My young friend scares me
By The Horse
@TheHorse (224948)
Walnut Creek, California
November 25, 2018 1:52pm CST
I've been showing my young neighbor friend guitar stuff since he was 3-years-old. More recently, I scored two electronic keyboards, practice on one at my house, and gave the other to the kid.
Like me, he has a good ear, and he can play the Intro to Fur Elise, and other pieces, on the keyboard. But now, like many kids, he spends too much time on the internet, and hasn't been playing piano as much.
He scares me, both because he has so much talent that he could be really good, and because he's getting into video games, which stifle development. What's my next step?
14 people like this
14 responses
@crossbones27 (50247)
• Mojave, California
25 Nov 18
Get him to play guitar hero. Problem solved,to easy to be true. Either kid will not like it or Guitar hero is not as good as they say it is. Somewhere in there is the answer, hell I think you may like guitar hero too. Video games are not all bad, just depends on what people play. And most play bad blow stuff up games.
3 people like this
@celticeagle (172575)
• Boise, Idaho
25 Nov 18
I was totally against video games when my grandson started playing them several years ago. But, then after thinking about it and reading some articles I realized that they are teaching them a lot of useful skills. How to negotiate, co-ordination, mathematics, puzzle solving, computer knowledge, inspire new interests, more observant, concentration and such just to name a few. Of course, as with all things, moderation is key.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (172575)
• Boise, Idaho
21 Jan 19
@TheHorse .......I wouldn't know.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (224948)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Feb 19
@celticeagle Happily, he hasn't tried to play video games on my computer the last few times he's come over.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (144745)
• United States
28 Nov 18
Hmmm... is he one of your clients, pony? If not, then it should be his parents doing something about how he spends his time, shouldn't it?
I suppose you could challenge him to practice more, but then you'd need some way to reward him when/if he met the challenge ...
I suppose you could challenge him to practice more, but then you'd need some way to reward him when/if he met the challenge ...1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (144745)
• United States
20 Jan 19
@TheHorse As long as you're both happy, then you're doing something right, pony. Congratulations! Most people can't manage that! 
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (224948)
• Walnut Creek, California
20 Jan 19
@DaddyEvil We're doing fine. He comes over, brings his keyboard, and asks me to show him the next "bit" of the Bach piece we're working on. He knows I'm not a big fan of computer games, but I let him play a bit if I'm doing stuff that does not involve the computer. Then we get back to "business."
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (113867)
• Marion, Ohio
25 Nov 18
You could ask him to have mock concerts or something with you. Maybe that would make it more fun and challenging for him. I like video games too, but they have to be limited in time or you never do anything else.
2 people like this
@porwest (98579)
• United States
1 Dec 18
Oh man. I thought this was a girl. Good thing I read your post. 
Some of these kids are so very talented. My nephew is like that. He is just good at whatever he does. Guitar, singing...his mom and dad got a piano in the house and in a week he was playing Bohemian Rhapsody. I was like, "What the hell."
Some of these kids are so very talented. My nephew is like that. He is just good at whatever he does. Guitar, singing...his mom and dad got a piano in the house and in a week he was playing Bohemian Rhapsody. I was like, "What the hell."1 person likes this
@DianeBorg (791)
• Malta
25 Jan 19
Maybe you can make deal with him, you play with him on the computer and then he has to play music with you.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (224948)
• Walnut Creek, California
26 Feb 19
@DianeBorg We're working on some Bach pieces now. He seems really motivated.
1 person likes this
@DianeBorg (791)
• Malta
26 Feb 19
@TheHorse That's great, he can improve more his music skill.
1 person likes this
@BridgetThompson (252)
•
27 Feb 19
find ways to keep him interested!! Kids want connection more than they desire screen time
1 person likes this
