Childbloom Guitar Program

Here's a story from the Childbloom archives: When we made the kids cry...

About 14 years ago we presented a big Childbloom concert. It was an extravaganza with student groups from St. Louis and Germany.

The program featured students - mainly teens - performing music they had spent months preparing. It was going to be a long concert, nearly two hours.

A parent who has two girls in the program but who were too young to perform in this concert asked me if they should bring their young daughters.

I said, "Sure. Bring 'em but bring pillows, just in case they gets bored." I was serious. After all, what eight-year-old wants to sit through a long concert?

A few days later her father stopped me. "You were wrong," he said.

"Oh?" I replied.

"You made our daughters cry."

I immediately felt terrible. "I'm so sorry," I said. "What happened?"

Then he smiled.

"They cried because we had to leave before the concert was over."

That little conversation has stayed with me for many years.

Adults sometimes underestimate children.

We assume they have short attention spans, that they only enjoy fast-paced entertainment, or that they aren't interested in watching other children perform serious music.

But children often surprise us. When they see older students doing something beautiful, something skillful, and something they themselves hope to accomplish one day, then they start to - imagine.

One of the wonderful things about Childbloom is that when younger students regularly hear older students perform. they begin to picture themselves on that stage someday. That's how dreams begin and motivation happens.

That has always been part of the vision of the Childbloom Guitar Program, not simply to teach children to play the guitar, but to surround them with examples of what patient, thoughtful learning can become.

As we prepare our fall schedule, we still have a few lesson times available for new students.

If you've been considering Childbloom for your child, this is a wonderful time to begin the conversation. You don't have to decide to enroll. You only have to decide to schedule a Discovery Lesson.

One of our teachers would be happy to meet with you and your child and help you decide whether our program is the right fit for your family.

You can schedule a Discovery Lesson at:

austin.childbloom.com/appointments

Or call us at 512-452-8765. We'd love to help,

Kevin Taylor, Director
The Childbloom Guitar Program of Central Texas

P.S. Here is a group that played at that concert many years ago. They are playing a Zydeco-style tune. Listen to it and imagine your kids playing. I just love the way they did this! One of my favorites. Maybe bcause of the chickens.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foUePxDHtzg&list=RDfoUePxDHtzg&start_radio=1

Dance of The Morning Sun.mov • Guitar Ensemble This dance is from a collection of dances written for guitar ensemb...

One reason I enjoy teaching children is that music often gives them opportunities to revise their assumptions about themselves. I see it with every student.

If your kids are 9 or younger, they may have a magical way of understanding the world.

Have you ever noticed that young children sometimes think the name of a thing is part of the thing itself?

Ask a child why a dog is called a dog and they may answer, "Because that's what it is."

Developmental psychologist Jean Piaget called this understanding, "nominal realism."

When he asked children, "You know what a cloud is, but where is the name of the cloud?" many children under age 9 answered, "in the cloud." If you have a young child, try it yourself.

Young children often see labels as reality. They don't yet understand that labels can change.

"I'm not musical." "I'm shy." "I'm bad at math." "I'm not good at sports."

To an adult, those are descriptions.To a child, they can become identities.

One of the gifts of growing up is discovering that labels are not destiny. A child who thinks, "I'm not musical," learns a song.
A child who thinks, "I can't do that," masters a incredibly complicated passage.

Little by little, their picture of themselves changes and they start to understand the power of their mind.

Sometimes growth begins with a single lesson.

https://austin.childbloom.com/appointments/

Just came from seeing Discovery Day. Talking about it on the way home. I was wondering if alien children would like guitar lessons.

Sound Oasis Duets Vol 2 is now floating around - 10 duets for young guitarists in many styles.

Thanks to Gabi B. and Chris Stone for helping out recording and editing.

Now scheduling for summer. Free trial lesson at: austin.childbloom.com/appointments

So much of music education on social media is reduced to superficialities. But the real value of learning music is quieter, deeper, and lasting.

It is the process of sitting with something difficult, working patiently, and finally playing what once seemed impossible with great satisfaction. It is learning how discipline becomes expression, how hand & finger movements become sound with shape and emotion. It is discovering the beauty hidden in ink on a page, then bringing it to life through focus and care.

Music teaches children how to learn, how to persevere, and how to create something that did not exist before.

That journey requires dedication from parents and a growing love for the craft from the student. That is what music education is truly about.

Final open house before summer. May 9, 11–1 in Round Rock. Your child can try a free lesson, meet teachers, and get fitted for the right guitar. Stop by, no pressure. Life-long results.