Parents & Music Lessons

The Accompanying Part Parents Should Play

By Dave Nagy

The most influential relationship in a young child’s life is that with his or her parents.  This relationship is also the most influential on the young child’s musical education.  Instruments and teachers can be changed if need be, but the attitude and involvement of the child’s parents in the musical learning process is an essential and set factor of the young musician’s development.
Many young children (from 3 to 8 or so) have not yet developed the self-motivation to willingly practice pieces or exercises.  Although they enjoy music and do want to be able to play well, they do not yet fully understand the correlation between many years of hard practice and musical success.
The single most beneficial thing a parent or guardian can do to help their young child become a musician is to make sure the child practices and plays their instrument.  Playing only during lessons is not enough, not even close.  If the practice time is regular and scheduled, it is much more likely that the child will understand what is expected of her or him.  Steady progress is also much more likely with a set practice routine.
The more parental involvement the better.  Learning along with your child is a great idea and sets a good example too, although this route is not always feasible for busy parents.
Try not to set bad precedents (such as using less practice as a reward, not practicing during the summer, etc).  Kids are clever and sneaky, and will use these precedents against you in the future!
Finally, show encouragement and support towards your child’s progress.  The more confident they are, the more likely they are to think of themselves as musicians.  Once that happens, they become much more self-motivated…and a self-motivated young child is a force to be reckoned with!

Elite Music offers private and group music lessons under the instruction of some of the most qualified and experienced music teachers in Toronto. Music lessons are offered in most instruments and styles of music. Students of all ages and skill levels are welcome. For a free consultation contact us at 416 406 5355 ext 1.