You play a vital role in the musical education of your child, and you can be successful at this even if you don’t believe yourself to be musical!

 

Supporting your child at home is easy and fun — if you can teach them to wash dishes, you can help them develop a healthy practice routine at home, and I will assist you along the way. In the meantime, there are only a few things you need to keep in mind to ensure that your child enjoys music as part of their life for years to come:

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1. Treat music as a long-term commitment right from the start. 

   • The mindset students bring to their musical instrument study have a direct effect on their success, and it’s the parents’ role to set the tone on the first day by not giving their child an “easy out” to quit. Make the decision to invest in your child’s music education for at least a few years of their schooling and you will see incredible results this year.

2. Treasure the escape from “high-stakes” studies. 

   • It seems that everywhere we turn, academic expectations run higher and panic begins to set in. Playing a musical instrument helps parents pull their children off this fast track, if even for a moment.  Instrumental music gives children the room to find their genuine passions, the freedom to discover true independence, and the space to fail and bounce back. They will become better people because this year through their musical studies.

3. Embrace the “offline” time. 

   • Your child’s ability to become a deep and complex person relies so much upon their ability to build their attention span. In our lightning-fast digital world, children do not have enough opportunity to build understanding and intelligence through mindful solitary activities. Musical instrument brings children together in a unique, “unplugged” ensemble when they have band/orchestra/chorus class.

4. Understand that your child’s instrumental music experience is just as crucial to their growth.

   • Music is much more than a “special” or a “frill” subject — it is a core subject, and it should be approached that way by all of us. Home practice should be treated as an essential part of the homework routine. 

5. **Don’t let your child quit too soon. 

• All children are capable of enjoying a successful K-12 music experience with a little support. By not letting your child quit, you are sending a clear message to everyone in our school system that you believe playing a musical instrument cultivates crucial skills. Spend 5-10 minutes a night helping your child create a practice routine and they will be far less likely to become frustrated and quit too early in their studies.

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I am passionate about growing a generation of musicians and future patrons of the arts. I will take care of the musical instruction, but remember that your actions in assisting your children’s practice at home,  will ensure that they receive the best education our schools have to offer.