Artist in us All

Many adults claim that they have no artistic ability. Why is this? Yet Elephants can be artists. Monkeys can be artists. hmmm. If primitive animals can be artists why can't we? Perhaps in their young life they never had the opportunity to build confidence in their abilities. Or maybe they looked at something they drew compared it to a peer and decided they were not worthy to attempt to draw.
There seems to be a window of opportunity for a young child to develop esteem in art, before they get to the age of influence and self doubt. If somehow this could esteem could be built strong enough to withstand heavy critism, peer comparison, and downright cruel judgement their art could survive into their adulthood. If art stays part of a person throughout their life they will have a wonderful coping tool to help them be a more mentally healthy individual in their future. Art therapy is used frequently in child therapy sessions and adult sessions as well.
When making comments about children's art I'd like to offer a few suggestions (these ideas stem from my Montessori training and background).

1. It is absolutely inappropriate to mock a child's work. There are many phases of development and arms will not always be sticking out of the sides of the head.

2. Try not to make assumptions, but ask questions to allow the child to explain their work.

3. If a child asks you if you like the work it is a good idea to ask them how they feel about it. It is their work and they should not try to make work in order to please you but for their own satisfaction (this will help in many areas of their life as they develop!)

4. Try to refrain from praising but acknowledge their efforts. Don't just say "Good job!" but instead ,"You spent a lot of time on this, you must feel good about all your hard work."

5. Remember it should be fun!

Why not the whole piano?

Often students are taught to play only 10 keys on the piano at a time. This of course is good for learning hand positions; however, I always encouraged my students to explore the whole piano in addition to the hand position exercises. It is absolutely amazing how young children can discover patterns, derrive unique rhythms, and use the instrument to tell a story. So much can be learned by exporing the instrument that can be even more valuable than what a teacher can teach. This type of learning also must develop and stimulate problem solving skills as the explorer is involved in such concentration as they seek to understand the instrument.

A Typical Conversation

Often when I tell someone that I play oboe, piano, or sing a response is made such as,"I used to take lessons, but I wasn't very good, and I quit." Who decided they were no good? Was it a teacher or a parent? Who decides what is good and what is bad? What is music for? Is it only for performing and hearing? What is art for? For making only masterpeices and looking at? I suggest that art mediums are for our own spiritual and mental health. When children are discouraged at a young age in regards to their artistic endevours they are robbed of a tool that could help them cope during some of their lives most challenging circumstances.