Happy Valentine’s Day! It’s here — February 14th, a day to celebrate love. We usually celebrate romantic love on Valentine’s Day, but as a music teacher, I encourage you to celebrate your love of music!
Before I give you tips to help foster your children’s love of music, I want to point out some of the many reasons we all should love music and make it a part of our everyday lives.
- Music is fun
- Music is beautiful
- Music has the power to heal
To get a bit personal and expand on this particular point, I recently lost my grandfather. My entire family has been shocked and shaken, but it’s hit my grandmother the hardest. They were married for 63 years, and she is absolutely devastated. To help her find comfort, I’ve been playing a lot of piano for her. While she is definitely still very sad, the music is helping to heal her. When she listens to my playing, she is transported somewhere else, where the pain of her loss is bearable.
I was also very touched to see the chorus from Sandy Hook Elementary school sing at the Super Bowl. In tragedies, music has a remarkable gift to help ease our pain.
- Music enriches our lives
- Learning and playing music is challenging and rewarding at the same time
- Music is physical, requiring the use of our bodies, and emotional, requiring the use of our feelings and emotions
- We use our auditory, visual, and kinesthetic senses in music learning and performance
- You make the best friends with other music lovers
Here’s how I recommend you foster your love of music with your kids:
1. Show that you love music yourself
Kids want to be like their parents. If they see how much joy and pleasure music has brought you in your life, they will want that for themselves.
2. Experience the arts with your kids
Take your kids to concerts, dance performances, plays, art museums- anything artistic that they can experience. The younger you expose your kids to the arts, the better! Catching them while they are still malleable and impressionable is key.
3. Take up an instrument yourself
Pull out that trumpet collecting dust in the closet. Sit down and play a tune on the piano. Or, if you never learned an instrument, start some lessons. Your kids and you will be able to make music together, which in my opinion is priceless!
4. Get involved in their lessons
Stay updated with their teacher on how they are doing in lessons. Make sure they are practicing enough. Come to their recitals. Express care and concern and keep yourself involved.
5. Encourage them to set goals and have high expectations
People who set goals achieve more than those who do not. Encourage your kids to learn that piece that they are in love with, but is incredibly challenging. With a lot of hard work, passion, and drive anything is possible. (For some ideas on helping your child set musical goals, check out this post.)
Now I want to hear from you. Why do you love and value music? Why do you want your kids to take lessons? How do you share your love of music with them? Leave a comment with your insights. Share this article with a friend and subscribe to the newsletter.
Much love to you and your family!
Sincerely,
Cassie
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