Photo credit: Woodley Wonder Works
When I was a kid, life seemed simpler. I went to school, played (outside, with my dolls, and with my neighborhood friends), and did one or two activities/ week. I didn’t feel stressed at all. It was a great childhood!
Today, on the other hand, I feel like there’s so much pressure for kids to be in a multitude of activities. The list of activities our students participate is long and includes: soccer, ballet, gymnastics, basketball, robotics, swim/ dive team, lacrosse, tennis, theater, girl scouts/ boy scouts and so much more. From my experience this pressure for an activity filled schedule is even greater in metropolitan areas like Washington, DC. Our area has so many resources and culture that opportunities are endless– even for the youngest of residents.
So as a parent who only wants the best for your children, how do you know if music lessons are the right activity for your child to try? I’m going to answer this question from two different angles: 1. For a brand new student and 2. If your child is already enrolled in lessons and you are not sure whether they should continue.
First as far as starting lessons as a brand new student, I think music lessons are the right activity for your child if the following is true:
1. Your son or daughter enjoys music
Has she taken music classes already that she loved? Does he like listening to music or going to concerts? Have their experiences with music so far been positive ones?
2. They are open to trying new things
Most kids are willing to try any activity if they think it will be fun and “cool”. It’s an even bigger bonus if their friends also participate. That’s why we try to group our students in recital time slots with their friends. If you are pumped up and show enthusiasm about music and lessons, your kids will be excited too!
3. They are asking you for lessons
When I was a kid I really really wanted to take piano lessons. I asked my mom for lessons for a long time until she finally gave in. From the time I started, I was hooked, and soon afterwards even picked up the clarinet too.
If your kids are asking you to learn an instrument, that’s the best time to get them started. Take advantage of this precious window of time. If you don’t capture it, unfortunately their interest might start to wane.
Now… if your child already takes lessons, how do you know whether they should continue with them? I recommend asking the following questions:
- Do they enjoy playing and look forward to their lessons each week?
- Are they willing to practice regularly — not dreading it or avoiding doing it altogether?
- Do they love performing in recitals and feel happy and excited before and after them?
If the answer is yes to these questions, they absolutely should continue! If not, taking a break might be a good idea.
***Important Caveat- Sometimes students go through a bit of a rough patch in their lessons. This is common when things get more difficult. They may be frustrated as they learn more complicated rhythms and need to count out loud. Or maybe note reading is challenging, so learning new pieces is hard.
Whatever the case, if this is more the cause of a rough patch, I would recommend sticking it out. I’ve had so many students who persevered through a rough patch and conquered their difficulty now doing better than ever and loving their lessons again.
If you’re unsure whether or not your child should continue — if it’s just a rough patch or something more, reach out to us. We’ll happily share our professional opinion. If you’d like to get started with new lessons, contact us, and we’ll arrange for lessons with one of our fantastic teachers.
Thanks so much for reading! Now I want to hear from you. Leave a comment below. How did you know that music lessons were or weren’t the right activity for your son or daughter? Subscribe to the newsletter to receive more great articles like this one delivered right to your inbox. Have a phenomenal day and I look forward to connecting with you soon!
Sincerely,
Cassie
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