MOST CHILDREN first begin to learn a musical instrument at the age of five or six, when one of their parents notices their interest in music or wishes to promote such an interests.

Going to piano lessons then becomes one of those after school activities which for many children only lasts for a couple of years.

According to violinist and music teacher, Maria Kelemen, the learning of a musical instrument can become much more significant in a child's development, aiding both learning skills and self reliance as he or she goes through school.

Kelemen also believes that, through the discipline of reading music, playing tunes by heart and regular instrument practice, children can in fact be prevented from developing attention and memory related problems.

"At least half of children's behavioural problems could be prevented if children started learning a musical instrument at a young age," says Kelemen, who has taught music to children with attention deficit disorder, dyslexia and other learning and behavioural problems.

"Generally speaking, almost all children are musically talented when they are born, and this talent is either developed in their home environment or it becomes latent.

"Learning a musical instrument gives children an alternative interest to focus on which they can do at home as well as in their class. It offers them some creative life of their own which they can withdraw into and be with themselves for an hour or so. This gives children a fantastic feeling of self reliance."

Originally from Hungary, Maria Kelemen studied violin, viola and chamber music at various European music academies before establishing a violin school in Cape Town, South Africa. She is director of the children's orchestra, Young European Strings, in Ireland.

Kelemen believes children should begin to learn an instrument when they are as young as two and a half that is, before they have reached what she describes as the "three year old blues", when they refuse everything they are offered.

"Alternatively, they can start at about four but not at the same time as when they are starting school," she adds. The violin is a suitably sized instrument for such young players.

Kelemen also prefers children to learn individually. "One to one teaching is very important for the European child, because in our society we put great value on individualism, character and personality, and the child needs to be able to ask questions and be occupied constantly for such focussed work as learning an instrument.

"Team work in an orchestra comes later and is only one part of their education," says Kelemen.

PARENTS DO of course play an important role in the child's commitment to the instrument, having to pay for the lessons as well as bringing them to and from their classes.

"If parents are committed to the long term discipline of their child learning an instrument, there will be overall benefits for the family.

"Such parents would need to be able to spend between 10 minutes and three quarters of an hour daily with a child from age three to eight. After that the child is able to practise on his/her own.

"A family that is willing to put up with such discipline will also be more disciplined with their children in other ways, and this establishes a respectful way of looking at work which is important for the child's overall education."

Her experience in Cape Town, South Africa, has led Kelemen to some surprising conclusions "Hyperactivity is a bourgeois problem. While I was in South Africa, I never met a black or coloured child with hyperactivity.

"You have to find a child's potential, whether it is through learning a musical instrument or painting or whatever. A seven year old child does not need to take drugs for this type of problem.

"Avoiding sugary and processed foods is important, but establishing a routine is also crucial," she says.

Kelemen has also helped children with mild dyslexia by teaching them how to translate musical notes into simpler handwritten symbols before learning a piece by heart. Once the piece is known better, the child can then return to following the music when playing.

"In Greek philosophy," she says, "music is one of the seven muses, and it should be the right of every child to learn a musical instrument."