Questions teaching a youngster lap steel

Ron Victoria · Post by **Ron Victoria** » 2 Jan 2006 5:43 pm

I want to teach my grandson the lap steel. I'm not trying to bragg but he mimmicks what is shown him very quickly. For this reason, I feel he will be a good student. He's 15 months so I may wait for a while. My question is what to start him on. I can get something cheap on Ebay or one of those new instruments like an Artisan. Should I let him begin w/o picks for a while? Do they make them small enough to fit? What kind of bar would I start with? Anyone have experience teaching someone so young?

Thanks, Ron[This message was edited by Ron Victoria on 02 January 2006 at 05:53 PM.]

Jeff Strouse · Post by **Jeff Strouse** » 2 Jan 2006 6:32 pm

I sent Jerry Byrd a letter about two years ago, for his advice on how to go about teaching a 5 year old the steel guitar. He basically told me to forget it...that he's way too young for this instrument.

My idea was to just do some bar slides and slams, since at that young age all they like to make is noise, and their attention span is way to short. But, he didn't really take interest in steel anyway. Of the instruments I have, he loved the soprano ukulele. Probably because of it's size.

I'd recommend getting him a cheap toy ukulele that he can bang around on. He's too young to learn any chords or fingering, but he'll love to yell (sing) and strum the strings.

Don't forget to get yourself a set of earplugs....

Denny Turner · Post by **Denny Turner** » 5 Jan 2006 10:19 am

I have taught Music off and on for 44 years.

IMHO:

I highly recommend buying children a piano, or at least electronic keyboard (set to simple and not fancy settings) that is always ready to be turned on at the flick of it's switch, ...for their probing minds whenever they feel like it. Acoustic Piano has that vibration thang that feels so good to kids. Show them how easy it is to play simple tunes in the key of C, but don't discourage their exploring what might sound god-awful to others. If they've got music motivation in them, they'll go to the keyboard more often than not. Start lessons at about 8 or 9 years old ...as soon as they start grasping adolescent behavior stability, control and attention span. I think keyboards are also the best instrument as an initial instrument and indtroduction to music because of it's easy and intuitional graphic format and transfers to other instruments well.

In general; Unless a child is especially bright and motivated (based upon academic evaluation and not unqualified family opinion), I think asking / "exptecting" a child under 8 to learn a difficult instument that they don't already show interest in, ...stands a good chance of threatening their present and future interests (an undue sense of difficulty). This is not cut and dry; Make an easy instrument readily accessible and THEY will reveal whether they are particularly bright / interested / etc. in Music at an early age.

Aloha,
DT~
[This message was edited by Denny Turner on 05 January 2006 at 10:21 AM.]

George Keoki Lake · Post by **George Keoki Lake** » 5 Jan 2006 1:24 pm

I started off on piano and kick my butt daily for dropping it after only 4 years! Piano explains everything over the years of study making it relatively easy to adapt to most any instrument and having a full knowledge of theory, chordal construction along with the complexities of music. Simple questions like the difference between a 6th and 13th are answered in depth with piano theory, et al. Start the kid out on piano as early as possible and see where it leads. JMHO ... and I fully agree with Denny.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 5 Jan 2006 2:27 pm

My oldest grandson is 10 year old and has just recently shown an interest in guitar. I hope he turns out better than his grandpa.

Erv

Donald Ruetenik · Post by **Donald Ruetenik** » 5 Jan 2006 3:41 pm

DT is right on the money. An inexpensive electronic keyboard ready to dink on is just what a kid needs. If they got it in 'em, it'll be obvious. Not everyone has 'the music in them'.