| Many of us would love our kids to pick up a fun | | | | a real downer. |
| an interesting hobby, like the guitar or some other | | | | I made it challenging. I broke each practice into |
| instrument. Personally, I have found it extremely | | | | parts. When he had to learn a new technique, I |
| fun and entertaining to teach my kids guitar, but | | | | challenged him. When I was a boy, I loved |
| that was only after I was able to get them | | | | challenges, and my son was is no different. How |
| interested in it as well. At first, it was possibly the | | | | dare I say he can't do 40 chord changes in a |
| most tiring and frustrating thing in the world. My | | | | minute? |
| son would practice for a moment or two, then he | | | | I practiced WITH HIM. This is huge. I'm a firm |
| would go and watch cartoons or play video | | | | believer in teaching by example. I would never ask |
| games. It wasn't that he didn't want to learn, it | | | | my kids to do something that I wouldn't do. |
| was just he didn't have the patience for it. Soon, | | | | My son found a guitar idol that he looked up to. |
| I'd developed a system to getting him absolutely | | | | Inspiration is key. Without inspiration, even the |
| fascinated with practicing his guitar and staying on | | | | best guitar player won't want to practice. |
| track to practice up to an hour every day. It | | | | I rewarded him for practicing consistently, as well. |
| wasn't long before he was playing his favorite | | | | After practice every day, we'd go get some ice |
| songs, and even formed his own little band with | | | | cream to celebrate. As a whole, teaching my kids |
| his friends. | | | | guitar become a huge bonding experience after |
| The first thing I did to make a practice schedule | | | | we were able to push through the initial period of |
| perfect to teach my kids guitar, was I made it | | | | them not wanting to practice. |
| FUN! If it's not fun, who's going to do it(especially | | | | Those are the methods I used to help teach my |
| in the case of kids)? How did I do that? Simple, I | | | | kids guitar. It went from being not fun in any way |
| just lightened the mood! Being strict with | | | | whatsoever, to being a family bonding activity. |
| something as fun playing instruments can make it | | | | |