the child lives within the metro area (Eden Prairie students would go to Edina).
Committing to MacPhail and GTCYS adds yet one more activity to an already busy family schedule. Rehearsals can become tedious, and like most kids, my son balks at the daily grind of practicing, but he would be the first person to tell you how much his cello has impacted his life. Despite the fact that my 10- year-old son blares “awful” rap music from his room, he also requests to hear classical music and can identify and name many composers’ works. This is a clear indication that even though he doesn’t study an instrument, he too has been influenced by what music means to our family.