Hi there. Not sure if this is the right place for this, so I’ll keep it short. My 9 yr old uses various music apps on his ipad and he is becoming a riff-monster. They range from Garage band to drum pads, to some more kids based ones. His little compositions are amazing. The beats, percussion, and his use of instruments playing multiple parts is so good. And I’m not just being a proud dad or whatever. I feel like he has a wealth of talent. I’m just not sure what the next steps are. Should I push for lessons in actual instruments, get him into theory? And I know I can’t ask ‘what to buy’ etc… Just looking for some suggestions in how to go forward. Thanks.
UPDATE: Holy shit. Thanks for all the replies, everyone. This is a really cool community. I’ll try to respond to those needing a response and Thanks to all the suggestions!
Everyone's suggesting instrument lessons but what about production lessons? Seems like that's what he's into.
Came here to suggest this
I started off with an instrument/vocals before production and I prefer it, it taught me how to create before refining.
I agree with you on that
Well, you can’t produce without a midi, and learning the piano first would make him think and use the midi better as a producer in the future if he decides to do that
Absolutely false lol.
But if the parents buy them a midi keyboard that's a great way to learn both at once!
well, learning the keys made it easier for me and a lot of people I know, so that's my opinion
There's a world of difference between "makes it easier" and "can't do without".
I've been making music for a decade and my MIDI keyboard mostly gets used for MIDI CC overdubs cause I can't play keys to save my life.
lol
I don’t know but honestly maybe just let him be. If the talent and passion are there, nothing will really stop him as he gets older. I feel like lessons would also only help him so that’s a good idea too. Maybe see if he picks up an instrument like piano or guitar
Nah I wish my parents gave my piano classes so bad so I would have to be taking them 20 years later
Music teacher, composer, pianist, etc here. Does he want lessons in anything? A kid who is not sincerely interested in learning will be turned off by lessons and might stop creating altogether which would be a bummer! Not to imply he doesn't enjoy learning, but if he's viewing it more like a game (nothing wrong with that!) lessons just won't translate well right now.
I'd say encourage him to experiment and mess around (sometimes that's the best teacher!), encourage him to listen to a lot of music, and offer lessons but don't force them. Learning piano with a theory-focused teacher is the "easiest" path to get into composition (vs guitar or another instrument), but he may not understand the connection between piano lessons and his compositions and therefore may not enjoy them.
I'll also say, it's NEVER too late to start lessons when he's older and is able to fully understand the requirements for learning a new skill (regular practice and a non-zero level of frustration). If you do get him a teacher, try to find a composer-pianist (a college student ideally!)
While it’s never too late to start lessons, it can’t be understated how “nice” it is to have had lessons young and to have the practical instrument skills and understanding of theory required to navigate production without being handicapped by a lack of either.
My mother put me in piano at 7 and I hated it at first, but she made me practice. When I was a teenager, I started getting into songwriting and production and I was leagues ahead of my friends doing the same because I wasn’t trying to learn an instrument at the same time.
There are certainly pros to starting early as well! I won't deny that. Sometimes it pays off in time, sometimes it results in turning away from music creation entirely. It's important to understand both outcomes
I have a fundamental disagreement with this viewpoint. The human brain has certain stages of development based on evolutionary needs. For example, language learning become much more difficult as your brain restructures with each passing year into adolescence. Early childhood music training cannot be replaced. It's similar to stating delaying reading training or math training is okay.
It's not a matter that it's too late to learn. It's just too late to learn at the stage where the brain is structured to readily learn those skills.
Umm, my post argued in favour of early childhood music education…
I acknowledged OP’s statement that it’s “never too late” to start lessons and said it’s true (in the sense that if someone wants to, they should, doesn’t mean it’s optimal) and then quickly pivoted to discussing the benefits of my own early music education…
Did you mean to reply to someone else?
Get this kid piano or guitar lessons.
Also, an audio interface like a Scarlett 2i2 and an affordable mic like an AT2020.
Consider a MacBook with GarageBand and/or Logic Pro for the future.
piano or guitar lessons
Definitely, since he already is developing his songwriting, guitar or piano would teach him a lot so he can play/arrange the stuff he comes up with.
I think as long as you don't start forcing him to practice, picking up the drums would be a good start cause it seems like he gravitates to that more.
Theory is great. He should definitely start immersing himself in this. I liken finding that sound in your head without ear training or theory as trying to find something in a dark room, you’ll grope around and find it eventually, but if the light switch is on (when you can easily identify the sound that’s in your mind) the whole writing process is more efficient and you have a better concept of what type of chords will work in certain sections. Plus it helps you easily communicate your idea with other musicians.
In my opinion, you should combine this cool technology with taking guitar or piano lessons. This will open up a lot of the concepts that he is working with by feel now. Finding a teach who makes it fun and encourages combining playing with computer creation is the key.
Brian Wilson’s dad got him lessons in composition, and that proved out well
Get Korg’s Gadget on the iPad. Very nice portable daw.
I'd look into some different daw options with him and see what he's into and get him into using the more feature filled ones like Ableton, Fl studio, Logic pro, cubase etc. Maybe look into getting him an interface. Everyone will recommend the scarlet I think it's over produced garbage. Look into getting a soft synth or two like Serum or vital and lots drum samples and stuff to play with. The best part his that you and him sitting down and researching this stuff together will be an awesome bonding opportunity. Rather than just push him into lessons give him to tools to explore and develop his ear for music and production. Unless he really wants to do lessons but it sounds like your boy might be a producer at heart.
Talent and wealth do not belong in the same sentence. Just let him have fun, and support his explorations if you feel like it.
I wish I was forced to take piano lessons as a kid. It's the most universal. It's also both melodic and percussive. Get him in school band if you can. Buy him every instrument you can afford (within reason of course.)
I'm sure there are some youtube videos out there to inspire him, depending on his preferred genre and what tools he has at his disposal.
Find someone who can answer his questions. "I'm trying X, but how can I do this?"
Find someone to show him cool tricks. "Did you know you could do this?"
Find someone who can give him challenges to solve. "If I wanted to do this, how would you approach it?"
Most importantly; keep things fun. A good teacher will know what kind of direction he wants to go in and will remove the roadblocks towards that, while keeping it challenging enough to not get bored (but not so challenging that it gets frustrating).
A bad teacher will stick to a rigid list of things you must do before you may do other things.
Hey! I actually teach songwriting for kids (lyrics) as well as production, uke, and piano, etc. I'd be happy to chat about it. Shoot me a message!
He should definitely learn the piano, production would be a lot easier in the future!