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Music Lesson with Kids

Everyone loves to listen to music but how many of us have really practised learning music? Well, if you or your kids have a love for music, then there is no better time than now. Yeah, you’ve heard it right. We are constantly complaining about getting bored during the quarantine period. Then, why not pick up music as your hobby which makes your soul and your kids happy. 

If you are going to whine about the lockdown, then it is going to appear more difficult than it is. So, what’s the better option to divert your mind, in fact, treat your mind with some soulful music lesson with kids. 

In the series of fun activities to do with your kids during the quarantine period, I have selected the most loved activity enjoyed by everyone with no discrimination for gender, age or what so ever. It’s M for music lessons with kids. 

Why Music Lesson With Kids?

Be it learning a new instrument or just practising vocals, it gives a refreshing feeling. Moreover, it will provide a different dimension of a hobby to your kids. And, you never know your kids might start liking it and want to build his/her career in this field. As a parent, it is your responsibility to give your kids maximum exposure for new hobbies. 

Material Required for the Music Lesson With Kids

If your kids are practising vocals, then you don’t need any material as such. You can find a lot of online tutorials on YouTube where people teach singing from scratch. 

And, if you are interested in learning some specific instrument, then it is important that instrument so that you can practice when you learn anything from YouTube. 

musicHow to do “Music Lesson With Kids” 

Before telling you a process, I need to put a disclaimer here. Learning any kind of music is not a day’s or week’s work. It requires practice and consistency. If you need to up your music skills then you need to practice daily, even if your kids feel that they are experts in it. 

Initially, we followed a list of YouTube channels who teach singing with proper strategy. And, we both loved practicing as per taught by our virtual teacher. Though we are in the initial phase or you can call us a beginner as well. 

But, I think if you want your kids to try learning music, then I will suggest you help them practice as it enhances their concentration and confidence. If you want, then I would be happy to make a video on our singing practice. Do let me know in the comment sections. 

Key Learnings 

  • Learning music skills requires a lot of practice, consistency, and patience.
  • You will get better every new day. 

My Overall Experience

I had a fun time with my practicing musical vocals and we might be engaging in learning some musical instruments as well. If you have any suggestions which music instrument that we should choose, then that would be a great help. 

So, try out this activity with your kids too and don’t forget to share the experience in the comment section below. If possible, you can also share the pictures/videos of you and kids practicing any music instruments or vocals and tag me, @sneha_261013 on Instagram. 

BlogchatterAnd stay tuned for the next activity from the alphabet, ‘N’! Can you guess it?

Also, Read the Article L for Listening Podcast with Kids

6 best music instruments for kids that they would love to learn!

Music is the food for the soul. It is not just a skill that one learns as an alternative, but it is one of the most precious things that can soothe and calm the minds of the listeners. Learning musical instruments helps the early development of a child. It helps them to learn a language more easily and have fluency in speech. Learning and listening to music stimulates the right brain and children are more confident, efficient and focused. There are tremendous positive points about introducing your kids to music at an early age. So, if you are wondering about the best music instruments for kids, here I have jotted down a comprehensive list to choose from!

Keyboard or Piano

best music instruments for kidsChildren can start learning a Piano at a very young age. A small Keyboard can be easily brought home for your kids to practice every day and master the art. Along with playing melodious tunes, your child will develop hand-eye coordination. Playing the piano with both the hands and using their brain to focus helps them increase concentration too! Children suffering from dyslexia benefit largely from playing Piano. It is a best musical instrument to learn as a child.

Ukulele

best music instruments for kidsThis is another attractive musical instrument that your child may love to learn. It is tiny, easy to carry and the most fun string instruments. If you want your kids to learn guitar, you can start with giving them Ukulele lessons first. It is actually the best musical instrument for beginners of any age let alone children. Your child can play all sorts of songs from folk to contemporary with the strings of a Ukulele. This is why it is regarded as one of the best music instruments for kids.

Flute

best music instruments for kidsThe flute is one of the ancient most musical instruments in India. It produces beautiful and soothing vibrations and sounds that purify the surroundings. It is super light-weight and easy to carry. Hence, it can be a great choice for your child to start with! An ideal age for kids to start leaning flute would be 7 years. It is the best musical instrument for anyone to learn and listen to!

Harmonium

best music instruments for kidsThis again is one of the oldest musical instruments in India. It requires a lot of concentration to play the harmonium as it consists of multi-tasking with playing the keyboard and also pressing the bellows to pump the air out. It may look similar to the keyboard or the piano, but these are very different instruments. If you want to train your children in Hindustani Classical music, a harmonium can be an apt choice.

Tabla

best music instruments for kidsThe ideal age to start learning Table is 3 to 5 years. This is when children grasp the skill immediately and respond to it naturally. Tabla is one of the most loved Indian instruments. There is a misconception that it can be played only by boys, girls are equally capable of playing the Tabla with the same passion and intensity. It is a beautiful musical instrument for kids and adults alike.

Drums and Percussion instruments

best music instruments for kidsIf your child is a little older say around 9-10 years, he or she can start learning drums among other percussion instruments. Playing drums also need a lot of focus and concentration. There are multiple things to handle at the same time, hence, the child tends to develop focus and the skill of multi-tasking. It makes them more confident and versatile in nature.

So, if you want to make your child a music ninja, you have all the information here! All the very best and enjoy this new musical journey with your children!

 

Let’s Travel! But What About The Kids?

Any time there are the holidays coming up or a long weekend, what’s the first thing that pops up in our minds? We usually think about taking a vacation, a long one or a quick getaway, whatever our time on hand and our budget permits!But for many couples, those with babies and toddlers, there are a few more factors to be taken into consideration while planning a trip. But yes, it is entirely possible to Traveling with kids and that too, travel smoothly.

Once a trip has been planned, there begins the fun of planning and packing for the trip. What to carry and what not? How much is necessary and how much is enough?  As far as children are concerned, of course, priority has to be given to carrying their essentials, especially medicines for them and food items that they absolutely cannot do without. It would be a good idea to throw in sunscreen and hats if you are visiting a hot and sunny place and woolens if you are visiting a cold place. Babies have a lot of paraphernalia but it makes good packing sense to carry only what is absolutely necessary.

Once the packing is done, it’s time to begin the journey! If planned right, the journey can be more fun than the destination! Whether you are traveling with kids by plane, train, bus or car, entertainment for the children needs to be provided. Books, special toys, puzzles, music, even a favorite blanket, all need to be carried that cater to your children’s taste.

What is necessary When Traveling with Kids

Baby wipes, tissues, hand sanitizer and diapers if required are all a “must-carry”.  Any food that is carried needs to be the type that will not make a mess if dropped. Water has to be on hand in sufficient quantity and that too in a non-spill bottle or glass!  

If traveling with other passengers, parents should try their best to ensure that their children are not a nuisance to other passengers. Every parent can and should ingrain good behavior and a consideration for others in their children. Parents can definitely guide their children not to shout, run around and be a source of annoyance to the other passengers.

Enjoying with FamilyWhenever I have traveled, I have on numerous occasions been disturbed by a child howling or shouting and the parents making no effort to control him or her. I’m sure that many of you have had the same experiences as I have.

Once the traveling with kids is out of the way and you arrive at your destination, the fun should continue. Most definitely, your baby or toddler will need some time to settle down in a new environment.  Parents, you need to be patient and understanding about this.

Outings and excursions, ideally, need to be planned around the baby’s or toddler’s schedule, i.e. naptimes and meal times should be taken into account. Of course, if that is not practically possible, then parents need to take into account that the child/children might get fussy or cranky at certain times.

What is Parents Responsibility?

That is when a very important issue comes in: support. You are spouses to each other and you are also co-parents to your children. You need to work as a team when it comes to handling your children. Do avoid criticising and blaming each other if the children misbehave or something goes wrong.

Do try to give each other time away from the children for a while. Husbands, take care of the children and let your wives go shopping or to the spa. Wives, handle the children and let your husbands go to play a sport or for male buddies drinking session. Your spouse will love you for this!

Parents, it’s equally important that you use your vacation, however short it is, to reconnect with each other as a couple. Spending time with your spouse in a different environment, i.e. away from home and routine, can have a rejuvenating effect on your marriage.

Do try your best to spend time with each other, without the children. Even if it is just for a short while, try to grab a cup of coffee or a drink together. Talk to each other, bring each other up to date on what is happening in your lives.

It is perfectly natural that young children might fall ill in the course of a holiday. Parents, please do not panic! Administer the relevant medicines that you are carrying to the child that is unwell. Do call up your pediatrician to ensure that you are giving the right dosage and following the correct treatment.

Angel in Funny moodParents tend to get very anxious when young children are involved. Do remember that children sometimes fall ill when they are exposed to a new environment and experience a change in the air they breathe and the food and water that they consume. It is reassuring to remember that children also recover equally fast.

A vacation can be called a success when you as parents, return from it, happy, contented, charged and with fond memories. If you return from it cranky, irritated and depressed, you need to rethink and rework your vacationing and parenting strategy with your spouse!

So parents, remember that children can be taught to enjoy vacations as much as you. Travelling to new places will serve to give a good exposure and good experiences to your children. Keeping this in mind, let’s get set to plan and enjoy the next getaway. Bon, voyage to you!

This is a Guest Post from Meghasi Bhatt,

Hello, I am Meghasi Bhatt. I started my career as a lawyer but somehow ended up as a teacher and now I have aspirations to write! My first novella Mutiny at Primrose High is available on Amazon and Flipkart and also as an e-book on Amazon Kindle.

Meghasi Bhatt

A glimpse of the past, wish I had Bose QC35 II

If you are a regular reader who visits my blog, you must have seen that we went to Singapore last year. During our visit to Sentosa Island, I missed my train and my husband and my daughter went ahead to the next station. My passport, my phone and my all details were with him. I only knew my husband’s number which was registered with an Indian Telecom company and not the one which we took for Singapore trip. The next train was after 20 mins and I tried to take help from the local people out there but no one could help me and I had only one thing which was my headphone and guess what? It was not a Bose QC35 II.

Bose QC35 II
Bose QC35 II Headphones

It was amongst those simple headphones which were connected to my phone via Bluetooth but it got disconnected as these headphones can connect up to a specified range only. Now I was aghast with this moment and felt how much I love my family. Then as a last resort, I went to the police and asked them to help. But communication was the biggest problem, the only thing which I remembered was the name of the hotel which I stayed in. Happens to be, in Singapore like other countries there can be two or more hotels with the same name.

We were staying in a hotel named as Park hotel and there is one more with the same name. So I convinced police to take me to the hotel and help me.I wish I had these Bose QC35 II headphones, I would have connected somehow with my husband, even when I was lost. But finally, I met my family and took a sigh of relief.

Why Future Ready with Bose?

At some point in our lives, we all would have ordered or asked or at least requested someone to change the song for us on a TV or grab the remote so that we could change the music. So at such times don’t we feel the need for someone to just understand our urgency, just listen to us and change music or control the volume? Future Ready with Bose is the solution for that age-old problem.

With the Google VPA (Virtual Private Assistant) enabled Bose QC35 II headphones, we can now enjoy talking to the Google Assistant and control all the features at the command of your voice. Well, as we all know that the benefits of Google’s VPA in the urban world are nearly limitless. Excited? Read on for more cool features.

Headphones to crave for

Have you been craving for those headphones that help you to manage your music while you workout or let you answer your calls when you are just chilling in your lounge chair? Don’t you hate it when you accidentally pull the headphone wire from your phone’s or laptop’s audio jack? Well, the Future Ready headphones from Bose are here and yes they are Wireless.

What to watch out for?

Technology is what makes it outstanding. Well, every product has its uniqueness but what makes this one to watch out for is the world-class noise cancellation technology that lets you detach from the noise and enjoy your music without any disturbance.

Assistance at its best

If you are a Google user this comes as a blessing as the Google Assistant allows to use the functions without you using your hands. Yes, you read that correct, it is hands-free. QC35 IIs have the Google Assistant built right into the headphones. That means you can play music, receive texts, manage your daily tasks and get answers – all with the command of your voice. All you have to do is just press and hold the Action button, and start a conversation with your Assistant.

What if you are a non-Google user?

No problem. These Future Ready Bose headphones aren’t biased towards Google users. They come with great functionality for the non-Google users as well. So if you are not a Google user just don’t worry.

You can use the Action button to adjust your level of noise cancellation between the three settings.

Buttons for Ease

Bose QC35 IIWhat is cool about the Future Ready Bose headphones is that it comes with a hassle-free operating technology wherein the large middle button is the multi-function button. It allows you to play/pause and other track controls for videos and music, answers and ends calls and can also initiate voice commands such as Siri (iPhone) or voice dial. The buttons on either side of the multi-function button are volume + and the volume – buttons. They allow you to easily adjust the level of volume in an intuitive up/down vertical orientation.

Robust Technology

So there are different kinds of people. Some might like to get comfy in their lounge chair and listen to music, some might like to listen while riding their bicycle . But then there are some who love to travel and they also love to carry their music along with them.

You need not worry as this QC35 IIs engineered by Bose are Future Ready in every sense. They come with impact-resistant materials, glass filled nylon and corrosion resistant stainless steel, and they are engineered to survive life on the go.

Comfort at its best

I have many people around me using the headphones that do not get spoilt easily, but are they comfortable? I guess Never. We are so habituated to compromise, aren’t we? But let’s step into the future and use these Future Ready headphones as they are extremely comfortable along with being well what they made for rough and tough use.

The QC35 headband isn’t just soft, it’s luxurious. Wrapped in Alcantara®—the soft covering material used in yachts and high-end automobiles—it provides a welcome comfort designed for all-day listening and the plush ear cushions are manufactured from a synthetic protein leather, so it won’t even feel like you’re wearing headphones.

Till when would it work?

When we have a product loaded with features we always have to sacrifice something and that is “The Battery Life”. With people wanting more peace, more music is a major need and which is why QC35 IIs from Bose comes with a 20-hour battery life.

But then what after that? When it finally runs down, a quick 15-minute charge gives you another 2.5 hours. So if that is not enough and for that rare time when you do get caught without battery, use the included cable to plug in and keep the music playing.

That’s an App

Well to use these key functions mentioned throughout this article, you have to download the Bose Connect App which is available on Google Play Store and on the Apple App store as well. It is a 26 MB application that gives you an easy access to everything. It allows you to share music, control noise cancellation, make personalize settings and so much more.

Go get Bose QC35 II

Bose QC35 IIAcoustic noise canceling, Volume-optimised EQ, Clear calls, Google Assistant and many more features awaiting this amazing Future Ready headphones from Bose, exclusively for you. Quiet Comfort 35 wireless headphones II is just the number one thing to add if you love music or even if you don’t. It will definitely leave you in peace from the concrete jungle we all love it. So yes, go and get it.