Your decision to provide your child with a quality musical education is an investment in your child's future. In making it possible for your child to play an instrument, you are providing the opportunity for self-expression, creativity and achievement.

 

Numerous studies indicate that parental attitude, support and involvement are important factors in a child's ability to successfully learn to play and to enjoy music.

 

This message is designed to assist you in giving your child the best support possible for his or her musical endeavors. Like any skill, interest counts for far more than talent. With the right support from you, playing music will become a natural part of your child's life.

 

Benefits for your child

Music participation enhances:

• problem solving

• teamwork

• goal setting

• self-expression

• co-ordination

• memory skills

• self confidence

• self esteem

• concentration

• poise

 

Benefits for your family

A child's music study also offers opportunities for shared family experiences, including:

• musical event attendance

• family music making

• performing for and with family and friends

• a sense of pride and accomplishment for the entire family

 

How you fit in

Always keep in mind that your support is a key element in your child's success with music study. Music achievement requires effort over a period of time. You can help your child by:

• providing a quiet place in which to practice

• remaining with them during practice times as often as possible

• scheduling a consistent daily practice time

• praising your child's efforts and achievements

 

What you can do

To give your child the best possible support, you should:

• encourage your child to play for family and friends

• offer compliments and encouragement regularly

• expose your child to a wide variety of music, including concerts and recitals

• encourage your child to talk with you about his or her lessons

• make sure your child's instrument is always in good working order and is suitable for their level

• allow your child to play many types of music

• listen to your child's practice and acknowledge improvement

• help your child build a personal music library

• try to get your child to make a minimum 1 year commitment to his or her music studies

 

What NOT to do

Your child's progress will be greatly enhanced if you:

• don't use practice as a punishment

• don't insist your child play for others when they don't want to

• don't ridicule or make fun of mistakes or less than perfect playing

• don't apologize to others for your child's weak performance

• don't have your child playing on an instrument that's inadequate or in poor condition

• don't expect rapid progress and development in the beginning

 

Don't be surprised if

Your child can play a song really well at home but then makes a lot of mistakes in class. The excitement of the class, playing in front of or with other people and having the teacher there tend to make them nervous. However, playing in front of people is extremely valuable training for them and eventually they will become more comfortable.

 

Your child wants to play everything really fast. This is partly because of their energy level and partly because they think they are doing it better if they play faster. Encourage them to pay attention to the recommended tempo.

 

Your child says, “I don't have to do that because my teacher didn't say so.” This problem is very common and if it happens, just let the teacher know so they can straighten it out or settle the dispute.

 

Your child doesn't want to practice for very long at one time. Remember that children have short attention spans and this makes it difficult for them to sit still for a long time.